To celebrate George’s life, a short memorial service will be followed by a reception on Tuesday, August 29, 2017 at 2:00pm, at the Winnipeg Squash Racquet Club, 275 Stradbrook Avenue.

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It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Dr. George Cadigan, after a brave and lengthy battle with cancer. George died peacefully at Riverview Palliative Care Centre in Winnipeg with his loving wife Sharon at his side on August 23, 2017.

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He is survived by his wife Sharon, children Nicole, Françoise, and James (and husband Christian Molgat); stepson Bryce (Steele); sisters Angela (Sissons) and Joanna (Rope) and their children and grandchildren. George was predeceased by his parents James and Kathleen.

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George was a well-loved husband, father, brother, uncle, dentist, trombonist, neighbour, squash player, golfer, and storyteller. He loved to make people laugh and was well known for his dry British humour. Among his lesser known qualities were roller coaster enthusiast, competitive sailor, champion debater, skilled carpenter and downhill skier.

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George’s easy laugh and thirst for life shone through his interactions with all those he met.

George grew up in post WWII England and went to boarding school from the age of 13, eventually earning his degree in dentistry from the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne in 1971.

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At age 24, George immigrated to Canada with Gigi, his first wife of 26 years and mother of his three children, living in Halifax, Montreal, and Toronto before setting down roots in Winnipeg with his young family and serving the Weston-Brooklands community of north west Winnipeg for over three decades.

 

He later opened a new practice in Erikson MB, where he lived and worked with his wife Sharon for many happy years, building a hobby farm, caring for horses, loyal dogs, house cats and barn cats. They sold the practice and returned to Winnipeg in 2015, where George, ever the builder, set about opening yet another dental office.

 

Through all his cancer diagnoses starting in 2001, George maintained a positive attitude, strong work ethic and utter indifference to living with cancer. During a bout in hospital in early June 2017, he kept asking the doctors when he could go back to work and play squash again. They told him that he could no longer play squash because the tumors had made his bones too brittle, but he did return to the work he loved so much, and was with his patients almost to the very end.

 

On Thursday, July 13, his son James and wife Sharon came to assist with his last patients and the difficult task of telling them he would not be returning to work. It was only after that day that George conceded that his body could not do what he demanded of it. There were tearful goodbyes with all the patients that came to see him that day.

It wasn’t just a stiff upper lip when he told his friends he was ok. George relished life, and all its fun-filled activities, and so long as he could do those things he was able to enjoy every minute of it.

 

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Canadian Cancer Society or the Winnipeg Humane Society would be greatly appreciated.

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Abou Ben Adhem

BY LEIGH HUNT

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Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase!) 

Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace, 

And saw, within the moonlight in his room, 

Making it rich, and like a lily in bloom, 

An angel writing in a book of gold:— 

Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold, 

And to the presence in the room he said, 

"What writest thou?"—The vision raised its head, 

And with a look made of all sweet accord, 

Answered, "The names of those who love the Lord." 

"And is mine one?" said Abou. "Nay, not so," 

Replied the angel. Abou spoke more low, 

But cheerly still; and said, "I pray thee, then, 

Write me as one that loves his fellow men." 

 

The angel wrote, and vanished. The next night 

It came again with a great wakening light, 

And showed the names whom love of God had blest, 

And lo! Ben Adhem's name led all the rest. 

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