John Philip Romeril

March 5, 2023
In loving memory ~
Reverend John Philip Romeril died peacefully on March 5, 2023, after a brief illness.
John was born in England in 1931 and spent the WWII years under German occupation on the island of Guernsey. He completed his schooling at Kingswood in Bath, and then emigrated to Canada where he served in the Reserve of the Canadian Navy, studied Theology at Queen's University in Kingston, and met and married his wife, Mary Ann (nee Tolmie). He was ordained in the United Church of Canada in 1958. After completing post-graduate studies at St. Andrew's University in Scotland, John accepted a post as skipper of the Melvin Swartout, a Marine Mission vessel in Bamfield on the west coast of Vancouver Island for 3 years. John and family returned to Ontario in 1962. There he served as minister for congregations in Courtice, Thunder Bay, and Sudbury, including a one-year exchange with a congregation in Morrinsville, New Zealand. His final charge was in Orillia where he retired in 1995. John and Mary Ann moved back to Vancouver Island in 2000 where he enjoyed raising yet another of his beloved Dandie Dinmont terriers, golfing, gardening, singing in a men's choir, attending the symphony, and supporting the work of the United Church there.
He will be dearly missed by his devoted wife Mary Ann, brother Dennis (Cheryl), son Philip (Carol), daughters Catherine, Susan and Elizabeth, 8 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 26 at St. Paul's United Church, 2410 Malaview Ave, Sidney, B.C. In lieu of flowers, donations would be gratefully accepted to Habitat for Humanity and the Canadian Foodgrains Bank.
Condolences may be offered at www.sandsvictoria.ca.

 Sands Victoria