Thoughts From Judy Stacee-Cleaver, Broker of Record, FRI,ABR

Thoughts From Judy Stacee-Cleaver, Broker of Record, FRI, ABR

Celebration of Life

In lieu of my usual opinions about the market, the drop in the interest rates or if it’s a good time to sell, I’m turning my thoughts to a special goodbye. I’ve never attended a celebration of life quite like the one for Paul Turney, who helped us with our newsletter and passed away last month.                                                                                                                                                                                              Paul was a horseman, part of a unique community of people with a deep passion for Horses and Racing, loved and respected for all his work over the years. His wife Michelle arranged to have his ashes spread in the Winners Circle at Fort Erie Race Track.

We congregated outside the Paddock, then walked across the dirt race track at the Finish Line to the grassy enclosure of the Winners Circle. We were comforted by the haunting sound of Amazing Grace played by a bag piper and as the ceremony began, the sun came out.            Family and friends gathered to pay their final respects as beautiful words were spoken by Shawn Kennedy, his dear friend and racing Chaplin for Ontario Thoroughbred Racing, who assured us this spreading of ashes was not unusual for those within the racing community.  

As we shared stories of Paul, whose life touched so many, a memory developed displaying a man who truly loved and was part of the many facets of horse racing.                                                                                                                                                                              The Chaplin spread the ashes in the sign of a cross and a horseshoe while the piper played Mull of Kintyre and Paul’s favourite tune, the A&W Root Bear jingle. You were a big personality Paul, loving and generous to your family & friends….you’ll be forever missed.