Obituary of Captain Albert Wesley Parsons

Captain Albert Wesley Parsons Age 88 of Bridgewater passed away peacefully 0n Saturday September 17, 2016 surrounded by his loving family at the South Shore Regional Hospital. He was born on October 12, 1927 in Hermitage, Newfoundland to John and Sarah (Simms) Parsons and was the last surviving member of his family. He was predeceased by his brothers Jim, Stanley and Cecil, and by his sisters Myrtle and Marjorie. He started his seafaring career at the age of 13 working aboard his father's schooners - The Ruby Nelly and the Myrtle Parsons. In 1946 he and his dory mate were stranded in the Atlantic Ocean some 135 nautical miles from the nearest port. They made their way to Cape Ray, NL some four days later. In 1949 he obtained his Master Mariner Foreign Going (unlimited) Certificate. He married Bessie, started a family and went to work for the Newfoundland Department of Health under the Grenfell Mission captaining the doctor’s boat The Richard Squire, which serviced the South Coast of Newfoundland. In 1964 he moved his family to Nova Scotia and joined his brother Cecil at Himmelman’s Supply Company out of LaHave taking the OK Service ships to the West Indies. However his heart was always with fishing, and so again he returned to the profession and worked for MacLeod Fisheries out of Port Mouton aboard the Fort Louisburg. He was the first captain on the east coast to fish snow crab (Queen Crab). Looking for something more challenging he accepted a position with Federal Off Shore and captained the Janie B, towing oilrigs all over the world. His strength of character and expertise caught the eye of Federal Commerce and Navigation who hired him as Operations Manager out of Dartmouth, NS. Later he was promoted to General Manager and serviced St. John's, NL, and Halifax, NS. He worked for Federal Commerce and Navigation until he took a position closer to his home in Pentz and captained the LaHave ferry until he fully retired. He was the past master of the Orange Lodge and the Black Knights of Columbus in Newfoundland. He was a loyal member of the Masonic Lodge and the Free Masons. He loved to play cards, had a passion for making furniture, and was an avid gardener. He enjoyed golfing, hunting and fishing of all kinds. His greatest treasures in life were his family and the love he felt for them, and they for him. He is survived by his wife and soul mate, Bessie, of 69 years. His daughters, Winnie (Robert) Rodenhiser; Anne (Gerry) Holmes; Katie (Jim) Richardson; Rhona (Danny) Carey, Valerie (Jeff) Whynacht and son Albert (Jacqueline) Parsons. His grand-children Cindy (Kevin) Eisnor; William Rodenhiser; Kimberley (Trevor) Cudmore; Tanya (Kris) Baker; Cathy (Ian) Carey Lewis; Sarah (Jim) Floyd, Sask; Angie Holmes; Matthew (Stacey) Ernst; Samantha (Daniel) Carmichael; Benjamin (Kate) Richardson; Stephen (Lynn) Ernst; Ivy (Tryell) Parsons; Maggie Parsons and ten great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister-in-laws, Susie (Stan) Parsons and Mary (Cecil) Parsons and brother-in-law Edward (Marjorie) Colburne and many nieces and nephews. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Sweeny's Funeral Home. Visitation will be held 7:00 to 9:00 P.M. Tuesday September 20th in Sweeny’s Funeral Home, Bridgewater. Funeral service will be held 2:00 P.M. Wednesday September 21st in St. Peter’s Anglican Church, West LaHave, Rev. Oliver Osmond officiating. Burial will follow in St. Peters, Cemetery. Family flowers only, please. Memorial donations may be made to St. Peter’s Cemetery Fund or the Health Services Foundation of the South Shore. The family wishes to say a grateful thank-you to all the doctors and nurses on the third floor surgery wing of the South Shore Regional Hospital for taking wonderful care of Albert. A special thank you to Carrie Crewe, Bessie’s sister, for being such a wonderful support to her. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.sweenyfuneralhome.com. Fair Winds Dad, I’ll take the next watch.