O'NEIL, Ernest Alphonsus "Phonse"98, passed away at home on Tuesday, February 10, 2009. Born November 18, 1910, in Mulgrave, he was the son of the late Samuel J. and Catherine A. (Gillis) O'Neil. He was a quarter master on the CNR Scotia 11 train ferry from 1938 until termination of this ferry service on the Strait of Canso in 1955. In December of that year he accompanied the newly commissioned MV Bluenose car ferry from Luzon, Que. to Yarmouth. For the next number of years he worked on this run between Yarmouth and Bar Harbor, Me., before taking employment with Acadia Fisheries Ltd. in Mulgrave. During this time he was elected president of Local 110 of the Canadian Seafood Workers Union and remained in that position until the plant was destroyed by fire on December 4, 1971. Following this, he was employed with the Mulgrave Water Commission at the government wharf in town. A life-long sports enthusiast, he especially enjoyed baseball, hockey, boxing and horse racing. An avid gardener, Phonse was acutely aware of the time for planting, growing and harvesting. He saw God's plan at work which filled his soul with much peace and gratitude. It gave him great joy to share his flowers and vegetables with countless friends and family. A very intelligent man with a life-long passion for learning, he understood the value of education as the way of improving the lives of those most at risk in society. This very virtuous man who cared deeply about his family and neighbours both near and far was a long-time supporter of the Coady International Institute at St. Francis Xavier University, the Stephen Lewis Foundation, the Strait Area Right to Life, the Leeside Transition House and Covenant House. He is survived by his loving wife of over 71 years, Viola (Meagher) O'Neil; daughters, Joan Houlder, Thunder Bay, Ont; Sr. Gwendolyn O'Neil, CND, Sydney Mines; Maureen (Bob) Troman, Pincher Creek, Alta, and Mary (Lanny Der) O'Neill, Edmonton, Alta; son, Kevin O'Neil, Mulgrave; ten grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren; sister, Emily Cohoon, Auld's Cove and brother, Angus (Philomena) O'Neill, Mulgrave, and many nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by sisters, Malinda 'Molly' Strachan, Bernadette Spray, Angela McDonald and Imelda O'Neil; brothers, Samuel, Anthony, Eugene, Leonard, Elmer and Ignatius. The family would like to thank Dr. Michael Brennan and all healthcare providers for their compassionate and professional care given to Dad during his extended illness and to John Langley of Dennis Haverstock Funeral Home, Port Hawkesbury. Resting in Mulgrave and Area Resting Place with visitation 2-4 and 7-9 p.m., Friday, February 13. Mass of Resurrection will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, February 14, in St. Lawrence Church, Mulgrave, with Father Lloyd O'Neill, his nephew and Fr. Allan MacPhie, p.p. presiding. Internment later in St. Lawrence Cemetery. Donations to Mulgrave and Area Resting Place or the Canadian Cancer Society. Funeral arrangements are under the care and direction of Dennis Haverstock Funeral Home, Port Hawkesbury. Words of comfort may be forwarded to the family at: www.haverstocks.com "The best place to see God is in a garden - you can dig for him there." -George Bernard Shaw