MCFADDEN, Jesse Robert Smyth

June 12, 1974 – November 7, 2016

Jesse McFadden was born in Woodville Mills, P.E.I., the beloved son of Laurel Smyth and William McFadden. Jesse grew up in Charlottetown and was a graduate of Prince Street, Birchwood, and Colonel Gray High Schools. Keenly intelligent, he loved mathematics, music, art and philosophy.

As a youth he sought independence, and supported himself working for Greenpeace, cooking at Duffy’s, and as part of the Safety Crew widening the Hillsboro Bridge. Jesse then left us and moved to Vancouver, where he made loyal friends. He is remembered in both East and West for his great wit, quirky humour and warmth. Jesse suffered from Bipolar Disorder, and endured hardships and homelessness until he found caring help through agencies such as The Kettle Friendship Society and the Province of British Columbia. He struggled long and hard to control his mental health, and over the past decade succeeded in maintaining his own home, two cats, and deep friendships with Suzanne Johnson and Eric Othiot. He worked for 8 years at Mighty Riders Bicycles, where he found acceptance and affectionate appreciation. In October 2016, Jesse sought medical help for deepening depression at VGH, where he had found relief in the past. Sadly, they could not keep him safe this time; in dark of night he died of suicide at UBC Hospital. Never to be forgotten by any who knew him and forever missed by his family, Jesse is survived by his mother and siblings Michele Smyth, Eli Smyth, Will McFadden and Corin McFadden; as well as by his father and younger half-sisters Elizabeth Stickland, Bryde MacLean, and Fern, Sarah, Rose and Shannon McFadden. He is mourned as well by his aunts, cousins, step-kin and many friends.