Hello Everyone
On Behalf of the family, I would like to thank you for coming today to remember my brother. For those who don’t know me, I am the Baby Brother Bruce or BBB if your texting.
Growing up we had a saying, “Sticks & Stones may break my bones BUT names will never hurt me”. I started thinking how names didn’t hurt but actually brought joy and memories.
Robert Gordon Hayes
answered to many names over his lifetime. He was the “Baby” to Alice and Gordon when he was born in 1951. He was already the “little brother” to Ronald, Norman and MurRay and became the “big brother” to Kathryn before he moved from New Brunswick. The family moved to Ogden Avenue and continued to grow. Adding Susan, Arthur, Arnold and by the time I came along, in 1960,
• He was known as “Bobby” by aunts, uncles, and neighbourhood kids, who played cowboys and Indians and became lifelong friends.
• The next name I recall was “Bozo”. I don’t know where that nickname came from because I was not allowed in the park after the wading pool closed (by order of my brother and his teenage friends).
• In 1977 he became the “neighbour” when he bought the house on Strathy Avenue. That was big deal in those days. He put all his skills together and transferred that tiny house in to a nice home complete with a large garage that saw a few parties over the years.
• It was at one of those parties, I was first introduced to Margaret. Marg was the love of his life. He became the “Husband” when they said their vows to each other in a park. That was good enough for them. He was a good husband who always stuck by and supported Marg to the end.
• In 1981 his son Joel was born. He would do anything for his boy. He was already, “Uncle Bob or Uncle Rob but the name he yearned for was “Dad”. After some struggles he heard Dad for the first time and never looked back. He loved his son like no other. His little family went on adventures everywhere together, visiting family and friends along the way.
• As Joel got older that led to “Mr. Hayes”, when kids came over to play in the tree-fort, or basketball on the driveway with Einstein.
• He went by “Robert” or “Rob”, in his business as a contractor but was also the “Boss” when he hired OR fired family and friends. He was the “Captain” if you went sailing on his boat.
• When Joel was ready to leave and buy this own house, Dad somehow convinced him to stay close and he moved up the road. They finished that basement and he became the “landlord”. By this time, Sarah was already in the picture. He was not officially the “father-in-law” until Joel and Sarah were married on the beach in Cuba. Sarah loved him and claimed him as her own. That was OK with him as Sarah and her boys, Nolan and Cullen, bonded together as family.
• “Great Uncle Bob” or “Grand Uncle Rob” both worked for him. But it got even better when Kaitlyn and Piper made him a “Grandfather”. He loved his girls and would do anything for them, if given the chance. We tried out different names like, grampa, grampy or grandbob but when his Katie started to talk she called him “Bobba”. When he heard Bobba it always put a big smile on his face. Even when Katie got a little older and said “Bobba” you don’t have to come and read me a story every night.
Whether you knew him as - a Brother
Bobby
Bozo
Uncle Bob or Uncle Rob
The Husband, the Neighbour, the Landlord, the Man or
Mr. Hayes
Bob the Boss
Captain Bob
Great Uncle Bob or Grand Uncle Rob
Robert – Rob – Bob – Dad or Bobba he tried his best to be there when needed.
Robert Gordon Hayes
followed in father’s footsteps as a carpenter. Big jobs or Small jobs, Bob tried to do things right. Not the fastest, but if he did it, you could be confident it was done properly. No cutting corners for him.
Although he battled his own demons, he was a gentle soul. Kind and generous to his family and the community. Honest and Hardworking.
Although he wasn’t always on time. He always gave his time to the ones he loved.
Thanks for All the Great Memories Bobba
We all loved you and you will live on in our hearts forever.
Just another reminder, Marg has moved in with Joel - so Cr8-9621 is no longer in service.
Thanks again for coming here today. The family appreciates you all.
