Tribute

It is with broken hearts that we announce the sudden passing of Robert, beloved husband of
Dorothy, our amazing Dad, and most importantly of all the most adored “Poppa”.

Robert is survived by the love of his life, his wife of 62 years – Dorothy, his daughters Natalie
Hatton (Donald), Claire (Shayne); and son Neale Freeman. His cherished grandchildren who he
loved to spend time teasing and chatting with – Chelsea (Luke), Alexandra (Axy)(Calvin), Kevin
(Megan), Jason (JoJo), Eden, Rhys, Ryan , Evan and Violet and his great grandchildren for who
he always had a Cadbury chocolate button on hand for (parental approval or not!!): Cameron,
Remington, Fox, Alexander, Ireland, Lennox and Jettson.

Born in Birmingham England in 1938 he emigrated to Duncan in 1968 with Dorothy and two
young children with only $75 in his wallet and a promised job that did not pan out. His first job
interview was in Lake Cowichan. Being new to the area he did not realize how far away Lake
Cowichan was and so he walked all the way from Duncan to Lake Cowichan and back for a non
existent job. He was a Mason by trade and started a very successful Masonary business in
Duncan. One of his proudest moments was being chosen to lay the stone that was blessed by
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth with her golden trowel for the grand opening of the centennnial
building (round building) in Duncan. A passionate gardener and bird watcher he loved nature
and knew the names of all the plants and birds in his area. He fancied himself quite good in
that he could recognize and imitate all the bird calls. It was not unusual to hear hoot owls in
the night air hooting back to him as he sat on his back porch in the evening and engaged with
them. Bob also shared a lifetime passion for hatching and raising his own chickens and it
wasn’t unusual to have eggs and chicks incubating in the house.

Robert will be lovingly remembered here in Duncan by his sister Shirley, his sister in-law Margaret (Martin), his
sister -in-law Christine and brother-in-law John in the UK … and many nieces and nephews both
here in Duncan and in England.

Our family would like to thank Dr. Gilbert for his years of caring for our Dad, especially the last
week – and also the exceptional caring from the nurses at CDH.

He was a lovely, caring man and will be sadly missed by us all. Our Sunday dinners will never be
the same without his sense of humour and those damn hearing aids that he never seemed to
have turned on or in right!! His grand dog Duke will miss the digestive biscuits he always
carried for him and the family Sunday dinner table scrap treats!!