Obituary of Paul Robert Penney

It is with sorrow that the family of Paul Robert Penney of Charters Settlement, New Brunswick announces his sudden passing on September 26, 2022 at the age of sixty-six. He is survived by his wife, Angela, son Father Matthew (Catherine), daughters Connie Rose (Father John) and Kate, their mother, Chris, step-children Anjulie (Michael) and Loren (Melissa), and grandchildren Garrett, Caitlin, Kristyn, Mikhail, Landon, Finley and Piper, sister Kimberly (Georg), brother Sean (Lisa), honourary brother Roy (Rose), nieces, nephews, many friends and extended family. He is predeceased by his father, Lloyd, mother, Rosetta, and brother Lloyd Junior (Linda). With his penchant for “ranting and roaring” Paul was, as they say, “a true Newfoundlander”. Having left the island as a teenager, he lived most of his life on “the mainland”, but his accent and manner betrayed his Newfoundland roots. Proud of his heritage, he liked to tell stories of his childhood berry-picking and playing kick-the-can with siblings and cousins. A practicing social worker in Saint John, N.B. and surrounding areas for 30 years, Paul was well known and well loved by many in the community. Perhaps equally well known for his wood-working craftsmanship, he loved taking on projects and bragging about his incredible work. Speaking of bragging… There is a long list of things Paul liked to brag about, and he had the bragging rights to do so. He finished university before he finished high school. He was fiercely proud of his time in the armed forces. He was a member of the very first graduating class of the St. Thomas University Social Work Programme (1982). He was 38 years sober. He turned a wood-woking hobby into a post-retirement career. He was a mentor to many. He firmly believed, and knew from personal experience, life is what you make of it. Paul made his life meaningful by his good deeds and his good example. He dearly loved his wife, Angela. Recognizing her natural love and kindness, he would call her a “true humanist.” He admired her creativity, generosity of spirit and was very grateful to her for the love she has shown his children throughout their twenty-year relationship. Similarly, he loved and cared for Angela’s children and was greatly honoured to be “Grampy Paul” to their seven grandchildren. He was an incredible father who did not let his children away with much and taught them the kind of life lessons that establish long-lasting habits. He emphasized the importance of commitment, taking responsibility, and asking for forgiveness. He was the kind of person who could irritate you as much as impress you but you could not easily stay upset with him. In the last number of years if Paul wasn’t in his shop, you could find him driving people to church, singing and serving there. He quickly became a fixture in the Orthodox Christian communities in both Saint John and Fredericton. He will be sorely missed but never forgotten. The tears shed by his family and friends are not merely from sorrow but from gratitude for having had him in our lives. A visitation will be held at McAdam's Funeral Home on Thursday, September 29, 2022 from 4:00 - 6:00 pm. A funeral service will take place at the Faith Baptist Church, New Maryland, on Friday, September 30, 2022 at 10:00 am with an interment to follow in the church cemetery. The Orthodox Christian funeral service will be officiated by Rev Dr Matthew Penney and Rev Dr John Palmer. A live stream can be viewed at the following website address: https://youtu.be/qgO6B3eFaHw In case of technical issues a back up live stream will be at the following website address: https://youtu.be/agi1mJWKPrM IN lieu of flowers, donations to The Holy Monastery of the Virgin Mary the Consolatory https://www.monasterevmc.org/pages/donate-3, St. Thomas University Social Work Program, or your local SPCA would be appreciated by the family. May his memory be eternal and always to be remembered!