Eskasoni Mi’kmaq Nation
Essisoqni Wutaniminu

It is with great sadness that we, the family announce the passing of Alexander Bruce Francis on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital, Sydney, surrounded by his loving family.

Born on September 26, 1948, Potlotek First Nation, Alex was a son of the late Stephen Peter and Annie Claire (Paul) Francis.

Alex was a residential school survivor. He loved fishing, hunting, blueberry picking, growing sweetgrass, playing his favorite music and playing bingo with his sister, Josie. One of Alex’s hobbies was making wreaths and baskets. He took great joy in supplying his belated wife, Mary with poplar wood strips for her wooden flowers. Alex was crafty in making his own woodworking tools to cut strips of wood and to do wood carvings. He will be missed by all who knew him.

Alex is survived by children, Stephen, Jessie, Peter, Alex Jij, Irene, Lena, Charinda, Kallie, Colby, Arthur, Sarah, Virick, Dominic, Doreen, Kristal, Wayne Sr, Leah, Rick and Fred Getchell; siblings, Josephine, Daniel and David; God-children, Sy, Rodney, Amanda, Stephen, Jordan, Tashema and Carleigh; grandfather to many and the names continue as he provided a home and cared for over 73 children throughout his 50 plus years as a foster father with the Children’s Aid Society and MMFCS.

Alex is predeceased by his loving wife, Mary Julia; siblings, Catherine, Rosemarie K, Ryan, Joe Alan, Norman, Roderick, Angus, Jonas, Caroline, and Marion Claire at infancy.

Visitation for the late Alexander Bruce Francis will begin on Saturday, June 17, 2023, after 7 p.m. at the Gabriel Center, Eskasoni. Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. on Monday, June 19, 2023, at Holy Family Church with Fr. Antolin Asor officiating. Interment will take place in the parish cemetery at a later date.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the care and direction of Pier Community Funeral Home.

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