Bernard Henry Eckert, born on October 5, 1932 near Tramping Lake, Saskatchewan, passed away peacefully in his sleep, on December 12, 2023, at the age of 91, under the exemplary care of the staff at The Village Long Term Care in Hanover, Ontario. 

Bernie had fond memories of growing up on the family farm in Tramping Lake. Bernie left the farm to earn a diploma at the Saskatoon Business School and then moved to Vancouver, BC to begin his career in sales. After attaining a position with Canadian Pacific Airlines, he married Rosemary (nee Caruso) Eckert and had three children.  A transfer through CP Air to Toronto offered Bernie opportunities for advancement at work and to eventually become the Chairman of the Toronto Board of Trade.  These years were interspersed with travelling, family camping trips, creating a large skating rink in the back yard for his family and the neighbourhood, enjoying the love for hockey and baseball, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Blue Jays and playing catch with his children, tending a huge garden, and cooking interesting dishes such as sauerkraut and head cheese. Bernie married Edel Hossung in 1983.  Edel and Bernie moved from Toronto to South Eastern Ontario, eventually settling in Hanover, Ontario.  They took great joy in tending their garden, exploring various business opportunities, renovating their home, and building relationships in the community.  A deep commitment to his faith inspired Bernie to be a past Grand Knight in the Knights of Columbus, Treasurer of Knights of Columbus hockey league, to help start the Adoration Chapel at Holy Family Parish, and to be an active member of his faith community. It is with gratitude for a full life that Bernie will be fondly remembered by his children: Trisha (Dave) Little, Tom (Darlene) Eckert, Rose (Duncan) Manser, Edel’s daughter Borgny Solveig (Sverre) Etterlid. Also remembered by nine grandchildren by his first marriage and one step grandson, seven great grandchildren, his brother Carl (Marjorie) Eckert, sister Vicky Eckert, and many nieces, nephews, and friends. Bernie was predeceased by his wife Edel Eckert, parents Joseph and Frances Eckert, sisters Madeline Chad and Peggy Ley, and brother Felix Eckert.

Visitation will be held at Holy Family Church, Hanover (352 10^th Avenue), on Friday, December 15, 2023, from 9:30 – 10:45 am, followed by a Funeral Mass at 11:00 am.  For those unable to attend, the service will be live streamed via Holy Family Church (https://holyfamily.ca/media/). Interment will follow at Holy Family Cemetery, Hanover.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Canadian Cancer Society as an expression of sympathy (https://cancer.ca/en/).  Arrangements entrusted to Mighton Funeral Home, Hanover.  

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