Verne J. Somers
August 30, 1937 to January 6, 2025
Obituary
The funeral service for Verne Somers will be livestreamed for those unable to attend.
Please click here for the live stream.
Verne Somers, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away suddenly on January 6 after a brief illness.
Born on August 30, 1937, in Holcomb, New Brunswick, Verne was the devoted husband of Judi Somers (Snelgrove) and the cherished father of David (Rachel Whittick), Rob (Dana Williams), and Kirsten (Ernie Buist). He was a proud grandfather to Eliza, Amelia, Hayden, Austin, Emmeline, and Rowan.
Predeceased by his father; Claude, mother; Iginita (Taylor), brother; Ken, and sisters; Mary and Virgie, Verne is survived by his loving sisters; Hazel and Ella. Verne delighted in his children and, later, his grandchildren. His love for his family was evident in everything he did.
He initially moved to Newfoundland to study business, became the first honors graduate of Memorial University’s Commerce program and qualified as a Chartered Accountant. Verne’s professional journey took him through successful tenures at Harvey’s, Fishery Products, Ayre’s, and People’s Jewelers, among others. His commitment to community service was evident through his involvement with several boards and organizations, including Rotary, Medic Alert, chairing the board of MCP, Historic Sites, and the Tuckamore Music Festival.
A lover of classical music, Verne enjoyed reading, playing the piano, socializing with close friends and family and leading many a singalong. For many years he and family hosted an annual Christmas tree-trimming party fondly remembered for its oysters, meatballs and Pop Shoppe. Each year a group of friends shared a themed NYE costume party and on Judi’s birthday Verne prepared a special luncheon for “the girls”. He was also known to cook over a charcoal or propane grill, quite possibly with a healthy gin in hand.
Resting at Carnell’s Funeral Home, on 329 Freshwater Rd. from 2:00-4:00 p.m. and 7:00-9:00 p.m. Thursday January 9th.
Funeral service will take place on Friday, January 10th at 11:00 a.m. from Gower St. United Church.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to the charity of your choice or Gower Street United Church.
Schedule
Visitations
2-4 p.m. on January 9, 2025
7-9 p.m. on January 9, 2025
Carnell’s Funeral Home
329 Freshwater Road
View on Map
funeral
11:00am, Friday January 10th
Gower Street United Church
Located at 99 Queens Rd, St. John's.
Judi and Family:
We are so very sorry to hear of Verne’s passing. Deepest condolences to you all.
Karen and Brad Smith
So sorry to hear of your husband’s death. My prayers are with you.
Judi, Dave, Rob and Kirsten I am so sorry to hear of your sad news. Thinking of you all! Sending hugs. Kim
Mrs. Somers, David, Rob, Kristen and family, so incredibly sorry for you all. So many memories of gatherings and events we all crossed paths over the past 50 years, whether at church, Gower Youth Band rehearsals or concerts or at Aunt Margot’s house. Thinking of you all.
Judi and family,
We were sorry to hear Verne had passed away. Please accept our condolences and cherish all the good family memories..
Dee and Les Hulett
Judi and Family,
So sorry to hear of Verne’s passing. Our sincere condolences to you all at this most difficult time.
Rob, Dana and family.
So sorry to hear about the passing of your father. Please pass on condolences to your mom and the rest of the family. . May you take comfort knowing that he lived a wonderful life.
May he rest in eternal peace.
Judi, David and family,
So sorry to hear of Verne’s passing. Thinking of you all at this sad time.
Toby
Dear Judi and family – we were saddened to read yesterday of Verne’s death and send you our deepest sympathy at this difficult time.
Shirley & Henry Andrews
To you Judi and your family our condolences on Verne’s passing. Cliff and I are thinking of you in this time of sorrow.
Dear Judi and Family,
To say the Ayre family loved Verne would be a wild understatement.
For Andrew and I he was a kind, fun and interested adult when we were children, … as teenagers he was Dad’s buddy and right hand loyal friend and colleague who we were lucky enough to spend many hours with while at school in Ontario, as the dynamic duo took on the rag trade ….and planned where they’d grab dinner (mainland roommates). The dynamic of the bosom buddies, and antics the two of them got up to in Upper Canada are embedded in my brain and heart – the best of times.
When Andrew and I started the Canadian side of our business Verne was always just a phone call away to help me navigate the financial landscape that was quite foreign to me. He was always patient, kind and calming at a time when I really was a deer in the headlights.
I will continue to think of Verne every single time I eat oysters (which is a lot!), and whenever I hear the sweet sounds of any opera.
I am so sorry for your loss but am so happy to have known such a wonderful man.
With Love, Beep
Dear Judi,
our condolences to You, David, Rob, Kirsten and the children. We were so sorry to get the sad news of Verne’s passing. Our happy memories of being in Verne’s company are many. His large, generous presence will long be remembered.
Pat and Jim.
Judi and family,
I was so sorry to hear about Verne. Verne and Judi have both been lovely friends and next door neighbours to my parents, with whom they enjoyed many dinners, opera nights and NYE celebrations over the years.
Just a short while ago Verne was expressing his kind condolences to us about my mother, and he has been a great friend to my father in difficult times.
I always appreciated Verne’s dry wit, interesting perspectives and obvious love for his family. He will be very much missed.
