Raymond Gerald Meade

It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Raymond Gerald Meade on February 13, 2022 at Perley Health in Ottawa a little over a month before his 90th
birthday. 
Raymond, son of Raymond Aloysius and Catherine Gertrude (Brown), was born on March 29, 1932 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He was a true "Bluenoser" whose nose lived up to its name.
Raymond joins his beloved wife Lorna (Dow) predeceased in 1980. He leaves behind his longtime sweetheart Helen MacFarlane and her extended family which he considered his as well.
Predeceased by his brother Bob and sisters Barbra, Deanna, survived by his dear brother & sister Jerry & Rose, his sons Michael, Ken (Norine), David (Marian), Karl (Celia), his grandchildren Tracy, Conor, Diana, Sean, Max, Sam, Ray, Georgia, Stephanie, his great grandchildren Derrick, Lorna, Gordon, Rose.
Raymond served his country for 32 years in the Royal Canadian Air Force joining as a Private in 1949, rising to the rank of Major before joining the Federal Public Service as an auditor with Supply and Services. In the RCAF he served in Comox, BC, Greenwood, Nova Scotia, and many points inbetween as well as Germany.
Raymond was always active throughout his life with hockey, baseball, boxing, skiing, jogging, swimming, badminton, and golf, while dedicating much of his time to volunteering whether on Roman Catholic Parish committees, coaching hockey, baseball, driving cancer patients and Meals On Wheels. Add to this his many hours of bridge, crib, dancing, and Nate's Breakfast Club.  Ultimately Raymond was a family person, and his friends were family. Always a helping hand to his sons, always an active role in the lives of his grandchildren. Raymond was a "people person" in every sense and took real interest in everyone he met. He could make almost anyone laugh and seemed to take this as his life mission.
Throughout Ray's long gradual journey with vascular dementia, he maintained his dignity and his awareness. What courage. What sacrifice. So inspiring that he never allowed the disease to take away his essence and how bravely he fought. Nor did it affect his comic timing although with less filters. Once out to breakfast commenting to a loud cell phone talker he finally burst out with: "What kind of a shit show are you running over there?" He always had the ability to bring a room to attention.
"He was a man with a big heart. It had to be to hold all the ones he loved ... and all those who loved him." 
We were blessed to have him in our lives. He is missed but will live on in all of us. Internment at Beechwood Cemetery Friday May 20, 2022 at 11 am with reception to follow 11:30 to 1:30.