Obituary of Randell (Ren) Ledwell

In Memory of Randell Joseph Ledwell 1936 – 2024 Passed Peacefully away at the Private Josiah Squibb Memorial Pavilion, Carbonear on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, Randell “Ren” Ledwell of Ship Harbour, age 87 years. Predeceased by his parents: Robert and Mary Ann (Byrd) Ledwell; Siblings: Margaret, Alice, Aquilla, Isabel, Jack, Tom and Bob; Brother-in-laws: Casey Payne, Willie Power, Bill O’Neill and Dan Reynish, Gower Dinham; Sister-in-law: Stella Power. Leaving to mourn: his wife of 63 years, Catherine (Power); Sons: Calvin (Donna), Randy (Cathy), Des and Todd; Daughters: Jocelyn (Keith), Beverley (Gary), Cynthia and Gloria; Grandchildren: Holly, Kimberly (Petie), Mandi, Patrick, Zachary, Ariana and Lincoln and his precious Great Granddaughter, McKinley (his pride and joy); Nieces and Nephews: Chris, Blanche, Frank, Paula, Lisa, Marissa, Mark, Holly, Wendy, Danny, Tammy, Jackie, Kathleen, Leona & Lisa and his special niece: Betty (Fred) Ledwell-Norman; Sister-in-Law: Mary O’Neill and a large circle of family and friends. Resting at Coombs Funeral Home, Placentia. Viewing on Friday, August 23, 2024 from 2:00– 9:00 pm. Funeral Service to be held at Coombs Memorial Chapel on Saturday, August 24, 2024 at 11:00 am. Interment to follow at Coombs Cemetery, Southeast Placentia. Ren was born and raised in Ship Harbour where he lived his entire life. When he married Catherine, they built their house above his parents where he still faced the ocean and the “Sugarloaf”. He fished with his father from a young age and continued as a fisherman for most of his life. He worked for a few years with Highways and CN Marine but fishing was always his passion and he loved the ocean. He would sit in the front room or out on the side of the bank and watch the ocean and give “reports” on boats and ships coming in or going out and, of course, the weather. Even though dementia robbed him of his memory, he still remembered the boats and ships, the water and fishing up to his last days with us. He would often sit in his chair at the Home and try to move around a table saying he was moving his boat to the other side of the wharf because of bad weather. He often sat in the window and thought he was on the wharf looking out at the high seas or boats coming in. He would sit in his chair and say that the engine wouldn’t start and lean down imaging he was fixing it. He would tie up strings on his seat or laces in his shoes in knots believing he was tying up the ropes on his boat. He would take a bed sheet and spread it out and cast it out like a net. He would often be sitting in his chair making the motions of hauling his trawls or nets with nothing in his hands. He is finally at peace and his work on this earth is done. He is reunited with his parents, his family and his friends whom he spoke to often as if they were there with him. Dementia is a sad horrible disease that robs our loved ones of their minds. Special thanks to the staff at Placentia Health Care and the Private Josiah Squibb Memorial Pavilion North 1, especially Raylene Smith, whom he adored, for the loving care and compassion during the last 2 years. As an expression of sympathy, flowers are greatly accepted or donations in his memory may be made to a charity of one’s choice.