Hugh Joseph O'Handley

Hugh Joseph O’Handley

Leitches Creek

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the sudden passing of our dear husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend, Hugh O’Handley, age 89, on Thursday, June 20, 2019, at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital.

Born March 5, 1930 in North Sydney, he was the son of the late Hector and Jessie (Walker) O’Handley.

In his early years Hugh worked on the railroad and MacAulay Brothers sawmill in Leitches Creek.

Later, he spent many years working with John D. Steele & Son Monuments in North Sydney, beginning as a truck driver and working his way through the operation, retiring at age 65 as a master engraver. He took great pride in pointing out many monuments in the area that he had a hand in creating and was a devoted member of Bricklayers Union Local #2. Hugh was a nature lover and loved working in the woods, enjoying all of the animals it had to offer.

He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Lucy (Penney) O’Handley, his three children, Hugh (Sharon) O’Handley, Thompson, Manitoba; Mary (Joe) Penney, Barrie, ON, Penney O’Handley-Sibley (Pierre), Leitches Creek; twelve grandchildren, including Jess, whom he and Lucy helped raise from the time she was a small child; twelve great grandchildren and two nieces Jean and Bermetta Morrison.

Besides his parents, Hugh was predeceased by his infant daughter Wanda Faye and his half-brother Carl (Barb) Morrison. 

A deep thank you to EHS, Georges River Fire Department, Dr. Holmes and nursing staff at CBRH for their tireless efforts that allowed us to say goodbye.

Visitation for Hugh will be Tuesday, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the W.J. Dooley Funeral Home, 107 Pleasant St., North Sydney. A funeral service will take place 11:00 a.m. Wednesday in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Bernie MacDonald presiding. Burial will follow in St. Andrew Cemetery, Boisdale.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Cape Breton Regional Hospital Foundation or the SPCA.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.wjdooley.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Hugh Joseph O'Handley, please visit our floral store.