Obituary of Thomas Allen Grant Bethune

 

 

An extraordinary true gentleman

With profound sadness and deep sorrow we announce the peaceful passing of Mom’s loving husband our beloved father, Thomas Allen Grant Bethune, Feb 12, 2025 holding Mom’s hand surrounded by love at the Trillium Community Home in Kingston Ontario. Dad remained enduring and stoic throughout his courageous battle with cancer.

Dad was the very best of us, respected and deeply loved by all who knew him. Strength, humility, patience, compassion, wisdom, humour, grace, a quiet loving demeanour, made it a privilege to be in his company. By all accounts Dad’s endearing personality was akin to his own dear father, a telephone lineman who tragically passed away when Dad was still a baby.

Dad’s loving presence is terribly missed by Ruth, our Mom and his daughters Dawn & (Rob), Faye & (Bernie), his grandchildren and his great grandchildren.

Tom was a loving husband and our Moms’ rock. Their love story was real, it began riding on the school bus together and continued as high school sweethearts, they married June 28, 1958, they enjoyed curling in the local curling leagues and listening to a bit of ‘Stomping Tom and Elvis’. They are serious Ottawa Senators fans. Our home and hearts were filled with laughter, love and grace. Mom and Dad did everything better together.

When Dad was a child he truly enjoyed school, and his teacher was his beloved Aunt Clara who taught in a one-room schoolhouse. He became a certified auto mechanic at an early age working alongside his dear Uncle Angie at ‘Bethune’s Garage’ in Moose Creek. Dad could figure out and fix just about anything. Along the way he also worked for Bell, volunteered with the fire department and the curling club. He drove a ‘fun filled’ school bus, was a trusted Auto Service Advisor in Ottawa, he was a mentor-he founded Toyota ‘Highland Motor Sales’, the grand kids just loved visiting his ice cream parlour and their restaurant in Moose Creek, he was also a driving instructor, and Dad really enjoyed reading books and being a bookmobile driver for the city of Ottawa, until he retired with Mom to White Lake with his brother Rae his best buddy Don Chapman and sister Iris. Around 2018 Mom and Dad moved to Stittsville/Ottawa until they moved to a lovely apartment in Kingston in 2020. Mom and Dad transitioned to the Trillium last year, together.

Dad gave the best big hugs, taught us to dance perched on the tops of his toes. He was perfect. He loved and supported us completely and unconditionally. He lived, he loved and he laughed - always with unwavering kindness and pure generosity. We are truly blessed to live with his beauty and his love in our hearts. We find some comfort knowing Dad is reunited with his loved ones that we have lost.

Tom was Born on July 22, 1938 in Moose Creek, Ontario, son of Thomas Bethune (Sept 26, 1902-April 20, 1939) and Lillie Copeland (nee McRae) (1930-1939 Bethune) (May 18,1911-Oct 1, 2013).

Tom is survived by his loving wife, Ruth (nee Campbell) his beloved children; Chandra DAWN Bethune & (Robbie Waddell) and Sharon FAYE Henderson & (Bernie), his cherished grandchildren; Dylan H.T. Bethune-Waddell, Maximilien F. Bethune-Waddell, Megan T. L. Bethune-Waddell; Ashley A. Osmar, Amy D. Henderson-Boileau & (Richard Boileau), Emily E. & (Scott Godin), his adored great grandchildren; Copelynn, Paxton, Hayleigh, Norah, Clara and Meara, his dear brothers and sisters; Myra McMahon, Rae Bethune, Iris Chapman &(Don), Sharon Villeneuve &(Ray), Brent Copeland &(Nicole),
all his beloved nieces and nephews; Judy, Gayle, Karen (Joe), Guy (Sue), Wendy, Sheri (Bob), Karen (Hans), Gregg, Scott (Stephanie), Tylor (Traci) Tanya (Gerry) as well as his many beloved grand nieces and nephews, Campbell nieces and nephews, sister and brother in-laws and his many good friends.

A memorial celebration will be held tentatively June 28, 2025 visiting the Cataraqui Cemetery-detail’s TBA to honour Dad’s life and legacy-details to follow at a later date.

Dad was a true gentleman, and often said “no sign of a gentleman to be in a hurry”

In lieu of flowers, we ask that you honour our father’s spirit by taking time to share a memory with each other: take a scenic drive, dance a two-step, listen to music that moves you, have some fun together, share some stories, enjoy a good laugh, always be kind… of course please post and share some of your photos, we would love to see them.

If donations are preferred they can be be made to [cancer charities/heart disease of your choosing) in Tom Bethune's honour.

We would like to thank the wonderful staff and volunteers and the many residents at the Trillium for their love, compassion and their support. We would also like to mention a grateful heartfelt appreciation to Jaimie and to Sunday for their kindness and to so many more at the Trillium, Thank you. We would also like to extend our sincere gratitude to Heather and the Cataraqui Cemetery.

Rest peacefully Dad, it has been a privilege sharing this chapter of life’s journey with you, your light and your beauty will forever be in our hearts.