RYAN, Melvin John -82, Port Hawkesbury, passed away at home on Wednesday, April 9, 2014. Born in Port Hawkesbury he was the oldest son of the late John James and Georgina Marie (LeBlanc) Ryan. He enjoyed singing and playing guitar with his friends and family and a good fiddler after the many concerts he played in. It has been known he was a great dancer on the floor during his early years. His favorite fiddle tune was Hector the Hero. He started work at the Creamery in Port Hawkesbury delivering milk across the ferry to Mulgrave, where he met his wife, Rhoda Ann Holmes. He became a mechanic and worked for Edmund Fourgere, Cruickshank’s Garage (with his father), later to go on to manage his own garage in Port Hawkesbury and Sydney where he lived for near 20 years. He enjoyed a good lobster, the bigger the better. Melvin was an avid horseman, owning many harness racing horses, where he raced in Inverness and Sydney. He was inducted in the Cape Breton Horseman’s Club in Sydney as an honorary member. He is survived by his only daughter, Penny (Dale) Sellers; his long time companion, Maxine Wood, Port Hawkesbury; brothers, Charlie (Sadie), Hubert, Port Hawkesbury; Lonnie (Alenes), New Glasgow; Phonse (Heather), Port Hood; Ken (Helen), Hanmer, Ont; Mike (Jeanette), Kitscoty, AB; sisters, Mae, Rita Ryan, both of Port Hawkesbury; Edwina (Jerry) Bennett, Alliston, Ont; Jean (George) Cook, Sherbrooke; Adline (Junior) Snair, Barbarton Road; Diane (Jack) Hoben, Mulgrave; close family relatives, Edward Ryan, Marie (John) MacKinnon, Barbarton Road; Mike (Shelma), Pleasant Hill; grandchildren, Tara Sellers (Robert Cass), Adrian (Amy) Sellers, Shelly (Adam) Williams, Owen (Tiffany) Sellers, Haley (Daniel) Murray, Grant Sellers; great-grandchildren, Lauren, Ryan, Carter, Bradon and Tanner; special friend, Daphne Wood. Besides his parents he was predeceased by his son, Edmund Ryan; his wife, Rhoda Ann (Holmes) of Mulgrave; sister, Betty Cleverdon; in-laws, Edmund and Rhoda Holmes of Mulgrave; sister-in-law, Margaret Meagher. Special thanks to Dr. Collins and the nurses for their care and compassion. Visitation will be Friday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. with vigil service at 7 p.m. in Dennis Haverstock Funeral Home, Port Hawkesbury. Funeral mass will be 10 a.m. Saturday from St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, Port Hawkesbury with Father Conrad Edwards officiating. Burial in the parish cemetery. Family flowers only please. Memorial donations may be made to St. Joseph Church Choir, or to a charity of your choice. Words of comfort may be forwarded to the family at: www.haverstocks.com Visitation Information Visitation Friday, April 11, 2014 Visitation Time 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. with vigil service at 7 p.m. Visitation Location Dennis Haverstock Funeral Home, Port Hawkesbury Service Information Service Date Saturday, April 12, 2014 Service Time 10 a.m. Service Location St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, Port Hawkesbury Burial Information Burial Date Saturday, April 12, 2014 Burial Time Following funeral mass Burial Location St. Joseph Parish Cemetery, Port Hawkesbury