John Frederic William Sutherland arrived at the end of his days in Greenwich on the ancestral farm of over 200 years. He had health issues for a number of years and although never declared “Scot-free”, he remained upbeat and positive about his future. But fate dictated otherwise and fittingly, as an undeclared environmentalist his entire life, he has returned to Mother Nature.

 

John was a child of the family farm and a child of a father who valued community involvement in agricultural issues at both provincial & federal government levels, and a responsibility to all of the local cooperative movements. John also inherited from his mother a sense of community and a commitment to the care and support of others to being a patient, kind and loyal neighbour.

 

John and his family were proud “Greenwicher’s” long before the community was discovered by environmentalists and archaeologists to become a national treasure for tourism. He was a natural historian, a UPEI graduate, a certified mechanic who worked at the Charlottetown Experimental Farm enterprise before becoming a fulltime “Farmer”.

 

When he was in his prime on the dirt-track stock car racing era, John often said “that a bad day at racing was better than a good day at anything else” - he was fearless!!! An avid traveller throughout his life all over Upper Canada and down to the “Boston States” with friends and/or relatives.

 

John’s community commitments over the years ranged from support for the local United Church, Midgell Cemetery, St Peter’s Coop and for many years the Morell Credit Union. He was always ready to “put his boot in” when required to establish some clear-headed thinking or affirmative action anywhere in his community. He cared about his extended family, his neighbours, his friends.

 

He was a dedicated lover of stories highlighting the characters of the Greenwich area. He would spin tales about their humanity as well as their greater and lesser gifts (!!). He built solid relationships with personalities of diverse backgrounds, valuing each for their own uniqueness, Because of this, John was beloved by so many, many friends from all walks of life. He was a collector of friends who had experiences and tales to tell. His friends were unbelievably true and loyal and in his final years, so very helpful and kind and he loved you all.

 

John was predeceased by his parents Flora (nee Martin) and Shirley Sutherland; his nephew Richard Lacey, niece Andrea Denman and grand-nephew Wyatt Wood.

 

Left to mourn and remember him are his sisters Kathleen (Wayne Denman) and Anne Shirley Sutherland (Lawrence Lacey), nieces and nephew: Briana Lacey (Kevin Louro), Ashley Lacey, Sarah Denman Wood (Paul Wood); David Denman (Marni Madden Denman); and Grand nieces and nephews William and Penny, Charlotte & Michael, Freddie, Emma & Ethan.

 

John’s family offer thanks for the wonderful assistance of the Souris branch of Home Care and to hospitals in Souris, Montague and Charlottetown, particularly the PEI Cancer Treatment Centre.

 

Resting at MacLean Funeral Home Swan Chapel. Funeral Wednesday from St. Peter’s Bay United Church at 11:00 a.m. Interment in Midgell Cemetery. Flowers are welcome and if so desired, memorial donations may be made directly to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Foundation (PEI Cancer Treatment Centre) or a charity of choice. Visiting hours Tuesday from 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Online condolences may be made at www.macleanfh.com

 

And above all, thank you the faithful loving friends who stood with him and helped in his final year. You are beloved.

 

Donations may be mailed directly to:

 

Queen Elizabeth Hospital Foundation

PO Box 6600

Charlottetown, PE

C1A 8T5

Ph: 902-894-2425