Obituary of Arthur Durnford Parsons
Arthur Durnford Parsons, 85, of Dartmouth, passed away on July 22, 2023, following a difficult battle with cancer.
Arthur was born on December 21, 1937, to the late James and Effie Parsons in Rencontre West, Newfoundland. Following the resettlement of many of the coastal fishing villages in southern Newfoundland, Arthur moved to Halifax in 1946.
Arthur will be dearly missed by his wife of 54 years, Viola (Vi) Parsons (LeBlanc); daughter, Deanne Parsons, Dartmouth; son, Christopher Parsons, Netherlands; and granddaughter, Sanne Parsons-Sierdsma, Netherlands.
He is also survived by two children from his previous marriage, their spouses, and four grandchildren. They include his daughter, Carol Marriot (Blaine) of Brookside; granddaughters Brooke and Bailey; son, Craig Parsons (Natasha) of Port Moody, BC; and grandsons Eric and Adam. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
Arthur was the youngest of his siblings and was predeceased by his four sisters and two brothers.
At the young age of 17, Arthur began to acquire his technical qualifications in marine electronics while working for the Department of National Defence. This led to a long and distinguished career with the Bedford Institute of Oceanography from which he retired in 1990.
Arthur was fortunate to have wonderful groups of friends throughout his life, but perhaps most notably during his retirement years. Art often remarked that his bowling group may have been somewhat shy on talent, but there was no end to the laughter and good-natured ribbing. Similarly, the ‘Friday Night’ circle of friends provided years of shared laughs, stories, and delightful meals together.
Arthur’s family would also like to thank Jack Rose and the late Ted Donelan for their decades of close companionship. Inseparable until the very end, their friendship meant a great deal to him. The family would like to share their gratitude to Art’s family doctor, Dr. Seth Bloom, for his diligence and support throughout his illness.
As per Art’s wishes, there are no plans for viewing or funeral services. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests memorial donations be made to the Canadian Cancer Society. Arrangements have been entrusted to Serenity Funeral Home, 34 Coldbrook Village Park Dr., Coldbrook, NS, B4R 1B9 (902-679-2822).
