Obituary of Rev. John Edwin Dunnett

John Dunnett passed away peacefully alongside his family in New Glasgow, NS on December 4th, 2024. In life, John liked many things, but the list of things he loved is as concise as it is passionate. John loved baseball, Strat-O-Matic, and the Montreal Expos and Canadiens. John loved people and had a special place in his heart for his family and friends. John loved his two kids and made sure that everyone he talked to knew how proud he was of the young man and woman they had become, and the “bonus kids” that they had chosen to share their lives with. Above all these things, John adored his wife. He set the standard of what to expect in a husband for Sarah, and what to strive for as a husband and father for Ben and made sure that not a day went by where Marilyn did not hear a “Have I told you lately, how much I love you” in his off pitch singing voice. He took the command to love your wife as Christ loved the church seriously, consistently putting his wife first just to see her smile.

But the thing that John loved the most in life was Jesus and wanted to make sure that all of his interactions with people, both in life and in death, pointed them towards Him. After telling God the one thing he wouldn’t become was a pastor, God made it clear that he was wrong and “ruggedly independent”. John went on to spend his life dedicated to service and pastoral ministry across Atlantic Canada. Shortly after his passing, messages began to flood in about a life well lived, with a common theme: When people thought of John, they thought of Jesus. “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” - Matthew 25:21

John joins his parents Edgar and Barbara (Hosford) Dunnett, and father-in-law Gerald Steeves in the presence of the Lord. He is loved and will be greatly missed by his wife, Marilyn (Steeves) and his two children, Benjamin (Savannah) and Sarah (Raphael). He is also survived by siblings, Sandra, Paul (Lisa) and David; his stepmother, Judy; his mother-in-law, Ruth (Reginald) Steeves; sisters-and-brothers-in-law, Tammy (Mark) MacDonald, Duane (Suzanne) Steeves and Vicki (Bradley) Buchanan; and several nieces and nephews. 

“We do not mourn like those who have no hope, for we believe that Jesus has died and rose again.” - 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14

Visitation will take place in both New Glasgow, NS and Moncton, NB. The New Glasgow visitation will take place at P. & K. MacDonald Funeral Home on Sunday, December 8 from 2-4 p.m. with the Moncton visitation following on December 12 from 7-9 p.m. at Hillside Church, in the care of Fergusons Funeral Home. The funeral will take place at Hillside Church on December 13 at 1 p.m.. Interment will take place in the Miramichi at a later date.

Donations may be made in memory of John to Hockey Ministries International.

Lovingly submitted by family.