MITCHELL, Gerald

Gerald Mitchell was born in Halifax, on December 18th, 1956, and passed away with his family by his side on December 15, 2019, just a few days before his 63rd birthday. Never one to back down from a challenge, Gerald fought the most determined fight of his life with glioblastoma (brain cancer). His fighting spirit gained him five and a half years with family and friends that he would not allow cancer to take from him. Gerald was an accomplished contractor. He owned and operated Gerald Mitchell Contracting for over 40 years, building well over 2000 homes in Fall River and the surrounding areas. His dedication to the quality of his work and to his employees earned him respect as a businessman and leader in his community. Gerald lived life large and he lived life well. Everyone who knew him knew that he worked and played with equal fervour. He was a proud husband, father, grandfather, and brother who loved his family with every ounce of his being and he valued his friends beyond compare. Many of his favourite memories were of family vacations and Christmas time at home with everyone together. This Christmas, we will be raw from your loss and we will miss you deeply, but we will do our best to take comfort as we remember the many wonderful Christmases we have had together. With a compassion for giving back to those in need, Gerald was always helping out anyone he could at any time. He proudly supported The Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame and Feed Nova Scotia for many years. Gerald was an avid sports enthusiast and an ardent lifelong fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs, passions he passed on to his son Jerry. He made many lifetime friendships and many connections to several surrounding communities through sports. He played hockey beginning in high school until just last year. Most recently, he played with GM Maple Buds, but over the years he has played with the Sackville Scooters, St. Margaret’s Bay Mooseheads, as well as Dutch Settlement and Wellington in the East Hants Senior Men’s Hockey League. Gerald enjoyed other sports as well. He managed the Lake Fletcher Bears in the TriVillage Fastball League and was a lifetime member of Oakfield Golf and Country Club. Gerald was predeceased by his father, William Ernest Mitchell; and his mother, Violet Alice (Ivey) Mitchell; as well as his sister, Cindy Lee Mitchell. Gerald is achingly missed by his wife of 41 years, Angela Mitchell; daughter, Cheryl Law (Craig Law); son, Jerry Mitchell (Jessesar Mitchell); and the joys of his later life, grandchildren, Jaxon, Brooklyn, Ava Law, Will and Tessa Mitchell. Gerald is also sadly missed by his nephew, James Shears Hubley; and niece, Melissa Shears Hubley; as well as his siblings, Sherry Solnicka (Karel Solnicka), Kelly Mitchell (late Alan Miller), Sandra Mitchell (John Bona), and Bill Mitchell (Mary Mifflen). Gerald also leaves a large hole in the lives of his friends, many of whom rallied around him and his family in the last number of years, and especially in his last days. The family would like to send a grateful thank you to Dr. Michael Fleming, Dr. Brian Rade, Dr. William LaValley and the amazing doctors, nurses and staff at the palliative care unit at the VG Site QEII. Visitations will be held in Atlantic Funeral Home, 125 Sackville Drive, Sackville, on Wednesday, December 18th, from 2-4 p.m., and 7-9 p.m. A service to celebrate Gerald’s life will be held in St. John’s United Church, 3360 Highway 2, Fall River, Friday, December 20th, at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Fall River & Riverlake Lions Club, Fall River. Condolences can be left at: www.atlanticfuneralhomes.com Sackville Chapel