In Loving Memory James Robert Desson 1921-2008
Jim Desson died peacefully at age 87 in Ottawa’s Glebe Centre on Thursday, May 29, 2008 after a prolonged illness.
Jim is survived by his loving wife, Doreen; sister, Mary (John); sons Ken (Lisa) and Lorne; grandchildren Rae and Rhys; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by brothers Henry and George and by sisters Muriel and Eva.
Jim will be remembered as a devoted family man and as a valued member of his community. He was born in the coal mining town of Rosedale, Alberta, on May 23, 1921. At age five, Jim moved with his family to the Sunnyside neighbourhood in Calgary where he lived until enlisting in the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR) in 1940 at age 19. He served as a signal man on HMCS Winnipeg, an Algerine Class Minesweeper used to shepherd convoys across the North Atlantic, until the end of the war. Jim was married in 1950, moving to Kitimat in 1956, which was just then being created in the wilderness of north coastal BC. Working for Alcan until his retirement in 1985, Jim helped to build his community through active involvement in the Anglican church, the Lion’s Club, the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB), the Cub and Scout movement, the Royal Canadian Legion, and in numerous other ways. Jim and Doreen moved to Ottawa in 2000 to be closer to family.
Many thanks to the medical and nursing staff at the Glebe Centre for the sensitive, caring support Jim received during his seven months there. Jim’s rich life will be celebrated by his family and close friends in a private ceremony.
Messages of condolence can be sent to the family at kdesson@androcom.com
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the
Glebe Centre, 950 Bank Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5G6.