Obituary of Jack Rehill

John Charles “Jack” Rehill, 89, Ivey’s Terrace Trenton, formerly of New Glasgow, passed away peacefully, Sunday, December 3, 2023.

Born in Antigonish, he was a son of the late Clarence Alfred and Marie Janet (Lawlor) Rehill. Jack was affectionally known as “Papa Jack” and “Papa Blue Jay” in admiration for his lifelong devotion to his beloved Toronto Blue Jays and Toronto Maple Leafs. In his younger years playing in the Twilight baseball league, he was a star third baseman, an occasional pitcher and winner of the batting title. Jack was frequently mentioned in the sports page headlines in the local newspaper.

He devoted his time for many years as a hockey coach to young boys aspiring to be the next Wayne Gretzky. Many cold hours were spent in local rinks as a player, a coach, a dad watching his sons play, and as a grandfather encouraging and rooting for another generation. Jack continued skating to age 80. He taught all his children how to throw and catch a baseball perfectly in the pocket of a baseball mitt and how to how to ride a bike.

He took immense pride in his law enforcement career. First as a police officer and Sergeant with the New Glasgow Police force followed by six years with the CN Police, Truro. Jack served as the Chief of Police in Trenton for a number of years. He often reflected how he enjoyed the privilege the “uniform” afforded him to help people throughout those years. At retirement, Jack was a liquor license inspector. 

He and his wife, Kay, loved to go dancing and would outlast many on the dance floor.  Jack will be remembered by his family as a good man and, how he and Kay taught by example, instilling a strong work ethic.

His family, although saddened at his passing, are comforted that for Jack, “life has changed; not ended!” They are grateful for his life and that he and Kay are now reunited, a wish he had for the past two years.

Surviving are his children, Janice Rehill, Catherine Rehill, Jacqueline Rehill, Robert (Doris) Rehill, Brian (Beth) Rehill, Glenn (Rhonda) Rehill and Barry (Patti) Rehill; 20 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren; sister, Dorothy “Dot” MacDonald; sister-in-law, Joan Lesaux; many nieces and nephews.

Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his wife, Kay (McCarron); grandson, Jeremy Rehill; sister, Elizabeth “Betty” Yates; two brothers at birth; sisters-in-law, Margaret McCarron, Audrey McCarron, Frances McCarron, Kay McCarron, Isabel Murphy and Helen Coleman; brothers-in-law, Frank Yates, Frank MacDonald, Bernard McCarron, Owen McCarron, Adrian McCarron, Joseph McCarron, Mickey Murphy and Allister Coleman.

The family will receive visitors 2-4 p.m. Friday, December 8 in P. & K. MacDonald Funeral Home, New Glasgow.  Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, December 9 in St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, New Glasgow with Father Thomas A. MacNeil presiding.  Interment will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, New Glasgow.  

Donations may be made in Jack’s memory to the Alzheimer Society of Nova Scotia.