Obituary of Canon John Turton Pilling

Our beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend passed away suddenly on Saturday, May 24, 2008. John was born and raised in Toronto, ON. After a happy courtship he married Bernice Jaggs with whom he enjoyed fifty-one sweet years of friendship and love. Bernice has lost her dearest friend. John apprenticed and was licensed as an Ontario Land Surveyor before being called to serve in the ministry. He valued the experience of the apprenticeship system for it stood him in good stead in his ministry. In 1957, John and Bernice began a westward trek. He first moved to Winnipeg, MB to enter St. John’s Seminary. Upon graduation John faithfully served our Lord in the Anglican Church at St. Matthew’s Cathedral, Brandon, MB, St. Mary’s, Virden, MB, St. Matthew’s, Regina, SK, The Diocese of Qu’Appelle as Diocesan Archdeacon, St. Stephen’s, Swift Current, SK, St. Andrew’s, Calgary and as Pastoral Assistant at The Cathedral, Calgary. John also diligently served the church as Diocesan Registrar and Archivist. He was made a Canon of the Diocese of Calgary in 2007. John was a gifted artist with an exceptional eye for colour and a love for nature that he captured with brush and paint. John’s emotional and spiritually significant watercolours touched the heart, soul and spirit while captivating the eye. John was an active member of the Calgary Sketch Club for many years. He also painted with the Monday Afternoon Group of the Centennial Art Gallery. John’s faith was a living faith and his love of God was evident to all who encountered him. He cherished those with whom he was able to visit with his pastoral ministries. John found great joy in ministering to the Dinka Christian community. He was presented with the first humanitarian award by the Canadian Nigerian Association and was made an honourary member. John and Bernice were blessed with loving children and grandchildren, David and Wendy, and their children, Matthew, Jamie and Christina; Anne and John McKee, and their children, Madeline, Eveline and Jack; Mary and Brian Simmonds, and their children, Benjamin and Breanne; and special family Maureen and the late Allan Harvey, Treena and the late Jerry Waldner, Jordan, Callan, Bonny, and Bill. John is also survived by his two sisters, Joyce (Bryan) Lusk and Jane (Bob) Gaul and their families. Funeral Services will be held at St. Stephen’s Anglican Church (1121 – 14th Avenue S.W.) on Thursday, May 29 at 11:00 a.m. Forward condolences through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial tributes in John’s honour may be made directly to Sisterhood of St. John’s the Divine, 3937 St. Peter’s Road, Victoria, BC, V8P 2J9 or the Anglican Diocese of Calgary Bishop’s Fund, Suite 560, 1207 11th Ave., SW, Calgary, T3C 0M5. In living memory of Canon John Pilling, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES Park Memorial Chapel, 5008 ELBOW DRIVE S.W. Telephone: (403) 243-8200.