BRIDGNELL, Ian Christopher, of London, age 90, died peacefully at Parkwood Hospital, April 20, 2024, after failing to recover from a broken hip and a broken heart. His beloved wife of 67 years, the late Patricia Anne Bridgnell sadly passed away exactly two weeks prior. Ian’s daughter Joanna Meilleur and her husband Jean along with his son Christopher and his wife, JoAnne were devastated to say goodbye to both parents within such a short time. Ian’s grandchildren, Zoe and Adam will miss their PopUp dreadfully. Ian was very close to his brother and sister-in-law, the late Geoffrey and Joan Andrews and to Gillian (Barry and the Dustin clan.) He was like a second father to his nieces Susan, Sarah and Gillian. Ian will be missed by his Brother David Bridgnell (Barbara) and their children, as well as his Cousins, Joan and Colleen Bridgnell. He will also be fondly remembered by many dear friends.
Unlike our mother, Dad didn’t leave any special instructions or wishes for his funeral. He was completely happy to let her organize and arrange most things in their lives. He was a man of few needs, perfectly happy to use, fix and reuse things bought back in the 60’s. He even saved and reread the comics. He was a very clever man who had wanted to be a veterinarian but ended up graduating with two professional engineering degrees from Farnham House in England. He was headhunted by Ontario Hydro which precipitated a permanent move (with his then fiancée, our mother) to Canada in 1957. He remained with Hydro for his entire career, retiring at age 55.
My father adored our mother and spent hours helping her set up her pottery business. He became a chemical expert, weighing and mixing up glazes, building and setting up her kilns, helping her do raku and smoke firings. He happily went along with my mother’s travel plans and together they saw a goodly portion of the world. In 2014, when my mother had an accident in Mexico and ended up having her leg amputated, he did everything he possibly could to support her emotionally and physically. It’s not surprising that he couldn’t live without her.
Our father was a true renaissance man. He was open-minded, full of compassion and acceptance. He loved his family. He found the strength to carry on after the death of our sister Anne, in 1981. He was an absolute gentleman right to the end, always taking the time to shave and dress in a proper button up shirt. He was a creature of habit. Eating the same thing for lunch every single day. He was a proud Canadian and loved the Toronto Maple Leafs, hoping (fruitlessly) each year that they’d win the Stanley Cup! He created beautiful gardens. Oh and he loved BBQ and Jean’s ‘very, very nice’ steaks. He was an involved parishioner at St. George’s in Byron and a member of the Knights of Columbus. He and our mother were both founding members of Hospice Simcoe. For the past 5 years, he lived at Royalcliffe Retirement Residence and made many friends among the staff and other residents.
My father was very close to both my brother and me. My brother called him every evening on the phone from Kansas. My Dad called me the ‘Daughter of his heart’ and he was certainly the father of mine. He depended on me, and I looked after him. It wasn’t always easy, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.
We love you, Dad. You will be eternally missed.
A celebration of his life will be held at a later date.
Memorial contributions to Wellspring London and Region would be appreciated.