John passed away peacefully at the Losier Hall Nursing Home Miramichi, New Brunswick on Saturday, April 8, 2023, at the age of 79, after a battle with Alzheimer’s. He will be greatly missed by his wife of 57 years, Harriet, daughter; Michelle (Nick Bye) Calgary, Alberta, son; Jon (Gail McDonald) Nolensville, Tennessee and grandchildren Olivia Darling, Luke Darling and Ethan Malinowski. He was pre-deceased by his father Francis Malinowski, mother Sarah (Gillis), sister Christina and brother Derrick. He is survived by his nieces and nephews, Frank Harrison, Kim Harrison, David Smith and Nicole Malinowski as well as several cousins.
John was born in Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia on July 10, 1943, and served in the R.C.A.F as a mechanic based in Chatham, NB where he met the love of his life. He then moved to Wabush, Labrador for 24 years where he married and raised his family while working at Wabush Mines in a variety of roles. While there he attained his private and commercial pilots license, purchased a couple planes and so began the charter business along with his snowplows and mining work, life was exciting and busy. Upon leaving Wabush, John worked for different Mines in Bathurst, New Brunswick, Sussex, New Brunswick, Yellowknife, NWT and Hope Brook in Newfoundland. John had a passion about training and learning and worked at both Keyano Collage and Nova Scotia Community Collage supporting the trades.
John’s wanderlust and mining passion brought him to Zambia, Africa with Harriet where they became members of the community and explored a new culture. He didn’t stop there when after several years re-located to Tembagapura, Paupa New Guinea and true to his passion of being in the sky lived at 13,000-foot elevation – life in the clouds. In these remote locations he made many lifelong friends.
John retired in 2007 and returned to Miramichi, New Brunswick which had always been home base. He kept busy with his sailboat, working at the marina and in typical John fashion with lots of “tinkering”. His hobbies included anything mechanical, home building, traveling, photography, boating and carpentry. John (Foffie to his grandchildren) dearly loved his grandkids and knew exactly how to tease them to get a response from them. He always wanted the best for them and for them to know that whatever in life they aspired to do that they had the ability to put the hard work in to achieve it. John was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2011 and has been in a nursing home since 2016. The family sincerely appreciates the care and compassion from his caregivers during that time.
Visitation was held at Maher’s Funeral Home on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, from 3:00 – 6:00 pm. Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Thursday, April 13, 2023, at 11:00 am from St. Michael's Basilica with Father Antonio Reyes officiating. Pallbearers were: Erin Clancy, George Clancy, Pat Hogan, Paul Dolan, Gord Guyader, and Eddie Leggatt. Interment will be in the Saint Andrew's Cemetery, Loggieville at a later date. As an expression of sympathy donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada. Funeral arrangements are under the care of Maher's Funeral Home Miramichi, N.B. Telephone (506) 773-4321 or www.mahersfh.com