Obituary of Robert Keenan

Robert “Bob” Charles Keenan left this world on January 3, 2011. Many relatives and friends mourn the passing of Bob, a husband, father, treasured uncle, and active community and church member. Bob was one of 15 children. He was born on February 18, 1931 and raised in Johnville, Carleton County, NB. After his early years of education in a one-room schoolhouse, he went on to Saint Thomas College in Chatham, NB, for his high school diploma. He returned to farming with his brothers for a short time. Bob began his career with the survey crew of Atlas Construction Co. in 1954 at CFB Gagetown. Over the next 38 years, he worked on many projects, including the Saint Lawrence Seaway in Iroquois, ON, Rainy Lake Causeway and Bridge in Fort Frances, ON, an oil wharf at Sept Isle, QC, the IOC plant in Labrador City, followed by many projects in the Maritimes as a Superintendent until his retirement in 1992. Bob met Marg Campbell at a dance in 1952 and they married in 1954. They raised four sons and two daughters, and together as a family, they coped with the unfathomable loss of their son and brother, Steven, in 1987. A real people person and always concerned for the well-being of others, Bob maintained commitments to church and community along with family and work. In Nashwaaksis, he was a member of St. Theresa’s first parish council. He is a life member of the Knights of Columbus, active first in Woodstock, then with the Bernard F. McMahon Council # 8654 in Fredericton North. He and Marg moved to Whites Cove in 1992 where he became involved at St. Patrick’s Church. They returned to Fredericton and St. Theresa’s in 2006. Bob was also involved in the Lions Club; in Nashwaaksis from 1971 to 1992 and in Jemseg for another 15 years. He enjoyed singing in several choirs in Jemseg, Gagetown and Fredericton. Bob was rooted in family and tradition. Countless gatherings of family and friends were enriched by his passion for music and penchant for storytelling. Back home in Johnville, most of his nine sisters played piano. It was the hearth in many homes Bob visited as much as possible throughout the extended family. He was a supreme guardian of family history, and he lovingly shared his memories and ‘words of wisdom.’ Above all, Bob was a wonderful husband and father and will be greatly missed by his wife of 56 years, Marg; children, Mona (Daryl) Crossman, Barbara (John) Williams, Brian (Carla), Bill (Theresa), and Dan (Mary Kay); grandchildren, Geoffrey Crossman, Erin, Michael, and Robbie Williams, Natalie, Matthew, Kristi Dawn, Mitchell, Katelyn, and Jennifer Keenan. He is also survived by sisters, Marie Gallagher, Lillian (James) Bibby, Evelyn (Alastair) Catterson, Beatrice Ross, Monica Jurosky, and Joan (Bob) Kenny; sisters-in-law, Irene (Fred) Keenan and Mary (Henry) Keenan; many nieces and nephews who were dear to him and who considered him more than an uncle, and several Campbell family members. He was pre-deceased by parents, Harry Keenan and Mary (Sweeney); son, Steven, grandson; Christopher Crossman, sisters and their spouses, Kathleen (Tommy) Courtney, Helen (Dan) Mahoney, and Olga (Al) Hewitt; brothers and their spouses, Alvin (Irene ) Keenan, Frank (Margaret) Keenan; brothers, Henry, Fred and Avery; brothers-in-law James Ross, John Gallagher, and Andrew Jurosky. Visitation at York Funeral Home, 302 Brookside Drive, Fredericton North on Thursday, January 6, 2011 from 2 to 4 pm and 7 to 9 pm. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Theresa’s Roman Catholic Church, 1 William Street, Fredericton North on Friday, January 7, 2011 at 2 pm with Father John Jennings as celebrant. There will be a reception following the funeral service in the Church Hall. Christian Burial will follow at St. Gertrude’s Calvary Cemetery, Woodstock NB at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Mass For Shut-ins; Chalmers Foundation … Palliative Care Unit or Extra Mural Hospital or to the charity of the donor’s choice. Personal condolences and tributes may be made through www.yorkfh.com. “A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees.” ~Amelia Earhart