Obituary of William George Hody

William Hody, of Elgin, NB, passed away on February 3, 2019 in Moncton. Although we were only able to enjoy William for 58 years, he packed a longer life into those years. Born in Moncton, William grew up in the "Patch", (Lakeburn, Dieppe). After graduating from Moncton High School in 1978, he headed off to the big city of Halifax where he became a philosopher, graduating with a BA from the University of King’s College (where he met Pam and where they were married in 1985). He then decided that a trade might help pay the bills better and became a certified automated machinist at NSIT. There not being a huge market for Philosopher Machinists, he finally decided up his game by becoming a computer scientist and graduated with his B.C.Sc. from TUNS in 2000. In 2001, he was offered a position as Data Analyst with the Canadian Revenue Agency and moved his family to Ottawa. In 2015, William retired and followed his dream, to live on the banks of the Pollett River which he had enjoyed since childhood, in his words "a place of supreme happiness". There, he became Elgin Jack and part of the very soul of the river. In between he travelled on many road trips as child and adult including the epic 1996 version which included a baby, a toddler, an economy car and a drive from Halifax to Victoria. He was also a "stay-at-home" father with those children for 3 ½ years showing either that he didn’t learn from the road trip or that he really enjoyed his small Hodys; which, of course, he did, recently referring to them in his journal as "his extraordinary children". William was predeceased by his parents, Reg and Maud, and by his younger sister Laura Hody. He is survived by his wife Pam Griffin-Hody (Halifax), his son Max (Halifax), his daughter Arden (Ottawa), as well as his sister Florence (Vancouver), brother Reg/David (Halifax) and sister-in-law Eileen Ross (Martins River). William lived large and he loved large. The world is a quieter place without him. His family and friends will never forget him or his love. There will be a service to celebrate William’s life, somewhere near his beloved Pollett River, in the Spring. Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!". Hunter S. Thompson Cremation has taken place at Tuttle Brothers Crematorium in Riverview. Should anyone wish to make a donation in William’s memory, we suggest the Canadian Mental Health Association or the NB Association of Food Banks, District 5 SPOT (Peticodiac). www.tuttlefuneralhome.caRequested Charity Canadian Mental Health Association or SPOT Food bank, Petitcodiac, NB.