One of the last of a generation, decorated World War II veteran Roderick Joseph Deon, has died at precisely 11:11pm.
He has joined Frances, his wife of 67 years, who died 71 days earlier.
(File photo.)
Rod was born in Nova Scotia in 1921 and joined the Canadian Navy in 1942, serving aboard the destroyer HMCS Ottawa. His ship was on convoy duty in the north Atlantic and took part in the Normandy Invasion (D-Day) in 1944. The Ottawa was credited with three U-boat sinkings in that same year. In 2019, he journeyed to France as a member of the Canadian delegation marking the 75th anniversary of D-Day.
Recalling his experiences in the war with VOCM News in November 2021, Deon’s wit and humour were on full display.
While describing his time chasing down German U-boats and E-Boats, Deon chuckles as he says “Wars are not good, nothing good about a war.”
A visitation will be held at Caul’s Funeral Home in St. John’s on Tuesday, July 25th from 12:00-3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.
Funeral mass takes place Wednesday, July 26 at 2:00 p.m. at the Basilica.
Rod Deon was 102 years old.
