Obituary of Eric Hayden

Eric Hayden was born 21 May 1942 in Jersey Side, Placentia, where his parents had moved for employment constructing the Argentia Naval Base. Eric fell ill at his lovely home that he had built on Haydens Point, Petite Forte. He passed peacefully away on 17 November 2025 at the age of 83 at the Burin Peninsula Health Care Centre.

Eric was predeceased by his daughter Ann Marie at the age of 14, a hard blow from which he never fully recovered; wives Mary (Hayden) and Margaret (Peggy) Moores; parents Osborne and Melinda (Cheeseman); brothers Joseph (Rosalind Hoskins), and sisters Anne Marie and Nora (Don Hankins).

Leaving to mourn with fond and loving memories are his daughter Paula (Francis) Leonard; grandchildren David Leonard (Claudia Barnes), Desiree Leonard (Greg Whyte) and Thomas Leonard (Tonya Molloy); great-grandchildren Tyler, Gavin, Molly Leonard, Natalie and Evan and Madelyn Leonard; brothers James, David and Edmund (Mary Norman, deceased); sisters Blanche, Barbara (Charles Anthony, deceased) and Mary (Ches Bilka). Also leaving to mourn are his many nieces, nephews and friends and special friend Shirley Thorne.

Eric left home at the age of thirteen to attend boarding school at St. Bon's College in St. John's and from there to Dalhousie University in Halifax. One of his early jobs was a deckhand on the Lady Anderson, a hospital ship providing service to ports in Placentia Bay. Later he was a self-employed land surveyor and worked for the town of Labrador City, where he took great pleasure in having a crew in the regatta. In the tradition of his idol, Newfoundland's famous surveyor Captain James Cook, he prepared coastal charts of Placentia Bay. He finished his working years as a self-employed fisherman and skipper of his boat Chebouga Lady until the age of 80.

As well as being a hard worker, Eric loved reading history and gathering historical information on the families of Petite Forte. He enjoyed dancing and merriment to the full and being the life of a party with family and friends. In gleeful moments and in top form, he was not shy to hop upon the floor to recite a poem or sing a verse or two from his admittedly limited repertoire. Following in his grandfather Joseph Hayden's footsteps, Eric took pride in helping the wider community and volunteered tremendous time and effort to support the betterment of Petite Forte. In later years, with two broken hips, he was still walking every day.

The family will be receiving visitors at Holy Rosary Church in Petite Forte on Wednesday, November 19 beginning at 11am and Thursday morning.

A Vigil will take place on 7pm Wedneday November 19, 2025 at Holy Rosary Church, Petite Forte NL.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church in Petite Forte Thursday, November 20 at 1 pm, Father Cosmos officiating. Interment will follow at Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Cemetery in Petite Forte.  

Flowers gratefully accepted or donations made to Holy Rosary RC Church, Petite Forte, NL.

Funeral arrangements entrusted to Serenity Funeral Home, Burin We listen, we learn, we walk with you.