A funeral service will be held Friday in Charlottetown for Frank J. “Pooch” Bradley, a well-known Charlottetown undertaker who died Sunday at Saint John Regional Hospital in New Brunswick.
Bradley was in his 75th year.
Born and educated in Charlottetown, he was the son of the late Austin and Katherine Bradley.
He attended Queen Square School, a school of which he would retain many fond memories.
In later years, he would help organize one of the school’s first reunions. He also helped develop a monument commemorating the school, which was erected on the school’s former site on Great George Street.
A good athlete, he played several sports, including hockey and baseball. He was also an avid bowler. Bradley was also active during his teen years in the Royal Canadian Army Cadets.
He began his working life in the employment of the telephone company but was there only a short time before going to work with his uncle, Robert Bradley, the original owner of the Charlottetown Funeral Home. Bradley apprenticed with his uncle and worked at his side for many years before taking over the business.
He spent more than 50 years as an undertaker before retiring last year.
A spokeswoman for the family said Bradley believed it was a privilege to do what he did for the families of the deceased.
“He said he always worked for the families,” said daughter, Pam Kelly. “He met a lot of people.”
Bradley had a number of interests outside of work. A big fan of harness racing, he could frequently be seen at the Charlottetown Driving Park. A hockey fan his entire life, he was a season ticket holder for the Islanders.
Active in his community, he was a former director of the Charlottetown Area Development Corporation.
A past member of the P.E.I. Funeral Directors Association, he was instrumental in bringing one of the country’s largest conferences of funeral directors to P.E.I. in the 1980s.
Bradley was a member of the parish of Holy Redeemer Church.
Bradley is survived by daughters Trish, Darlene, Shelly, Lisa and Pam. He is also survived by son-in-law Wayne Bernard.
He was predeceased by his wife Joan (nee Dunn) Bradley, to whom he was married for 48 years, and by a daughter, Barb.
Remains are resting at the Hennessey Cutcliffe Charlottetown Funeral Home.
The funeral will take place Friday morning at 10 at Holy Redeemer Church.
