Thomas Jessome

Thomas Jessome

North Sydney

It is with heartfelt sadness that we say goodbye to our dear father, grandfather, brother and friend, Thomas Kevin Jessome, on Thursday, January 13, 2022, at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital in Sydney, with his two sons by his side. 

Born in Florence on February 6, 1942, Tom was the son of the late Walter and Mary Magdellen (Laffin) Jessome. Tom grew up to become a skilled machinist, starting his career working in aerospace manufacturing in Ontario at Orenda Engines ((Pratt & Whitney and Hocker Siddeley) there’s even a rumor he worked on the manufacturing of the Avro Arrow) before moving back to Cape Breton to have a long and proud career working for Municipal Ready-Mix. He was always very handy and creative, reveling in finding solutions to mechanical problems, and tinkering with crafts and projects around the house, growing an entire yard of his favourite Swiss chard greens and growing a deep love for cooking. There was nothing he couldn’t fix with his own hands and ingenuity. He loved spending time in the highlands camping and spent lots of summer days taking the kids swimming in the ocean at Barrachois. In the past seven years, Thomas found a whole new lease on life while attending the Seniors Day program at Harbourview. He looked forward to getting dressed to the nines and going to all the dances. He even took up weight training and cardio at the gym with his brother Patrick and went walking on the boardwalk around Monroe Park in order to get his steps in. He was fascinated with First Nations herbal medicine and believed that the variety of teas involved really improved his breathing and energy levels.  

Tom is survived by his first wife, Ruth Reid; his children: Tom (Nicole) Jessome of Hamilton, Valerie Jessome of Victoria, Deborah (Mike) Hooker of Hamilton, Joshua (Meghan) Jessome of Edmonton, and Lisa Jessome of Victoria; his grandchildren, Tommy, Connor, Abbey, Josh, Sarah, Sophie, Austin, and Theo; his many brothers and sister: Peter (Martha), Paul (Judy), Ivan (Joan), Sheldon (Joyce), Donnie, David (Paula), Patrick (Theresa), Lawrence (Beverly), Audrey (Paul) Nugent, Honey, and Joanne; sister in law, Antonitte, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Besides his parents, Tom was predeceased by his second wife, Veronica Mortensen; his son in infancy, Christopher; his daughter, Vanessa; siblings: Bo, Vince, Gerard, Marguerite, and Joseph; sister in law Helen Jessome.  

Memorial donations may be made to the North Sydney Food Bank.

Special thank you to Dr. Andrew Wawer for the many years he cared for Dad and all the doctors and nursing staff and the Cape Breton Regional Hospital who showed such wonderful care and compassion to our Dad in his final days. Special thanks to nurse practitioner Bev Muldoon for advocating for our father and showing such kindness to him over the years.

A private visitation will be held for Tom at the W.J. Dooley Funeral Home in North Sydney. A Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, January 18 at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Church in North Sydney with Rev. Angus MacDougall officiating. Due to the provincial pandemic restrictions, seating capacity will be extremely limited. Proof of double vaccination will be required to enter the church, masks must be worn at all times, and physical distancing will be enforced. The funeral will be live streamed on the W.J. Dooley Funeral Home Facebook page. Online condolences may be sent to www.wjdooley.com.      

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