RICE, Albert Vincent

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Albert Rice, age 91, on Wednesday, December 20, 2017. Da passed peacefully at home surrounded by the love of his family.

Born in Sydney Mines on March 22, 1926, he was the son of the late Weston and Matilda Rice.

In his early years, he worked as a proud coal miner at Princess Colliery, and afterwards he drove Kelly’s Mountain daily while working for MacAulay Ford in Baddeck, where he developed many lifetime friendships through his customers. Da was an avid fisherman and was forever seeking the next great fishing spot. He was a great storyteller and his sense of humour was contagious, a wonderful trait passed on to many of his children. Dad’s greatest pleasure was spending time with his family, who he loved so dearly, and was always so proud of each one.

Albert is survived by his true love and soul mate of 71 years, wife, Irene (Butts) and his nine children, Albert (Vonda), James “Bud” (Sandra), Walter (Colleen), Lily Tomanek (Rick) , Diane MacPherson, Ester Woods (Steve), Gale Williams (Roy), Rubyann Filion (Denis) Darlene Haggett (Steve); his brother, Tom and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Besides his parents he was predeceased by brothers, Walter, Roy and Louis, and sisters, Ellen and Dorothy.

A heartfelt thank you to the Northside Homemakers, VON, Dr. Kohlsmith, Dr. Ritter and the Palliative Care Team and Ramnish Tewari.

Visitation for Albert Rice will be held Friday, December 22, 2017, from 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. in J. M. Jobes Funeral Home, Main St., Sydney Mines.

The funeral service will take place Saturday at 11 a.m. in Trinity Anglican Church, Queen St., Sydney Mines, with Rev. Stacey LeMoine officiating. A luncheon will follow in church basement.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Da’s memory may be made to the Northside Homemaker Service Society, or the Northside Harborview Hospital Foundation Rehab Unit.

Words of comfort may be forwarded to his family at www. jmjobesfuneralhome.com.