Obituary of Richard Niles

Richard Niles ObituaryIn his 85th year, Richard (Dick) Banford Niles passed away peacefully on Saturday July 18th, after a short 11 day stay at West Oak Village Long Term Care Home, surrounded by his loving wife Maureen Niles (married 60 years on July 2nd), his much loved daughters Shari Niles and Suzanne Niles (John Smart) and his much adored grandchildren Philip Hampton and Esmee Jordan. He will be deeply missed by his family, including his sister-in-law Jessie Niles, his sister/brother -in-law, Madoline and Wayne Heard, and his many nieces and nephews that he spent time with at the cottage or played crib with at family events. Dick cherished the good friendships that he made over his lifetime. His grand-pup Chase and grand-cat Jeremy will also miss him. Dick is resting now and for those that knew Dick best, you know he loved to rest!Dick was predeceased by his parents Lewis Niles and Genevieve LeBlanc, both from Atlantic Canada, and his 5 brothers and sisters; Edward Duffy, William Duffy, Herb Niles, Elizabeth Duffy Makohn and Mary Niles Maywood.After growing up in Toronto Ontario, Dick was a Branch Manager at Traders Group/Trans Canada Credit for his entire career (May 1953 - July 1991) working in Toronto, Sudbury, Kingston and for the majority of his career in Belleville, Ontario. After taking an early retirement, he then spent two years as a mortgage broker. Being good at numbers he often corrected his children and grandchildren when they made a numbers error!Dick was very involved at Eastminster United Church in Belleville Ontario including being on the Board for many years and he also served on the Board for his condo unit in Oakville. Dick did many years of volunteering as a credit counsellor for the Quinte region and was a lifelong donator to the Canadian Blood Services, making over 100 donations of blood over his lifetime. Following retirement, Dick and Maureen spent many years enjoying their winters in Myrtle Beach and with the move to Oakville, it was all about being with and supporting the grandkids.Dick was the ultimate family man, avid crib player, golfer in his younger years, reader and sports enthusiast. He had his favourite spot at the cottage to read books and listen to the Jays game while overlooking Dummer Lake. He loved the Blue Jays, Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Argonauts. He was an even bigger fan of his daughters sporting events. He watched his two daughters figure skate in Belleville 5 days a week for many years and was a boisterous fan in the stands for Suzanne’s basketball games. He took his daughters out fishing at the cottage on a regular basis and patiently listened to their many hours of piano, trumpet and flute practice. He also loved to lie on the couch and listen to TV and “rest his eyes”! Maureen would often yell at Dick while he was resting on the couch and say “Richard, are you sleeping?” and every time Dick would reply “I’m just resting my eyes”!With his friends and family, Dick loved to debate. And Dick never lost an argument, as he was always right. He had strong opinions and his friends will now fondly remember the many times they would finally shake their heads and give up on the debate!Dick attended as many of his grandchildren’s hockey games as he could, attending a record 51 hockey games for Phil and Esmee in 2005-2006. Dick and Maureen travelled regularly to RPI in Troy New York to visit and watch Phil pay NCAA hockey and attended Phil’s graduation at RPI in 2016. With Phil just finishing his Master of Applied Science degree at the University of Toronto Institute of Aerospace Studies, Grandpa would ask Phil every time they talked on the phone over the last 4 months when Phil would have his thesis done. Shortly before Grandpa passed, Phil told him it would be done every soon which made Grandpa happy. Esmee was the most loving and constant companion to her grandfather over his last few days. He had a beautiful face to look at when he was awake, and he was so proud of her for entering her fourth year of a B.Sc. program in Neuroscience at Guelph University this fall. With education being so important to Dick, both grandchildren will remember, as well as his daughters, that after every test, paper and exam, the mark needed to be reported to Dad/Grandpa.Despite not being able to see his family in person for the last 4 months of his life, due to COVID 19, Dick always had a positive outlook and looked at life with the glass half full. This is the way he always lived his life.The family would like to thank all the caring doctors, nurses, staff and care-workers on the Williams Unit at West Oak Village as well as the staff and caregivers at Oakville Trafalgar Hospital, for the 4 months Dick stayed there after his stroke on March 1st. With COVID 19 rules in place, the family talked to Dick every day on the phone but were unable to visit him during the last four months of his life. We were however extremely thankful to be allowed by his bedside during Dick’s last few days at West Oak Village.Due to COVID 19 restrictions, there will be no service. Friends and family are invited to leave messages of condolences or donations to the Heart & Stroke Foundation or Arthritis Society through Glen Oaks Funeral home at www.glenoaks.ca. Cremation will take place at Glen Oaks Funeral Home and burial will occur at a later date at St. Marks Church Cemetery in Warsaw Ontario.