Obituary of John William Calvin Braye

To celebrate one’s 100^th year is truly a blessing and a gift.  On August 18, 1925, John William Braye (Jack) entered this world and on Sunday, August 18, 2024, on his 99^th birthday, he entered his 100^th year.  It was also the day he peacefully departed this earthly life.

He leaves to mourn: his daughter Lynn (Sarah Jessop), brothers Ed and Bob (Melvina), sister Lorraine, sister-in-law Phyllis (Tom Gillam), and close family friends, Myrtle and Gerald Dawe.

Dad was predeceased by Joyce (Gillam), his wife of 69 years, in 2016; parents, Leander and Bessie (Hicks); parents-in-law, John and Lydia (Hutchings); brother, Reginald (Gae); sisters, Phyllis (Ernie), Barbara (Calvin), Jean (Don), and Elizabeth; sisters-in-law, Sylvia (Don) and Hannah (Les); brothers-in-law, Heber (Diantha), Tom, and Arthur (Florence); and a host of other family members now amongst the numbers in that great cloud of witnesses.

Dad lived a huge life in Corner Brook, having moved from his birthplace of Grand Falls.  He was most well known for Braye’s Groceteria, where he and my mother spent many years serving the community.  His best known products were the fresh fish and fresh homemade sausages.  Who didn’t enjoy these staples?

Dad was a faithful member of the Order of Freemasonry of Grand Lodge of Newfoundland and Labrador (GLNL) and Member of Lodge Lomond #32.  Dad was initiated into Freemasonry on May 8, 1970, and was Lodge Master in 1977, 1982, and 2008.  He was also a member of the Mazol Shrine Club and of Bennett Masonic Hall Co.  His highest office in Freemasonry was Past Grand Sword Bearer in GLNL, and in 2015 he received the Order of Meritorious Award.  He devoted many hours to these organizations and held his Brotherhood in high esteem.

Dad was always actively involved in his community.  He was an integral member in the early days of the development of the Newfoundland Amateur Hockey League. He was a man of great faith, always involved in his church and in choirs.  However, his involvement in the community never got in the way of his family, as they knew as much about, and, where possible, were involved with him.

I will forever be grateful for his support, as he was always my guiding hand.

I offer my most sincere thanks to the staff of Shoreview at Western Long Term Care, where Dad never truly retired from community service as he continued to show concern for those unable to speak or do for themselves.  And to Dr. Bolous, a heartfelt thank-you for your friendship with my dad.

Cremation has taken place.  Visitation and funeral liturgy dates will be announced in the coming weeks.