Obituary for Stephen John Coffin
Stephen John Coffin
August 28th 1930 – April 21st 2023
Our family announces the passing of Stephen John Coffin at the age of 92 years (August 28th 1930 – April 21st 2023) at the Christina Cole Memorial Residence on Fogo Island. Stephen was one of 11 children of George Allen and Eleanor (Nellie) Coffin, but raised by his paternal grandparents Ephraim and Jesse Coffin from the age of 4 years. He is pre-deceased by his wife of 69 years (Elsie nee Hewitt, August 25th 1932 - February 29th 2020 ) and eldest daughter Patricia (June 28th 1951-November 11, 2019). Left to mourn him are his younger sister Joan (affectionally known as Joanie), and sons Roy (Linda), Brent (Paula) and daughters Marie (Everett), Lucy (Perry), Daphne (Lloyd), Nancy (Jim), Carla (Chad), Cora (Ross), Mary (Boyd) and Dena (Karl).
Stephen left formal schooling in 1940 at age ten to work alongside his grandfather cutting wood in Birchy Bay, NL. His life-long varied employment included first working at the Cod Liver Oil Factory on Little Fogo Islands and then as a supervisor or foreman at the Fish Processing plants in Joe Batt’s Arm, Seldom and Summerville. He was subsequently employed by the Fisherman’s Union Trading Company Ltd and the Iron Ore Company of Canada, Labrador City in the 1960s – 1970s. In later years he started working in the Newfoundland inshore cod fishery with his son Brent, and his wife Elsie until the Cod Moratorium in 1992. His hobbies included gardening, moose hunting, doing puzzles and making homemade hooked mats. He will be forever and lovingly remembered by his extended family and friends, remaining 10 children, 20 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services and a celebration of his life will be held at 2 pm on Tuesday April 25th, 2023 at the Church of the Holy Spirit, Fogo Island, followed by internment at Shoal Bay, Anglican Cemetery on Fogo Island.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his memory to the Church of the Holy Spirit, Fogo Island Central or to the Christina Cole Memorial Residence on Fogo Island. Condolences may be written to the family at Stacey’s Funeral Home, Gander at www.staceysfuneralhome.ca
August 28th 1930 – April 21st 2023
Our family announces the passing of Stephen John Coffin at the age of 92 years (August 28th 1930 – April 21st 2023) at the Christina Cole Memorial Residence on Fogo Island. Stephen was one of 11 children of George Allen and Eleanor (Nellie) Coffin, but raised by his paternal grandparents Ephraim and Jesse Coffin from the age of 4 years. He is pre-deceased by his wife of 69 years (Elsie nee Hewitt, August 25th 1932 - February 29th 2020 ) and eldest daughter Patricia (June 28th 1951-November 11, 2019). Left to mourn him are his younger sister Joan (affectionally known as Joanie), and sons Roy (Linda), Brent (Paula) and daughters Marie (Everett), Lucy (Perry), Daphne (Lloyd), Nancy (Jim), Carla (Chad), Cora (Ross), Mary (Boyd) and Dena (Karl).
Stephen left formal schooling in 1940 at age ten to work alongside his grandfather cutting wood in Birchy Bay, NL. His life-long varied employment included first working at the Cod Liver Oil Factory on Little Fogo Islands and then as a supervisor or foreman at the Fish Processing plants in Joe Batt’s Arm, Seldom and Summerville. He was subsequently employed by the Fisherman’s Union Trading Company Ltd and the Iron Ore Company of Canada, Labrador City in the 1960s – 1970s. In later years he started working in the Newfoundland inshore cod fishery with his son Brent, and his wife Elsie until the Cod Moratorium in 1992. His hobbies included gardening, moose hunting, doing puzzles and making homemade hooked mats. He will be forever and lovingly remembered by his extended family and friends, remaining 10 children, 20 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services and a celebration of his life will be held at 2 pm on Tuesday April 25th, 2023 at the Church of the Holy Spirit, Fogo Island, followed by internment at Shoal Bay, Anglican Cemetery on Fogo Island.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his memory to the Church of the Holy Spirit, Fogo Island Central or to the Christina Cole Memorial Residence on Fogo Island. Condolences may be written to the family at Stacey’s Funeral Home, Gander at www.staceysfuneralhome.ca