Obituary of James Thorn

I have no words to express how heartbroken I am right now. Heartbroken doesn't even begin to touch that feeling of emptiness and hopelessness I feel right now. Jim was my soulmate. We worked together, made every single decision together, we made plans for everything from dinners to celebrations, not a single decision was made from the smallest to the biggest without talking to each other. People were always amazed at how great we were putting things/ building stuff together. I would draw up plans and he would “make it happen”. He was no carpenter but has made some incredible creations. In 40 years together, there was not a single day that went by that we didn't talk or text each other. Send jokes or kisses even when I was travelling to remote reserves we found a way to communicate with each other! Jim loved to socialize with everyone! If he liked you, you truly felt it. If he didn't, he made it very clear why! (That was a very rare occasion but it did happen). Jim would go out of his way to be helpful to everyone in his precious circle. There was not a day go by that he didn't go check on someone or ask if he could help - actually just go do it! It was so easy for him to strike up a conversation with anyone rich or poor and I truly admired him for that. I was always a shy one so he tried to encourage me to mingle - I usually just said "I hate having to figure out what to say". Jim was the most compassionate, warm, loving and helpful man I have ever met (except for his children that followed his example). Jim was so proud of all my accomplishments and always encouraged me to do the things I loved. He would say: "make it happen" if ever I doubted myself! He bragged about that! Jim was so very proud of his children and grandchildren. He loves planning excursions that the kids/grandchildren would love. He wanted their memories growing up to be positive and filled with joy and laughter-even his silly dad jokes. He was always encouraging them to "be better", "make better choices", "be proud of your accomplishments", "make me proud", "good man/girl" etc. For our own children, he was hard on them because he wanted the very best for them. They felt he was just hard on them but truly, he didn't want them to suffer the consequences of hardships like he did when he was a young man. One day I truly hope they look back and realize he only meant it in a loving, caring way. I miss his smile, his laugh, his touch, his scent, his love of everyone, EVERY SINGLE THING about him is so profoundly missed.” I would kindly ask everyone who are placing a message of condolence to please tell me: 1) how did you meet Jim and, 2) how he touched your life I would also like to mention that cremation will take place this week, and a private celebration of life will also be held for close family and friends. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted with Beckett-Glaves Family Funeral Centre, 88 Brant Ave., Brantford, 519-752-4331. I am in the planning stages of designing a memorial garden for Jim at our forever home and encourage anyone who want to send flowers/donations to contribute to this garden instead example, Armour stone, soil, mulch, non invasive perennials, bulbs or shrubs for every season, anyone wanting to do this can private message Claudine, Adam or Andrew or contact staff at the salon. A tree will be planted in memory of Jim in the Beckett-Glaves Memorial Forest