Obituary of Darrell Edward Doncaster

It is with sadness that the family of Darrell Edward Doncaster age 89 of Sackville, NB, announce his unexpected passing on Wednesday October 22, 2025 at the Sackville Memorial Hospital, NB.

Born on an August day in 1936, Darrell Edward Doncaster was a true Leo. Loyal, charismatic and a lover of people, he spent the past 67 years with his beloved wife Joyce at his side. Anyone who knows Joyce knows she has a way of testing your patience, but Darrell would just look sideways at whoever was around, smile and lovingly say, “She’s all mine.”

They were a formidable pair, never raising their voices with one another. Their children cannot recall a single shouting match other than a drive in a snowstorm when Joyce insisted Darrell pull over. Darrell loved to tell the story of how his mother-in-law didn’t like him, and didn’t think it would last. Not surprisingly, he would win her over, and prove her wrong.

If you were to go through the dozens of books, folders and papers Darrell had piled around his home you might find an antique postcard tucked into a historical novel, a tax return folded up with a recipe for pickled beets, or a botanical print and an ink drawing used as bookmarks in a cookbook.

Darrell loved food and was always cooking, canning and sharing whatever he had. And his friends reciprocated. His phone was always ringing and he would be off to meet someone, somewhere to pick up a feed of mackerel or fiddleheads or beans. On the morning he passed a friend had just dropped off mushrooms. He woke up everyday (at the crack of dawn which he called “the best part of the day”) planning the meals he would make for loved ones. He and Joyce happily served hundreds of people around their always-welcoming table.

He was an entrepreneur and a wheeler and dealer, working for decades in the grocery store business. In his retirement he was a staple at the Amherst Farmers’ Market selling summer savoury.

Darrell and Joyce spent every summer at their cottage and their children Susan, Terry, Heather and Scott grew up on the beach and knew the routine well: pack on the last day of school and head home on the Labour Day weekend. Darrell had a close group of friends at Heather Beach including Vera and Bill. They spent late nights playing cards and listening to music in their younger years. The stories of blaring Willie Nelson, dance halls and drunken pony rides are the stuff of legend. In his later years you could find Darrell swinging on the deck with a book in his lap, and a glass of wine in his hand.

Darrell was an only child raised by a single mother and was fiercely proud of his family. He loved his grandchildren and great grandchildren (his home printer was constantly humming as he printed out ALL their latest photos). “Bampie” passed along his love of nature, food and music to Matthew, Megan, Jenny, Jordan, Ben, Judson, Scotty, Ethan, Shae, Griffin and Tegan.

Darrell was predeceased by his mother, Laura; his son-in-law, Gary Jackson and by his brother/cousin, Sonny Foster.

He will be lovingly remembered and missed by his family and friends, including his daughter-in-law, Vanessa Blanch and his sons-in-law, Paul Brown and Mike Brown.

There will be no visitation or service. A private family gather will take place at a later date. Arrangements have been entrusted to Campbell’s Funeral Home, 98 Church St., Amherst NS, 902-667-9906. Donations in Darrell’s memory may be made to the Cumberland Cancer Assistance Fund or to the charity of your choice. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family via: www.campbellsamherst.ca or by visiting Campbell’s Facebook page.