Obituary of Ralph Joseph Boyle

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Ralph Joseph Boyle on July 14, 2021 at the Turnbull Nursing Home in Saint John.  Ralph was born December 30, 1930, in Dipper Harbour.  He was the son of the late Peter and Clara (Kelly) Boyle and the loving husband of Margaret (McDevitt).

Ralph left school and Dipper Harbour early and headed to Saint John to find work. He began his career at Canadian Tire sweeping floors and retired 42 years later as General Manager.  He loved his Canadian Tire family and made many lifelong friends there.  He met Mom (Mary Quinlan) when she arrived in Dipper Harbour to teach and they married in 1952.  Dad loved his Dipper Harbour upbringing and visited the family home often.  He maintained a lifelong love for lobster and passed that on to his children.

Dad and Mom loved to take the kids on tent trailer adventures and we made many memorable trips throughout New Brunswick, Ontario, Maine and New Hampshire. After our tenting fun, we enjoyed a cottage in Chapel Grove for many years. Dad loved making improvements to the camp and he enjoyed playing in our little motorboat.

Dad’s focus was his family.  He was a loving son and helper to his parents and a loving tormentor to others, especially his sister Peg.  Their sarcastic sparring and teasing was legendary.  Dad loved family gatherings and suffered from the Boyle affliction of thinking he was funny.  He always had a smart remark or a quick reply with a raised eyebrow; this continued despite his battle with vascular dementia.  He never lost his sense of humour.

He loved to build and create, and all of his family benefitted from his building and renovation skills.  He liked nothing better than to rip something apart and build something better in its place. He loved a project and enjoyed hard work.  Like his father, he was happiest doing carpentry work.  He also enjoyed woodturning and even took up oil painting and produced a number of canvases of which he was quietly proud.  Dad also had an entrepreneurial bent and he owned and operated the Gay Nineties ice cream shops for a number of years.  Dad loved hockey and baseball and was a loyal Leafs and Blue Jays fan.  Mom and Dad took up square dancing and enjoyed dancing with the Beaus and Belles for years.

Dad was lucky enough to have two big loves in his life.  He and Mary spent more than 40 years together. After she died, Dad found his angel in Margie; they laughed, had all sorts of fun and loved and supported each other for more than 25 years.  They had great times on their winter trips to Florida and maintained lasting friendships with other snowbirds.  With Margie came a whole bunch of new kids, grandkids and great-grandkids and he loved them all.  He enjoyed being Grampie and Mr. Fixit to his expanded family.

Dad was a faithful member of St. Pius X Church, serving as a long-time usher and member of the Parish Council.  He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus.

Dad was predeceased by his parents; his first wife, Mary (Quinlan); brother, Jim Boyle and sister-in-law, Helen; sister, Margaret (Peggy) Lidstone and brother-in-law, Norman, brother-in-law, Paul Quinlan and wife, Ruth, brother-in-law, Benny Quinlan and wife, Carol; sister-in-law, Patricia Langille and husband, Cyril; dear stepdaughters, Susan Smith and Janice McDevitt.

Along with his loving wife, Margie, Ralph is survived by his children and step-children, Susan Boyle, Saint John, Mark Boyle (Mary McCarthy), Halifax, Linda Boyle (Brenda Murphy), Fredericton, David  Boyle (Laura Steele), Halifax, Janie (Steve) Lewis, Halifax, Cathie (Gavin) Insley, Saint John, Peter McDevitt, Saint John, Wendy (Gary) Stephen, Ottawa and Darren (Martha) McDevitt, Saint John; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, including special grandchildren, Kyra, Brogan, Harper and Katherine; sister-in-law, Doreen (Dodie) Wright, Dominion, NS and special friends, Linda and Cleo Mallet.  Ralph is also survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Ralph’s family wish to offer the most sincere thanks to the staff of the Turnbull Nursing Home.  You took great care of Dad, laughed at his jokes and showed him love.  You are a wonderful group of people and we thank you for making Dad’s last years happy ones for him and worry-free ones for his family.

Arrangements are under the care of Brenan’s Funeral Home, 111 Paradise Row, Saint John, 634-7424 where visitation will take place on Sunday, July 18, 2021 from 2-4 and 6-8 PM.  Guests are asked to enter the funeral home using the courtyard entrance, where staff will greet and assist you with COVID-19 protocol.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated from Holy Redeemer Parish (St. Pius X Church), 316 Somerset Street, Saint John on Monday, July 19, 2021 at 10:00 AM.  For those unable to attend, the service will be livestreamed and can be viewed by visiting Ralph’s obituary on Brenan’s website.  Interment to follow in St. Joseph’s Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Ralph's memory may be made to a charity of the donor's choice.  Online condolences and remembrances may be placed at www.BrenansFH.com.