Benvie, Grant – The passing occurred on Monday, May 25th, 2020, of our father, Grant Benvie, at age 97 years, in Wynn Park Villa, Truro.
Dad was raised on a farm in Upper Stewiacke, one of 11 children of the late John William and Olivia Jane (Dean) Benvie. He lived 57 years in Brookfield where he and his wife raised their family, and spent the past 17 years in Truro.
We will remember him for his weedless gardens with their straight rows; his peas being among the first in the neighbourhood to raise their heads every spring; and summers filled with beautiful vegetables, rhubarb and berries. Every garden was a labour of love for our dad. He was a carpenter by trade and will be remembered for his strong work ethic and his fine woodworking skills. Once his career days were over he spent countless hours in his shop where he built furniture and grandfather clocks. His true passion was the making of over 80 violins which took him into his eightieth year. Mom and Dad so enjoyed the many people they met during those fiddle-making years, as someone was always dropping by to try out the latest one. Some of Dad’s fiddles were given to his children and grandchildren, producing a devoted fiddle-player in his granddaughter, Lyndsey. Other fiddles, each with their own story, have come back to family members in recent years to be played by them. We will remember him for his love of Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune and cryptograms, and his ability to solve them faster than the rest of us put together.
Dad is survived by children, Graham (Ilonka Venier Alexander), Port Maitland; Leah (Craig) Hamilton, Allister (Jane), both of Upper Stewiacke; Kenneth, Melissa MacKenzie, both of Truro; Jim (Kathy), Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta; 12 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; sister, Elizabeth Allen, Bedford; sister-in-law, Violet Benvie, Saskatoon; numerous nieces, nephews and in-laws.
He was predeceased by his wife of 67 years, Kea (Graham); siblings, Gussie (Donald) Burnett; Erma (Herb) Adamson; Edward (Lorraine); Lillian Benvie; James; Irene (Carl) Fleck; Margaret (Roy) Graham; Phyllis (Bernie) Hatt; Walter; brother-in-law, William Allen.
Special thanks to the staff of Wynn Park Villa who provided Dad’s care for the past six months.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, there will be no service and immediate family only at the graveside. A celebration to honour Dad’s life will be held at a later date.
Arrangements are under the direction of Arimathea Funeral Cooperative, Upper Musquodoboit.
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