Obituary of Joseph Austin Chamberlain

The death of Joseph "Joe" Austin Chamberlain, husband of the late Helen Elizabeth (nee Yeoman) Chamberlain, occurred on Saturday, October 13, 2012 at the Ridgewood Veteran’s Wing in Saint John. He was the son of the late Leroy Cecil and Frances Eliza (Eldridge) Chamberlain. At eighteen, Joe joined the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps on September 21, 1944, and served until April 12, 1946. He worked at the Saint John Dry Dock as a pipefitter, and was a lifetime member of the Plumbers and Pipefitters Union Local 213, and also worked for Branford Roofing. He retired from the Dock after 43 years. Joe was a member of the Dry Dock Bowling League, and was a volunteer firefighter for approximately twenty years for the original Parish of Simonds Fire Department on Bayside Drive, and later the East Saint John Fire Department. He loved the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing. Joe is survived by two daughters, Ann McKinney and Bonnie Hourihan (Kevin) both of Passekeag, NB; a son, Brian (Brenda) of Nauwigewauk, NB eight grandchildren, fourteen great-grandchildren; a sister, Patricia Middleton of Saint John; a brother-in-law, Murdock Fraser of Ontario; and several nieces and nephews. Besides his wife and parents, Joe was predeceased an infant son; two grandsons, Dana Chamberlain and Andrew Hourihan; son-in-law Fred McKinney; sister Audrey Fraser; and brother-in-law, Ernest Middleton. Resting at Brenan’s Funeral Home, 111 Paradise Row, Saint John (634-7424), with visiting on Wednesday, October 17, 2012 from 2-4 and 7-9 pm. The funeral service will be held on Thursday, October 18, 2012 at 2:00 pm from Brenan’s Chapel. Interment will take place in Ocean View Memorial Gardens. For those who wish, remembrances to any charity of the donor’s choice would be appreciated by the family. A Royal Canadian Legion Veteran’s Tribute will be held on Wednesday, October 17, 2012 at 7:00 PM at the funeral home.