I hope your many happy memories will bring joy to you all now and in the years to come.
Judi and family, I was so sorry to hear about Verne’s passing. I always loved Verne’s refreshing directness, his dry sense of humour, and his infectious passion for music (he got my Dad into opera!). He was a wonderful friend and neighbour to my parents and he will be deeply missed.
sorry for your loss
Judi and family, so sorry to hear of Verne’s passing. May a lifetime of precious memories sustain you in this sad time.
I’m so sorry for your loss. I cherish my childhood visits out east, spending time with Uncle Verne and your family. I will always remember being amused by his charismatic dry wit.
Dear Judi and family. Sorry to read of your husband’s passing. . Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this sad and difficult time I would like to leave you with a quote while I don’t recall the author I hope it will bring you some comfort in the days ahead.” To live in the hearts of those we love is not to die. “ Take Care. Maude Peach
Condolences to Judi and the whole Somers family. Verne was a good friend. Modest and unassuming, he was knowledgeable about a wide range of subjects, including opera and classical music I learned a lot from him. He was intelligent with a dry sense of humour. He was also a strong family man with a deep love of his wife, children and grandchildren. I’m going to miss him.
Dear Judi, Rob, David and Kirsten and families.
Growing up it was never confusing to say we were going over to, vacationing with, celebrating a birthday with Aunt Judy and Uncle Vern’s. It was family. You all were family. I remember him telling me about ‘quadraphonic sound’ when I asked about his stereo once. Him leading the carols at the annual holiday party is another. I very sorry for his passing as he was also a great friend to my mom (Patricia Diamond) since before I was born.
RIP Vern.
Kirst, just sending my love and condolences to you and your family. Your dad was a great guy. God bless
Sorry to learn of Vernés passing. Our condolences to Judy and family
To Judi and family Sending you my sincere sympathy in your time of loss and sorrow. Phyllis Beckett
Dear Judi, David, Rob, Kirsten, and the rest of the family, I am so sorry to hear of Verne’s passing. I am out of the country for work at the moment and wish I could be with you. I wanted to send along my sincere condolences to you and the family. I am thinking of you all. Love, Andrew
Judi ,Rob and family, so sorry to read of Verne’s passing. Cherish the beautiful memories.
I am saddened to read of Verne’s passing.. He was such a nice man, always so pleasant and engaging on both a personal and professional level.
My condolences Judy to you and your family.
Keith Rose
Judi and family
We were shocked to hear from Lesley that Verne has passed away.. What a great neighbour and friend he was.!
No get-together at our house on Princess Anne Place was complete without you and Verne..
We plan to watch the live stream..
Our thoughts go out to David, Robbie and Kirsten and their families. Verne must have been wonderful grandfather.
Ellen and Dennis
Dear Judi, Rob, David and Kirsten and family,
I was deeply saddened to hear about Uncle Verne’s passing. Our family has many wonderful memories with him that we will always cherish. I’ll never forget the hilarious ‘Murder Mystery’ he helped orchestrate in Annapolis Valley. He also introduced me to Great Big Sea when we visited St. John’s in 2002, a memory that still brings a smile to my face.
My thoughts are with all of you during this difficult time.
Judi and family
My sincere condolences on Verne’s passing. I know what its like to lose a loved one. The memories and the good times you shared will help you get through.
Thinking of you. Take Care
I was saddened to see the announcement of Verne’s death. He really was a lovely man and I know you have a multitude of fond memories. Alison
Judi my dear , my heart goes out to you and your lovely family. Certainly another bright light has been extinguished. Hang on to all the lovely memories.
Judi and family. Very sorry to read of Verne’s sudden passing . a wonderful husband and father he will be missed God Bless you all.
Bill Winsor
Judi, David, Rob, Kirsten and families. Very sorry to hear of Verne’s sudden passing. Cherish your memories of which I know are many. My sincere condolences at this difficult time. Am thinking of you.
Sharon
To Judi & Family, our sincere condolences. Cherish the memories of all the fun times throughout the years and celebrate a life well lived. We will miss the service of the celebration of life as we are away at this time but will receive closure with you all through the streaming service available. R.I.P. Verne.
Dear Judi, Rob, David and Kirsten and families,
We are so sorry to hear of the passing of your husband and dad. We have many fond memories of Verne at gatherings at Dana and Rob’s house. Verne was always so friendly and you could feel the love he had for all of you and his grandchildren. We pray that your memories bring you comfort. Thinking of you, Karen (Dobbin), Greg, Noah, Ian, and Matthew Williams
Judi and Family thinking of you at this sad time
Please accept the condolences of the Huntsman Family. My wife Patti and I were fortunate to briefly visit Verne and Judi last year after perhaps 35 years of not having seen them. It was reassuring that Verne had definitely not lost his sense of humour. As a friend of David’s during our teenage years it was clear that Verne was definitely one of the cooler parents. A great guy who will be missed!
My sincere condolences to Vern’s family at this very difficult time. Verne and I graduated from NSER high school in 1954 . We were hoping to have a 70th Celebration last year but that didn’t happen. RIP Verne.
Verne was a good person and a strong friend. He played the piano forte when his back-up choir was off-key (which was always). He enjoyed a clever joke and a crazy piece of poetry. Condolences to Judi and all the family. He will be missed.