Roggeveen, Paul Adrian
Born: 15 February 1929
Died: 17 August 2014
Died peacefully, surrounded by his loving family, on August 17, 2014, in Victoria, B.C. Paul was the oldest child of Paul and Agnes Roggeveen. He was predeceased by his wife Eileen, whom he often called the love of his life, by his infant son Paul, his parents, and his brothers Ted (Goldie) and Roland. He is survived by and will be forever cherished, deeply loved and missed by his children Marina (Gary), Linda (Peter) and Greg (Eileen), by his two wonderful grandsons, Nicolas and James, and by his brother Frank (Joyce) and brothers-in-law Gerry (Pat) and Vince (Yolande) and sisters-in-law Denise (Bernie) and Gloria (Cussy) and by many, many nieces and nephews across Canada and the U.S. who have always had a soft spot for their straight-shooting and generous Uncle Paul.
Paul was born in the old Misericordia Hospital in Edmonton, Alberta on February 15, 1929, and was raised in the small town of Sedgewick, some 120 miles from Edmonton, where everyone knew everyone and where Paul, his brothers and the other children had to make their own fun or roam the local countryside. In his late teens, Paul earned his spending money by digging gardens by hand or taking care of neighbours' homes and animals. During the war, he twice spent the summer holidays working as a section hand for the CPR and the fall threshing for the local farmers. This explained the powerful and honest handshake that Paul exchanged with everyone throughout his entire life.
In January 1947, Paul joined the Royal Canadian Navy ("RCN") as an Ordinary Seaman and was drafted to HMCS Naden in Victoria for new-entry training. He spent the following three years serving in HMCS Uganda and Ontario, undergoing a Radar Plot course, as well as, the first RCN Preparatory School course. While in HMCS Ontario, he was selected for Upper Yardman training and attended the Preparatory Education Course at HMCS Naden in October of 1949. August 1950 saw him off to England for Upper Yardman training for three years at Portsmouth and Dartmouth and at several Royal Navy establishments. On return to Canada in 1954, as an acting Sub-Lieutenant, he served on the east coast in HMCS Iroquois, Chaleur, Huron, Nootka and Haida.
On May 15, 1954, Paul married Eileen Cain of Port Alberni, B.C. and six weeks later, on July 1, 1954, Paul's ship, HMCS Iroquois sailed for the Far East to take part in the UN Police Action Forces, then patrolling the coasts of Korea. On Paul's return to Canada, his and Eileen's marriage was blessed with four children. In 1962, Paul returned to Victoria as a Course Officer at HMCS Venture and in 1964 returned to sea for two years as Executive Officer of HMCS St. Therese. From 1966 to 1969, he was stationed in Port Arthur, Ontario as a Staff Officer and from 1969 to 1973 in Directorate of Naval Reserves and CANEX in Ottawa, Ontario. He retired from the RCN in 1973 as a Lieutenant Commander. After retiring to Victoria, he enjoyed working in accounting, especially for Hansbraun Investments Ltd., until his last retirement in May, 1993.
After retiring, Paul devoted himself to many volunteer activities, such as keeping the books for the St. Andrew's Victoria Housing Society and for St. Patrick's Church and acting as the Financial Secretary for Victoria Council 1256 of the Knights of Columbus, of which he was a long-time member. In any spare time that he had, he could be found enjoying his large vegetable garden, reading history books or listening to the music that he so enjoyed. As a man of many diverse interests, a student of history, a man of deep faith, and a man with a very generous heart, he was also a member of many organizations whose purposes ranged from politics to genealogy, from religion to the study of history, and to devotion to the ill or disadvantaged. Paul deeply loved his wife, his family, his friends and his church and always put the interests of others before his own. He could always be counted on for his honesty, his kindness, his deeply considered opinions and his quiet generosity. You will not see his like again soon.
A Funeral Mass for Paul will take place at St. Patrick's Church, 2060 Haultain Street, Victoria, B.C. on Friday, August 22, 2014 at 12:10 p.m. with Rev. Fr. Alfred Alilio and Father Peter Ho officiating. A reception will follow in the parish hall. Paul's family would especially like to thank Dr. D. Woodburn, Dr. B. Sanders, Dr. C. Coppin and Dr. G. Steinhoff for the attentive and devoted care that they gave to him over the last few years. Paul's family would also like to thank all of the incredibly kind and respectful palliative care doctors and nurses who cared for him most recently, especially, Dr. Deb Braithwaite and Dr. Jody Anderson and palliative care nurses Kelly and Linda, who treated him and his family so gently and with such great respect. In lieu of flowers, the family would welcome donations in Paul's memory to Victoria Hospice at the Royal Jubilee Hospital or to any charity that supports the poor or individuals who are disadvantaged in any way. Condolences for the family may be offered at www.mccallbros.com
Published in Victoria Times Colonist from Aug. 20 to Aug. 21, 2014
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