John PACE Obituary

Thinking of you today Doreen, Bronwyn and familiy as you remember and celebrate John´s life. I remember John coming into Doreen and Bronwyn´s life when we were at high school and how happy he made you both. Such a humble man. RIP John. Thoughts with you all. Rachel and kids xx

I first met John in 1961 when we were both working for Davies Radio in Southend-on-sea, England. He would drive the delivery van while I drove the repair van. We would keep in touch with the very noisy and often difficult to hear Radio Telephones in our vehicles. Delivering televisions, radios and gramaphones back in those days was no easy task because they were often very large and heavy pieces of wooden furniture. John and I would often take a work break at a cafe on the arterial roadway and we quickly became very close friends and started meeting after work hours. I met Mal, whom John was dating at the time, and we would sometimes travel into London to see Speedway which John liked. We took a trip to Italy together in 1965 and I felt very honoured when John asked me to be the best man at his wedding to Mal.

I came to Canada in 1967 and was surprised to learn that John and Mal had moved to New Zealand at about the same time. We kept in touch and ten years later I took my vacation with them, and their beautiful children, in New Zealand. Photos of John and I taken with my camera at the time prove we had a really good, and sometimes crazy, time together. I saw and spoke to John when I was invited to Sophie's wedding in 2001. Since then we have drifted apart but there is no denying that John had influenced my life that many years ago in England. I was a college bookworm and never socialized other than at work. John gave me a new purpose. I don't think I ever thanked him for that - I should have.

A husband, father & grandfather will be so sadly missed. Such a lovely likeable man. At rest now. Jan, Les, Bronwyn and Paul
Jan