
Obituary of Charles William James
JAMES, Charles William “Chuckie” – Age 87, Cookville, Lunenburg Co., formerly of Montreal and Lake McGillivray, died peacefully on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, in South Shore Regional Hospital, Bridgewater.
Chuckie was born in Montreal to the late Paul and Wilhelmina “Mina” (Talbot) James. He could have been royalty if his great grandfather hadn't been disowned for marrying a bar wench, but such is life. Instead, he grew up in a flat in Montreal where he made life-long friendships, played street hockey with frozen horse turds, and listened to country music on his radio. He married his high school sweetheart, Cathy, and they lived a good and happy life with two kids. He was a guidance counsellor, Phys Ed teacher, hockey player, basketball coach, bluegrass lover and festival-goer, sourdough maker, and great friend to all who knew him.
After 40 years together, Chuckie lost Cathy in 1998 (she died, he didn't actually physically leave her somewhere and forget where he put her), and proclaimed that he would never find love again. But then Chuckie met Diane, and they were together for 20 fun years.
Surviving is his daughter, Kelly (Brian), Kingsburg, Lunenburg Co. and his four-legged furry grand-kids, Sassy and Gizmo; son, Ryan, Pittsburgh, Pa. and his granddaughters, Hannah and Molly; his sweetheart, Diane and her daughter, Cheryl; nephews Jimmy and Michael, nieces Janet and Susan, several other nieces and nephews, grand nieces and nephews, three great-grand nephews, longtime friend Bill, and his music buddies Bogdan, John, and Fred. Sorry if other friends have been missed.
Chuckie was predeceased by his wife Catherine (Busel), his sisters Pauline and Barbara, and his brother Fred, as well as his and Cathy's very close friends, Shirley and Ross, and his dad and mom-in-law, Walter and Lena (Iskritsky) Busel.
A big thank you to all the doctors and nurses at South Shore Regional Hospital who took great care of Chuckie – you all rock! and another big thank you to the staff and residents at Stonemont. We're happy to know that Chuckie made quite an impression in the short time that we has there!
To quote Chuckie's favourite author, Charles Darwin (so many boxes of his books still to move out of the cottage at Lake McGillivray) ...
“A man's friendships are one of the best measures of his worth”
A life well-lived Chuckie, a life well-lived.
A proud atheist (this will be going on his headstone as per his list of last wishes), there will be no service. Interment will take place at a later date in Quebec. If you would like to make a donation in honour of Chuckie, the Canadian Cancer Society and Canadian Diabetes Association are two charities that meant a lot to him. Or, in honour of his childhood Border Collie Laddie and his furry grand-kids, a donation to your local animal shelter would be great.
Arrangements entrusted to Sweeny’s Funeral Home, 35 York Street, Bridgewater, where online condolences and messages may be made by visiting www.sweenysfuneralhome.com.