Obituary of Peter Alcantra Boyd

It is with sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of our beloved father, Peter Alcantra Boyd 89 of Halifax, on September 5, 2021 at St. Vincent Nursing Home in Halifax. Born in River Bourgeois on October 19th, 1931, he was the son of the late William Fraser and Mary Ellen (Bourque) Boyd. Dad completed a Diploma Engineering at St Francis Xavier University (1954) and a Bachelor of Engineering (civil) at the Technical University of Nova Scotia (1960). He worked for 31 years at the Nova Scotia Department of Transportation and Communications retiring in 1991. He is survived by his children Carolyn Boyd, Halifax, Leslie Putnam (Kirby), Halifax, Margo Boyd, Halifax, Landon Boyd (Denise Hong), Vancouver, B.C.; grandchildren Sydney, Madeleine and Ava Putnam, Colette Boyd; sisters Lucille Bradshaw (Edward), Maple Ridge, B.C., Margaret Boyd, Mississauga, O.N., Elizabeth Johnson (Wesley), Los Angeles, CA; and several nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, Peter was predeceased by brothers Gerald, Infant Fraser, William Fraser, Blaise, George; sisters Monica and Casilda. In Halifax with his former wife, Claire (MacGregor, nee Horne of Enfield), he raised three girls and a boy who were his pride and joy. We always knew he loved us but in later years he took to saying it out loud. To know Peter was to know kindness and compassion. His devotion to his family was felt every day. A natural caregiver, Dad was the first responder who dealt with cuts, dabbed ointment on pierced ears, and sat on the veranda at night holding a bundled-up croup sufferer to ease their breathing. Dad had a self-effacing sense of humour and loved to laugh but never at anyone else’s expense. He suffered from ill-timed giggle fits. Leslie was especially adept at setting him off, sometimes doing so in church much to his chagrin. He loved to joke around with sales clerks and servers to the acute embarrassment of his teenage children. Fast food drive-throughs were particularly challenging as he was bewildered by product names, ordering “scar lizards” instead of DQ Skor Blizzards, sending his passengers into helpless convulsions of laughter. Naturally athletic and strong, Peter was a capable skater, ball player and golfer. He was meticulous in his approach to all tasks including record keeping, home renovations, surveying and levelling ground for a backyard rink, removing dog hair from the carpet or lacing up skates so securely that we couldn't feel our feet. Sporting his mandatory chef’s hat, Dad was a champion baker. His pie crusts were impossibly light and flaky, and he filled our home with the aroma of freshly baked bread on Saturdays. Dad’s heart was always in River Bourgeois where he spent most of his post-retirement years. As children we enjoyed visits there, a highlight being mackerel fishing expeditions. Dad and his brother Blaise would pile their six girls plus the boy into a borrowed boat and, when a school swam by, deal with the pandemonium of tangled lines, flying fish and squealing children. As Dad’s health declined, he moved back to Halifax to be closer to his children. While at Northwood Manor and then at St Vincent’s Nursing Home, he maintained his sunny disposition winning the hearts of staff. We were touched by the professionalism of and genuine affection displayed by the St Vincent’s care staff during Dad’s final days. Cremation has taken place. Funeral mass will be held in St. John the Baptist Church, River Bourgeois on Monday, September 13th at 11 am with Rev. John Yake officiating. Burial to follow in St. John the Baptist Parish Cemetery, River Bourgeois. Covid-19 Restrictions and protocols will be in place and seating for the service will be limited. Please email and provide phone numbers to carolynboyd.1965@gmail.com to pre-register your attendance. A reception will be held at the Tara Lynne Community Centre, River Bourgeois 12 to 2 pm. Memorial donations can be made to St. John the Baptist Cemetery Fund, River Bourgeois. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to C.H. Boudreau Funeral Home in Arichat. To send words of comfort to the family, or to light a candle in memory of Peter, please visit www.chboudreau.com.