The following tribute article was made available to TheWesternStar.com by the courtesy of the Association of Registered Nurses of Newfoundland and Labrador.
A Tribute to John Pelley, R.N.
There is nothing as heart wrenching as the sudden loss of someone you know and love. It 'takes the good out of you' as Newfoundlander's often say. Such was the case on March 12th, 2009 when Cougar Helicopter flight 491 crashed and 17 people lost their lives. Among those lost was John Pelley, RN, a vibrant, outgoing Deer Lake boy with a sharp wit, a zest for life and a passion for hometown hockey, among other things. ARNNL is honoured to have this opportunity to present this small tribute to John - we hope it does him justice.
John Pelley began his professional career as an EMT. He pursued nursing because he felt it would provide a more rounded approach in providing care to individuals. His early work as an EMT molded his decision to pursue ER nursing as a specialty and helped him develop an amazing understanding and affinity for pre-hospital care. John could often be found volunteering to be on the code team or to work in the resuscitation room whenever he was on shift. So much was his dedication that when John was working at the Central Maine Medical Center (CMMC) as a travel nurse, he was often requested for the code team - a task rarely allotted to a 'transient worker.'
The son of Registered Nurse Daphne Dureke, John had been exposed to nursing his entire life. It was no wonder then that when he attended Western Regional School of Nursing, Corner Brook he was known as a natural nurse with an inborn sense of leadership.
A well liked and respected student, he was frequently commended by faculty, peers and nursing staff for his professionalism, eagerness to learn, independence and competence. John always demonstrated a caring attitude and a genuine sensitivity toward patients, families and colleagues. He was an eternal optimist who set high standards and expectations for himself and, through his infectious good will, encouraged this in all others.
During his time at school, John was often the first to initiate, volunteer and lead his fellow students in community projects. Whether it was community health promotion activities, Shinerama or softball tournaments to raise money for charities, John was always front and centre with enthusiasm and a smile of determination.
His involvement and leadership did not go unnoticed and during his time at school John was recognized for his clinical excellence, active leadership, interest and involvement in student life, and outside interests. These characteristics would hold him in good stead throughout his career.
It was during nursing school that Shane Fudge, RN, first met John and they became life-long friends. They both graduated in 1997 and over the years worked together as travel nurses and later as nurses with Atlantic Offshore Medical Services. Shane was there for many of John's milestones and his words speak to John's influence and the depth of loss felt by those who knew him.
A Tribute by Shane Fudge
"John was an excellent nurse. His skills and knowledge portrayed the nursing profession in a very positive light. He was very keen and didn't miss much. John never met anything half way; he was a perfectionist and, when it came to learning or carrying out any task, he had to have complete understanding of the task at hand.
If you were lucky enough to meet John, he made an impact on your life immediately. He was a very knowledgeable individual, not just about his nursing profession but life in general and he took being a friend very seriously. He was extremely loyal and once you were a friend you were a friend for life. I recently had a conversation with a family member and we chuckled at the amount of "best friends" John had. Everyone introduced themselves as "John's best friend," if you had met him this was how he made you feel.
If you didn't know John well, you'd think he was a man of few words. However, to me, and many more, he was talkative and jovial and his words provided great comfort and insight. He often provided sound advice when his friends were in need.He didn't wear his heart on his sleeve, he was a strong, proud, man, but if you were lucky enough to have him as a friend, you knew he had a heart in his chest as big as the sun and would make sure that he did whatever possible to help you.
You only had to look as far as Lori, John's wife, to know his capacity for love. Lori and John, high school sweethearts, were married on Aug. 13, 1994 and were together for 25 years. She was, without a doubt, the love of his life.
John was a man of many interests and he had many hobbies. He loved playing hockey, softball and football. He loved to go skidooing and was an avid outdoorsman. You could often find him hunting, fly fishing, or any number of other activities. He was a member of various men's sporting teams and he was an avid Deer Lake Red Wings fan and I'd even venture to say that if he was off shift he didn't miss a game.
He was also an amazing musician with a great voice and an uncanny knack for the guitar and the mandolin.
He was an individual who seemed to get the most out of everything he was involved in. If he was fly fishing, you would have to literally beg him to leave the river and there were many nights I sat my truck after dark waiting for him to call it a day. It didn't matter, if he was playing guitar or tying flies, he was the same - dedicated and devoted to the task at hand.
John was first and foremost a Newfoundlander. He never saw permanently leaving the province as an option. Even when we worked almost 2 years in the U.S., he saw working away only as a stepping stone to a better career and life back in Newfoundland. I don't recall ever hearing him say that he would like to move from Newfoundland. Newfoundland provided him with the opportunity to do everything he wanted.
John and I were friends for 15 years, and during that time there wasn't much we didn't talk about or do. John was a great confidant and always had his own theories on most things, which usually ended in a chuckle. I will miss our conversations and his guidance. John was a great nurse and a better friend - he will be missed by all who knew and loved him."
To see the article as it appeared in ARNNL publication ACCESS click the image below.
