Obituary of Jerry "The Mean Pean" Pineau

The death of Jerry Pineau, loving partner of Ellen F. C. Murphy of 14 Rosedale Crescent, Saint John and Fran’s Haven, Cassidy Lake, Kings County, took place at the Saint John Regional Hospital on Thursday, 7 November 2019, following a long and valiant struggle with renal cell carcinoma.

Born in Stoney Creek, Ontario, 23 May 1970, the son of Doreen (Lang) Praught of Saint John and the late Lionel Joseph Pineau of Acadieville, he grew up in the South End of Saint John and was a proud graduate of Saint John High School (class of 1990).

From early childhood, Jerry displayed outstanding athletic prowess. In his youth, he was a prize-wining participant in and enthusiastic supporter of South End Little League. His decades long association with the Saint John Trojans Rugby Team – as a highly esteemed player and coach—won “Mean-Pean” (aka “Jer-Bear”) an enviable circle of loyal and devoted friends.  

Following studies at the Saint John Campus of the New Brunswick Community College, Jerry was employed as an icemaker and zamboni operator at Saint John’s Harbour Station and later for the Toronto Maple Leafs/Raptors at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto. For most of his working life, Jerry worked as a licensed carpenter. He was a painstaking craftsman who plied his trade with extraordinary physical strength from Saint John to Toronto to Fort MacMurray and back.

While noted for his sometimes-crusty exterior, Jerry had a heart as big as all outdoors.  He was the very definition of a straight shooter and his friendships were grounded in absolute (and sometimes unsparing) honesty.  He had an almost encyclopedic knowledge of popular culture, movies, sport and music.

In addition to his partner, Ellen, and his wide circle of cherished friends, Jerry leaves to mourn his mother and step-father, Doreen and Percy Praught, of Saint John; his siblings Patti and John of PEI and Ron of NB; Ellen’s brothers Steve Murphy, of Halifax and Peter Murphy of Saint John; numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and his goddaughter, Avery Stark.  He was predeceased by his father, Lionel (2018); his brothers, Wayne and Robert “Robbie” and his beloved grandparents: Jeremie Joseph Pineau (for whom he was named) and Lorette (Blanchard) Pineau and Alexander and Alvina (Leger) Lang.

Jerry will be waked at Brenan’s Funeral Home, 111 Paradise Row, 634-7424, on Sunday, November 10^th from 2:00 until 8:00 p.m.  Following cremation, a funeral Mass will be celebrated in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 91 Waterloo Street, on Tuesday, November 12^th, at 12:00 p.m. (with private interment of ashes in St. Joseph’s Cemetery).  A reception will follow the funeral Mass at the Big Tide Brewing Company, 47 Princess Street. Donations in Jerry’s memory may be made to the Saint John Labatt Trojans R. F. Club, c/o Brenan’s Funeral Home, 111 Paradise Row, Saint John, NB, E2K 3H6 (506-634-7424). www.BrenansFH.com