Edward Joseph (Ted) Bell
20 November 1938 – 8 December 2023
With much sadness, we announce that Ted, the son of the late Cecile (Desaulnier) and Wilfred Bell, has passed away at Riverview Gardens in Chatham, Ontario. Ted was the dear husband of Susan Shriver, father of Ken (late Terri) and their son Michael, stepfather of Noelle (Alan) Shriver and their children Julia, Madeline, Robert and families, and he was a brother of Jim, Donna, Bernadette, Ruthanne, Fred, Bill and predeceased by Lorraine and Roseanne. Ted also leaves behind his in-laws, many nieces and nephews, cousins and friends. Ted has lived a long journey with dementia since his stroke in 2017. Much help has been given by Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (third floor), Eden Villa, Village On The Ridge and Riverview Gardens. Ted was an adventurer throughout his life and, when still able in these last years, had many happy adventures with brother Fred, son Ken, Susan and others. He greatly enjoyed his time spent at the Alzheimer’s Society Day Program. Ted always enjoyed working and worked at many different jobs during his lifetime including helping on relatives’ farms, driving a taxi, running a water treatment plant, owning a small farm, then owning a restaurant. His main work was as a contractor, building and renovating and always helping out friends and family with emergencies. Ted enjoyed woodworking his whole life and built some of his own furniture. Ted’s past-times were varied and numerous, but his favourite was flying. He was a licensed pilot and had built two ultralight airplanes. Ted also practiced martial arts, Aikido in particular, loved motorcycles, water sports and was a scuba diving instructor and was learning to curl in the years before his stroke. In quiet moments, Ted enjoyed reading, his cat Maggie by his side, and was a life-long learner. Ted travelled whenever possible: extended trips living off the land/sea in the Northwest Territories and Mexico, all over Canada, with special times spent on the Bruce Peninsula with Ken and family, and in the Sudbury region with Susan, Noelle and family, and throughout the United States, always enjoying time with his sister Bernadette and family in New Mexico. There were adventures in China and Iceland with Blenheim friends, Brazil, France, the Caribbean, and several long-stays in Portugal with Susan. Ted was also committed to volunteer work and was a Mason and a Shriner and he donated blood over one hundred times. Ted was a generous and honourable man, multi-talented, cheerful and fun, and a loyal friend. Please think of Ted when helping others and when having an adventure.
There will be an interment of Ted’s ashes at Evergreen Cemetery and a celebration of his life at a later date to be announced.
Donations made to the Alzheimer’s Society of Chatham-Kent would be appreciated.
On-line condolences may be left at www.blenheimcommunityfuneralhome.com
