Obituary of John Weston Furness

Furness, John Weston

With broken hearts, we're sharing that our dear John Weston Furness, at the age of 74, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 4th, 2024, in Fort Erie, Ontario. He leaves behind his loving wife and best friend, Holly, whom he shared 29 beautiful years with. His son, John Harrington, and wife Amy Schwartz from Halifax, and his daughter, Rachel Anne from Ridgeway, will miss him dearly. We can't forget about his son-in-law, Phil Williamson, stepdaughter Kelly and her husband Sheldon from Stevensville, stepson Kevin from Welland, nephew Brian Nelson and his wife Betty Muise, niece Theresa Hurd, her husband Mark and their kids Sarah, Patricia, and Annie, and nephew David Nelson. His cherished grandkids, Delmar, Selkie, and Bodhi will hold onto their special memories of him. We remember too, his sister Shirley Nelson, brother-in-law Bernard Nelson, and brother Brock Nelson who passed before him.

John was born on October 30th, 1949, in Charlottetown, PEI, to parents John Albert and Anne. He attended Douglas School and Fort Erie High School, then went on to Mohawk College. There, he received his licence in sheet metal work and HVAC.

John enjoyed a long and successful career in HVAC. He began at Barnhardt Plumbing and Heating before starting J.W. Furness Heating Inc. in 1978. In 1988, he expanded by purchasing Wale Plumbing and Heating. His company was well-regarded in the community and he employed 15 people in the Fort Erie area. Over the years, many of John's customers became his friends.

John lived life to the fullest, staying active both physically and mentally. When not helping Holly make Jazzy Scoops a vibrant community hub or travelling to places like Cabo in Mexico or Italy, he enjoyed cycling, golf, tennis, squash, and even surfing into his 70s! He was an enthusiastic reader with a love for beaches, good food, fast cars, wine tasting, and cultural explorations. His green thumb transformed Jazzy Scoop's patio into a lush oasis loved by the residents of Stevensville.

John was known for his generosity and his skill in allowing others to be themselves. He was a natural leader; he was stylish and dignified yet could make anyone feel at ease with his sense of humour and thoughtful conversation. He cared most about making the people around him feel happy - and he was truly excellent at that. His grandchildren delighted in how quickly he’d get down on the floor with them to play, chat, and giggle together.

Over the years he was a member of a number of local organisations including the local charter of the Heating Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI), the Buffalo Canoe Club, the All Saints Anglican Church in Ridgeway, the YMCA and the Fort Erie Business Success and Loan Centre. 

John's funeral will take place on Monday March 11th at Williams Funeral Services (722 Ridge Rd, Ridgeway) at 4:00 PM. Visitation is from 2:00-4:00 PM.

The family would like to thank Dr. Kim Scher and his entire Palliative Care Unit at Douglas Memorial Hospital, as well as the Para Med nurses and staff. The excellent care and attention provided to John and his family is deeply appreciated.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to one of John’s favourite charities South Niagara Life Ministries in Fort Erie or Happy Days Animal Sanctuary in Welland (CLICK HERE TO DONATE)