Obituary of Michael William Calabrese
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the death of Michael William Calabrese of Douglas Harbour, NB on Monday the 14th of September 2020. Born on August 5th, 1946 in Minto, NB, Mike is predeceased by his parents Jack & Joyce Calabrese and the love of his life, Beverley.
Mike is survived by his two sons Bradley (Chanelle) and Darren (Tammy) and his 5 grandchildren; Harriet, Adeline, June, Jack and Quinn. Mike also leaves behind his brother Johnny (Cathy), nieces Carla (Mike), Caryn (Troy) and grand-niece and nephew Kristen and Connor.
Mike’s professional life started in some of the most remote landscapes that the Atlantic provinces have to offer — navigating and surveying his way from the coal mines in Labrador to the blackfly-infested backwaters of Northern New Brunswick. With a passion for the natural environment, he landed a permanent position with the province’s Department of Natural Resources as a fish biologist back home on Grand Lake. Mike’s excitement for the work and his colleagues was always genuine. He could take the everyday and make it special – he could make it seem worth talking about. This is what made him so loved and one of the many reasons will be so missed.
Although dedicated to his work, what defined Mike was his love of family and friends. Whether boating with the Clarks and Kowalskis in the Summer, hunting ducks and deer in the Fall, snowmobiling in the Winter, or getting the greens ready in the Spring with the crew at The Pines – there was no one easier with a smile or ready for a good chat. Those chats, however, were often one-sided and longer than expected. With Mike, there was never a short trip, never a bad duck blind and always just one last drink of rum in a small forgotten bottle to keep the cold at bay and the conversation warm.
His passing will leave a hole in the Grand Lake community that he so dearly loved. And, he knew that that very same community loved him back. With the traumatic loss of Beverley in 2014 and the difficult years that followed, Mike found true comfort in the long evenings at the Warming Shack, laughs at the 19th hole, and cherished time over food and wine with Heather Pugh.
For those who wish, donations in Michael’s name may be made to the MEMS Breakfast Program.
Funeral service for Michael can be viewed by following the link below
https://event.forgetmenotceremonies.com/ceremony?c=a749900c-4770-4c51-ae0e-92c0cdd67e71
