Obituary of Ronan Edward Halloran

With a new haircut to look his best at the age of 91, Ronan left this world peacefully in his sleep and returned to the arms of his loving bride. Predeceased by his wife of 60 years, Ann "Mert", and survived by his children Catherin (Doug), Michael (Joanne), Thomas (Marni), and Mark (Karri). Ronan was also blessed with nine grandchildren (Abigail, Gabrielle, Samantha, Matthew, Owen, William, Jackson, Ronan, and Rhys), four step grandchildren (Kaitlyn, Jocelyn, Matthew, and Taliesin), great grandchildren Peter and Anne, and his step great grandchild, Lucy.

Stoic, loyal and hard working, Ronan broke ice on the well on winter mornings to get water for his four younger brothers and sisters, helping his mother tend to the homestead in Nova Scotia while his father worked on the railway. His journey took him through Guysborough Academy and St Francis Xavier University and onwards to join communities in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Rockwood, and Dartmouth prior to his return to Guysborough. Graduating from St FX in 1955 and honing his business acumen in Toronto, Ronan worked much of his life in the transportation industry, running branch offices across Canada for Allied Van Lines and eventually retiring in 1999 as President of Hi-Tech Express.

His passion for moving people transcended his career. Always willing to help a stranger, employee, and charity, Ronan's acts of kindness and the lives he impacted are innumerable and best measured by his wealth of stories from a life well-lived. Those who knew him well enjoyed nickel tours of Montreal from a man they described as dignified, classy, humble, and tough but fair. Those who knew him better got the same tour accompanied by his treasured soundtrack of Johnny Cash, Springsteen and country classics capped off with a good card game and a wee dram that, as he would say, "goes around the heart like velvet". To his children, Ronan was a giant who, alongside his wife and partner in all things, built a lasting legacy of love evidenced not only by family members who are friends but by the myriad of people in this world who love them in turn. Giving their family everything they had, they proudly called it a blessing, never a sacrifice.

Not one to offer unsolicited advice, some of the gems that Ronan shared with his family suggested that “not much good happens after midnight’, that "you can’t saw sawdust", and that "nothing is a mistake until it leaves the office". And while he was correct that "a blind man on horseback will not see the difference", those privileged enough to stand upon his shoulders were perpetually elevated and clearly saw his strength.

REVERED FATHER. LOVING HUSBAND. RESPECTED LEADER. A FRIEND TO BE FOREVER MISSED.
HEAVEN JUST LANDED A GREAT SOUL. MAY HE REST IN PEACE.

 

To the caretakers, housekeeping and maintenance staff, and the rest of the other Milford Haven team, there is no sufficient thanks for the love and care you showed our father after he came home to Guysborough. A special thank you goes to Dr. Ranjini for her continued support. You all have our family's ever-lasting gratitude.

A celebration of Ronan's life will be held later this year with details to follow. Should you wish to honour Ronan, he would appreciate you leaving a few more smiles and good memories behind via a donation to Milford Haven. You can either send an e-transfer to mhalloran17@gmail.com (Michael Halloran) which will be forwarded to the facility or send a cheque directly to Milford Haven Home for Special Care - Recreation Department, 10558 Highway 16, Guysborough, NS, B0H 1N0.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction and care of Dennis Haverstock Funeral Home, Guysborough.

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