Obituary of Robert Gordon Likely

Robert Likely (Bob) passed away peacefully at the Ridgewood Veterans Wing on Monday evening, September 13, 2010. He was in his 95th year. Bob was born in Saint John on November 23, 1915 to Frank J. and Elizabethina (Bessie Armstrong) Likely. He graduated from Saint John High School and the University of New Brunswick with a science degree. After university, Bob worked for Pitfields, then Imperial Oil. He joined the army when war broke out in 1939 and served for six years - first as a Lieutenant, then a Captain in the Army Service Corps in charge of moving troops in France and Italy. After the war, Bob joined the family firm Joseph A. Likely Ltd. where he served for 25 years, before finishing his business career with the Rocca group as general manager of shopping centres throughout the maritime provinces. In 1939, Bob married the love of his life Barbara (MacCunn), and they had over 70 wonderful years together. Bob was a member of the Westfield Golf & Country Club, where he played for over 80 years. He represented New Brunswick as a junior on the Willingdon Cup team and four times on the NB senior team. He is a past president and the first inductee of Westfield’s Wall of Fame. He was also a member and a past president of St. Andrews Curling Club, Stony Run Fishing Club, Hammond River Salmon Club, TEGGUN Investment Club, Golden K Service Club, Royal Canadian Legion Branch #67, director and past president of the Saint John YMCA and a 25 year volunteer for Meals on Wheels. Bob was a devout parishioner of St. John’s (Stone) Church all of his life and was on the vestry many years, as well as a past warden. Bob was predeceased by his older brother J. Andrew of Charlottetown PEI. He is survived by his wife H. Barbara, his children Ann Lysaght (John) of Langley, BC, Neil Likely (Norma) of Calgary, AB, and Nancy Syroid (Jack) of Fredericton N.B. He was also loved and will be missed by his 9 grandchildren: Pauline Lysaght (Andrew Benson), Allison Fujita (Kazunori), Heather Kennedy (Garth), Grant Likely (Caireen), Samantha Likely, Janette Funk (Darcy), Peter Syroid, Karen Syroid (David Geris), Kimberly Syroid, 11 great-grandchildren, and five nephews. The family would like to thank the staff at Ridgewood Veterans Wing for the wonderful care he received these last two years. Words cannot express how caring and helpful the staff have been. He was loved by all who knew him . Resting at Brenan’s Funeral Home, 111 Paradise Row, Saint John, NB (634-7424) with visitation on Monday from 2-4 and 6-8 PM. The Funeral Service will be held at St. John’s (Stone) Church, Carleton Street on Tuesday, September 21, 2010 at 11 AM. A private family interment will take place in Fernhill Cemetery. For those who wish, remembrances to St. John’s (Stone) Church or a charity of the donor’s choice would be appreciated by the family. Online condolences may be placed at