CORNEY, Orvin Ernest
The Funeral Service and Celebration of Life for Orvin Ernest Corney, husband of Wanda (Buchanan) Corney, Riverdale, PEI, was held on May 3, 2017 in the chapel at Hennessey Cutcliffe Charlottetown Funeral Home. Violinist Buffy Andrews Flick ushered her longtime friend and musical mentor into the service and also beautifully played a self-composed “Ode to Orvin”, accompanied by Terry Flick on guitar. “Words of Remembrance” were lovingly given by Orvin’s daughter, Beth Corney Gauthier. A selection of Orvin’s favorite old hymns was played on the piano by Orvin’s daughter, Ferne MacNevin, and the first Scripture Reading (Ecclesiastics 3:1-8) was read by Orvin’s daughter, Glenna Smith, as well as “The Cross in my Pocket”, a poem loved and often read by Orvin and his family. The second Scripture Reading (Psalm 46:110) was read by Bompy’s youngest grandson, Zachary Gauthier. Allan Keoughan, a dear friend of Orvin and his family, sang “These Hands” and “Life’s Railway to Heaven,” chosen to symbolize Orvin’s hard work with his carpenter’s hands and his belief that life is the beginning of the railway to Heaven. Steven Stead of Central Parish Presbyterian led in prayer and offered “Words of Comfort” to the family. Lisa Stead, pianist, was accompanied by Buffy as they led the congregation in singing, “Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross,” one of Orvin’s favorite hymns and the one he mostly closed each evening playing music with one of his violins. Following the Benediction, Buffy led Orvin and his family from the service to the beautiful strains of “Ashokan Farewell”. The flowerbearers were Bompy’s four granddaughters, Vanessa (Smith) Snider, Jessica (Smith) Lord, Alyssa (Smith) Allain and Shelby MacNevin. The pallbearers were family members; daughters and sons-in-law, Sid and Glenna Smith, Ian and Ferne MacNevin, Lee Gauthier and Beth Corney Gauthier and grandsons, Brodie MacNevin and Zachary Gauthier. The funeral processional took a journey through Orvin’s beloved Green Bay and Riverdale en route to Burnside Cemetery in Clyde River, PEI. As bagpiper, Terry Flick, family friend, played nearby, Orvin was laid to rest near his precious granddaughter, Amy MacNevin (1979-89), in the family plot. Rev. Stead presided over the graveside service and all funeral arrangements were under the direction of Kevin Gallant and Bruce McKinley.