Contributions to the tribute of James Edward Dunn

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Thursday, January 7, 2021

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Emily Braun uploaded photo(s)

Tuesday, January 5, 2021

It took me a few days to get here, but I really want to share some sentiments about my grandpa. Growing up, Grandpa was THE grandpa. His house was always stocked full of candy and snacks and any type of pop you would want. (You might think I’m exaggerating, but I assure you I’m not!) Visiting Grandpa’s house was always a riot for my brother and me. In the summers we used to walk over to Grandpa’s through the Bowmanville Creek and visit for hours. We would inevitably return home on a sugar high and typically with some extra cash to replenish our sugar stocks throughout the week. I’m sure my parents always appreciated that! Grandpa had a special place in his heart for the girls in his life. I, being a carbon copy of my beautiful mom, was no exception. Grandpa and I had a trailer that we used to visit every weekend in the summers. When I look back on my life, some of my happiest memories are the ones we shared there. We used to catch fireflies together and Grandpa would let me keep them in a little bug container in the trailer overnight to light up my area. There was the time I lost a tooth at the trailer and, despite my concerns, the “trailer tooth fairy” found me just fine and even slipped a crisp $20 bill under my pillow. I’ll never forget the look my parents gave each other when I excitedly told them the tooth fairy had raised the bar to $20 a tooth! (Again, I’m sure they very much appreciated that!) And then there’s my favourite memory: one weekend, Grandpa was drinking by the fire and when “If I Had a Million Dollars” by the Barenaked Ladies came on, he got down on a knee and sang every word to me. And, you know, when we’re kids, we don’t realize the significance of moments like that. But the older I get, the more I realize just how much Grandpa meant every single word of that song. He was a man of his time; he didn’t outwardly talk much about emotions, but he loved us more than anything. And it shone through in everything he did. My first real job was as a rink rat at the arena in Bowmanville. I used to work the early morning shifts on the weekends, and I used to see Grandpa there in the stands watching my cousin Ethan play hockey pretty much every weekend. It used to bring him so much joy to watch us play sports as kids, so I loved seeing him there, always watching Ethan with beaming pride. I moved to Ottawa a few years ago, so I didn’t see him as frequently anymore, but any time I talked to Grandpa, he was always telling me all about how Ethan and Owen were doing and what they were up to. As Grandpa’s oldest, wisest and coolest grandkid, I want to emphasize something to my brother and my sweet cousins. Grandpa loved us more than anything on this earth. There was nothing that brought him more joy than our happiness. Though we are all incredibly sad about our family's loss, we should remember that Grandpa cherished our joy. Instead of dwelling on our sadness, we must continue to move forward and find happiness. Every time any of us are smiling, laughing, or being our true and authentic selves, know that we are honouring Grandpa, and that he is smiling down at us. I am so grateful that I got to have such a wonderful relationship with Grandpa. We should all count our blessings to have even known Grandpa, because not everyone is so lucky. Growing up, Cameron, my parents and I always spent Christmas mornings with Grandpa. We weren’t allowed to open our presents until he came over, so I used to call him at ridiculous times, tell him my parents said to come over, and then go tell my sleeping parents, “it’s Christmas and Grandpa is on his way, time to get up!” Again, I’m sure my parents appreciated Grandpa always colluding with me to open presents at the most insane hours! I’m incredibly sad that we won’t be seeing Grandpa next Christmas, and it will surely not be the same. But nothing really ends; new things merely begin. I choose to cherish the time I got with Grandpa and to honour him by being happy, and by trying to be as kind as he was with his time here. It’s already well-known that I inherited Grandpa’s wild side, but I can only hope to, one day, be as wonderful a person as he was. Thank you for all of your time, your words, your energy and your love, Grandpa. I am going to miss you more than I can explain, but I am so thankful to have known you. I love you.

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Hinz family lit a candle

Monday, January 4, 2021

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Ashley lit a candle

Sunday, January 3, 2021

Sending you love and positivity. You will continue living in our memories. ❤️

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Robert Dunn posted a symbolic gesture

Sunday, January 3, 2021

Brother Jim ! I'm so lost for words at this time ! But love you so much ! I'll be lost without you around !

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Jody Dunn lit a candle

Saturday, January 2, 2021

My favorite memory of Jim still has to be when they entered the float your fanny down the ganny race. His ship sunk immediately but there he was still paddling singing "where's the beef and I lost my teeth, where's the beef and I lost my teeth" such a funny funny memory! So sorry Kelly and Jeff my heart goes out to you guys!

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Susan Balmer posted a condolence

Saturday, January 2, 2021

Jimmy was my protector when we where.little kids, kids back then played outside so often had fights to settle silly arguments, Everyone tried to stay on his good side as he was the strongest kid around, one day a boy hurt me by bending backwards my pinky finger, Jim got on his bike and off he went in search of the kid, he soon found him and laid a beating on him, finishing by yelling at the top of his lungs that “nobody! but nobody hurts his susie but him!” I was proud but quickly thought, hold on, he still wants to fight with me, but then I thought cool, he loves me, We lived in the basement 13 Holmstead, Nanny and Poppa’s house with Mom and Dad, Nanny had just bought a brand new living room rug to which Jim thought, how nice, I’ll set fire to it which he did, fire was put out and of course Jim said I did it so innocently, they believed him!! So I was sent to my room. He was a good brother, a pain in the butt, but I loved him and he was mine, he was always getting into mischief but that was our Jim, I have many more stories, he protected me during bad times in my marriage and always allowed me to go live with them for short periods of time, he was there when I needed and if not in person than a phone call away, my heart is broken, but full of having him in my life

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Michelle Stroud lit a candle

Saturday, January 2, 2021

I will always remember Jims laugh and all the stories which made EVERYONE smile. Rest in peace.

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The family of James Edward Dunn uploaded a photo

Saturday, January 2, 2021

James Edward "Jim" Dunn

1951 - 2021

Northcutt Elliott Funeral Home Limited