About Tim

~ Bitchy After 60

Tim, my youngest brother, arrived on the last day of July 1962. Only eleven months after my sister. My mother let it slip that he was unplanned so we, as siblings do, teased him about being an oops. My mother also, possibly unwisely, mentioned that she once owned a dog named Tim several years earlier. A fact that only provided us siblings more reason to tease him. After all, our youngest brother was named after a dog. Tim never minded this ribbing. As a matter of fact, he loved it. He had a great sense of humour and loved to laugh, often at himself. He loved jokes, bad jokes in particular. He told them often and repeatedly–laughing every time.  

My brother was sentimental. He loved Christmas, family gatherings and happy endings. When he was diagnosed last year, his objective was to have one more Christmas. And he did. Secretly, some of us were hoping that he would get another; but that wasn’t in the cards.

Tim loved music, especially playing the harmonica while downing a few beers with friends. His circle was wide. He loved people and to learn their stories. He gathered their details and held on to them, never forgetting how important they were to each particular person.

Like his dad, my stepdad, he married a woman who already had children; and like his dad, my stepdad, he loved them unconditionally. During his last year, Tim tried to spend as much time as possible with his own son, the youngest of the family. He kept saying he wanted to toss peanuts (life lessons) into the air with hopes his son would catch a few. I hope his son caught many because twenty-three is a difficult age to lose your dad.

Tim was one of the smartest people I knew, something I learned while typing  MBA papers for him in the eighties when we were both attending York University in Toronto. He won the Lieutenant Governor’s Award in high school but never acted smart or pretentious. He just wanted to be a local Nova Scotia boy, and that’s how he chose to go through life.  

Tim wasn’t perfect, none of us are. He didn’t always make wise life decisions, many people don’t; but he was the most loyal person I knew. He was a loyal and loving husband and father, and I know his family is shattered with his passing. He was a loyal friend in a circle that has remained intact since childhood. A loyal son who looked after his mother until he couldn’t. And a loyal brother, who, while his siblings got vocal and angry and sometimes refused to talk to each other, always forgave easily and quickly. 

Because of all this, he will be missed.

Thank you for reading. 

Photo:  Jenn Stone (actually, her mom)

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33 thoughts on “About Tim”

  3. Jenn, so sorry to hear of your brother’s passing. Your note telling us about him was beautiful and sounds like you have many cherished memories.♥️

    Take Care, June

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  4. I am truly sorry for the loss of your brother Tim. Such a young man. I am so lucky that I got to meet him a few times at the family gatherings I have attended. All the best.

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  6. I know we were cousins that never spoke much or seen much of each other but having a childhood memory of cousin Timmy taking me to the lake as a child had stuck with me!! I remember his kindness and his smile!! I certainly wish I had more memories with Tim!! My condolences to all his family your loss is felt by many!! Hugs to you all!!

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  7. I’m so sorry to learn of your brother’s passing, Jenn. I hope that his family will continue to follow his family traditions and sentimental nature.

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  14. I am so sorry to hear about Tim. I haven’t lost a sibling–yet–(but we’re all in our 70’s) I don’t know how you get through it. Love that he was named after the dog–or vice versa. I did the same with my daughter (middle name). Hugs to you.

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    1. Thank you. Hugs are wonderful and welcome. I am going on 66 and have lost 2 siblings in the last 7 years. I am a strong independent introvert and have learned how to work through this stuff over the years. Blogging is part of that process. I agree the dog story is a fun one. I enjoyed sharing that. Your daughter must get a lot of mileage out of that as well.

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