Jody McNeill

Obituary of Jody McNeill

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Edward Joseph ‘Jody’ McNeill Abercrombie November 5, 1968 – January 30, 2025 Edward Joseph ‘Jody’ McNeill died peacefully at home January 30, 2025 surrounded by family and friends who visited him throughout his illness. Having survived cancer as a 7-year old child, Jody lived by the motto he shared regularly. He would say we all have two dates that are important, the date we are born and the date that we die. It matters not how far apart those dates are, but how we choose to live in the dash that separates those dates. Jody lived his life to the fullest, both personally and professionally. He would ultimately lose his life to a rare form of cancer that impacts a small percentage of adults who received radiation treatments as a child. Jody was the youngest of three children born to the late James Edward and Marie Esther “Juliette” McNeill of Wellington Street, Pictou. In his early life he devoted his energy to his two great passions, karate and electric guitar. He was a student of Shotokan karate as a teen, achieving the level of 5th Kye (blue belt). He was a keen competitor locally and provincially, winning a number of medals. He mowed lawns, delivered papers and packed groceries at Sobeys to fund his first electric guitar, amp and an assortment of classic rock sheet music he needed to teach himself to be an accomplished lead guitarist. He was a hard-working and gifted 1987 graduate of Pictou Academy, who put himself through St FX University working summers at Michelin. He was awarded his Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1991. He went on to pursue Law at UNB, funding his ambitions working at the Adolescent Assessment Center in New Glasgow. He completed his Degree in Law in 1996 and was admitted to the Bar in New Brunswick that same year. He first practiced at the Law Firm of Stewart McKelvey in Fredericton before returning home and being admitted to the Bar in Nova Scotia in 1998. He practiced with Mac Mac and Mac, Daley and DeMont and opened a private practice prior to joining the Nova Scotia Public Prosecution Service in 2006 as a Crown Attorney. Jody was a talented and well-respected prosecutor, rising to the level of Senior Crown Attorney and achieving 25 years of service with the Barristers Association of NS and more than a decade of service as a member of Board of the Nova Scotia Crown Attorneys Association (NSCAA) prior to his illness leading to the early end of his career in the fall of 2022. Jody would often joke that, as much as he loved law, he worked to be able to afford his guitars and when the black robes of court came off, one of his guitars usually came out. He built upon his early self-teaching to become an accomplished lead guitarist, lending his talents to Pictou County Pops Classics and a number of local bands such as Marigold, and most notably the band he named, False Pretence. He was an active community volunteer, serving as a Kinsman and as a member of the Pictou Lobster Carnival Committee. As devastating as his diagnosis was, Jody faced his illness with the same incredible sense of humor and compassion for others that he has shown his whole life. His home became a gathering place for family, friends, colleagues and fellow musicians throughout his illness. As a testament to how well regarded he was as a person, each of his “communities” found their own special way to honor his legacy. His fellow musicians arranged a benefit concert, “Jam for Jody”, in May of 2023. He played most of the night, joining several bands on stage. He dedicated the Dire Straits number “Brothers in Arms” to his musical family with the following words “What we have here is special, you don’t find it other places. The music community, the camaraderie. This song means so much to me because it symbolizes the musical brotherhood we share here.” Several weeks later, his musical friends would gather in the sound studio at Ron MacDonald’s house to record that song with Jody laying down the lead guitar track. Local recording artist and former False Pretence band member Keith Carruthers composed an original tune entitled “Band of Brothers” in honor of Jody’s special significance to the local musical family. He traveled to Pictou Co from his home in the US to record the number at Brad MacNeil’s with Jody as lead guitarist and other local artists accompanying on the track that was released on his 2023 album Carruthers Two. In August, 2023, Jody was invited to the home of colleagues Dawn and Bill Gorman, where he was greeted by a reunion of many of his Shotokan Karate Club members. To his surprise, Chief Technical Director Sensei Ron Fagan and local Technical Board Member Sensei Chris Cruikshank were in attendance and announced that the International Karate Alliance had awarded him the level of Shodan – honorary Black Belt, which was fittingly presented by his former Sensei Robert Landry. Also in 2023, Jody was visited by representatives of the Nova Scotia Crown Attorneys Association, who advised him they created the Jody McNeill Character Award and presented him with a plaque naming him as the first recipient. The award will be presented annually to the NSCAA member “whose unimpeachable character and selfless leadership embodies the highest ideals of the profession”. In addition to his parents, Jody was predeceased by an infant niece, Lia (Jamie and Amy) McNeill. He is survived by his loving wife, Charlene “Fay” (nee Worthen) who is the love of his life and has been his rock throughout this difficult journey. They have been together for the past 20 years and would have celebrated their 14th wedding anniversary this spring. He is further survived by sister, Maureen (Darrell) Jones of Scotsburn; their children Cortney (Josh) and Robbie (Ashley) and granddaughter, Natalie (Cortney and Josh), and brother, Jamie (Amy) McNeill of Lawrencetown Beach and their daughter, Olivia (Jayden). He was a loving step-father to Cady Trites of Edmonton and Kyle (Brooke) Heighton of Pictou. He and Fay were looking forward to welcoming their first grandchild as Kyle and Brooke are expecting a son Weston in late April. Visitation will be at McLaren Funeral Home in, Pictou Monday February 3rd from 2-4 and 6-8 pm. Funeral service will be at Stella Maris Catholic Church, Pictou on Tuesday February 4th at 11 am with Father Peter MacDonald officiating. Private family burial will be in Seaview Cemetery following the service. A reception will be held immediately following the funeral in the community rooms of the Pictou County Wellness Center. A sound system will be set up and the family is inviting guests to honor Jody’s request to step up to the mic and play a song or tell a story in his memory. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Pictou County SPCA, the Canadian Cancer Society, or the Lodge that Gives. The family wishes to thank the many health care specialists and providers, friends, neighbors, colleagues and fellow musicians who each added a bit of sunshine to this otherwise difficult time. Your kindnesses will be remembered. Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKC--BZOSJY