Obituary of Philip Lansdowne Belyea

We regret to announce the passing, on November 16, 2023, at Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital, of Philip Lansdowne Belyea, a resident of Fredericton. He was predeceased by his first wife, Ida Florence Belyea (Saunders), and is survived by their sons Gordon (Louise) Belyea and their daughters Hannah and Rebekah, and Bruce (Rita Lukasik) Belyea of Ottawa. He also leaves daughter-by-affection (through his late wife, Norma Jean Belyea (Gill)) Karen Glowa of Grande Prairie, AB, grand-daughter Jennifer Glowa (John) Miller, and great-granddaughters Regan and Caileigh of Trail, BC.

Born in Saint John, NB, the only son of the late Frank Lansdowne Belyea and the late Rosalie Marie Belyea (Perkins), Philip grew up in Saint John and Fredericton, attending Rothesay Collegiate Institute and UNB. He and Florence moved from Saint John to Ottawa in 1964, where he pursued a career as an auditor in the Treasury Board with the Public Service of Canada. Following Florence's death in 1993, Philip married Norma Jean in 1994, and spent many delightful years with her back home in Fredericton, until her death in 2021. Deeply shaken by her death, he subsequently moved into St. Anne's Court, Fredericton, where the staff and residents were encouraging and helpful to a fault. He loved the short time he spent in this last residence, and the friends, staff, and table-mates he came to know.

Philip was always quietly active in his community, from being a Cub and Boy Scout leader in Saint John and Ottawa to being recognised for his contributions to activities in his local neighbourhood (he was quietly proud of the «Golden Bee» award the community gave him). After hours, he contributed his considerable accounting expertise to support the TELCI agency group home in Ottawa. Following his return to Fredericton, he joined the Golden Club, and was a member of Hiram Lodge (Freemasons) of Fredericton and an officer of the Order of the Eastern Star, whom he often proudly served as pianist. He was also a member of Christ Church Cathedral.

Philip travelled extensively at home and abroad at the side of his wife Norma Jean, with frequent visits to grand-kids and great-grandkids, in whom he delighted. He took great pleasure in this extended and close family he gained through marriage to Norma Jean, considering them all as his own.

The family is extremely grateful for the many friends of Dad's who visited him under sometimes challenging circumstances, and the doctors, nurses, and staff of 4NW who took such good and compassionate care of him in his closing days.

Visitation will be held at McAdam's Funeral Home on Wednesday, November 22, from 2:00 - 4:00 pm and again on Thursday, November 23, from 9:00 - 10:00 am. Tribute services by the Freemasons - Hiram Lodge # 6 and Order of the Eastern Star - Celestial Chapter # 3 will begin at the funeral home at 1:30 pm on Wednesday afternoon. The memorial service will be held from Christ Church Cathedral on Thursday, November 23, 2023 at 11:00 am officiated by The Very Rev'd Geoffrey Hall. Interment will follow in the Fredericton Rural Extension. For those unable to attend in person a live stream will be available at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/@christchurchcathedralfton/streams .  For those who wish, donations in Philip's memory may be made to the Christ Church Cathedral Restoration Fund or a charity of the donor's choice.