December 28, 1941 – January 4, 2026
Harold was born in Flinton Ontario. He was the second of Helen (Nolan) and Elwin Yanch’s seven children. After graduating from the Flinton Continuation School, he completed an apprenticeship in the heating and air conditioning trade and moved to Barrie, Ontario where he started his own successful business.
He is survived by his wife Paula, his children Michele, Corinne, Chris, Heather and Brent, stepdaughter Kimberley and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Harold is also survived by his siblings Carolyn (Bruce) Hasler, Elaine (late John) Bolton, Glenn (Vera) Yanch, Edward (Helen) Yanch, Marian (Harry) Scanlan and brother-in-law Warren Cuddy. He is pre-deceased by his parents, his ex-wife Jaqueline (Quick) the mother of his children, his sister Joanne Cuddy, and his stepson Paul.
Harold and Paula retired to her home community near Peggy’s Cove Nova Scotia settling in Prospect. They were involved in outreach programs for the disadvantaged and unhoused in their community. They both enjoyed summer jobs in the tourist industry in Peggy’s Cove where Paula worked in the gift shop and Harold drove the shuttle van. He was always delighted when he met and drove people from “back home”. Harold was a proud member of Alcoholics Anonymous for 40 years and a mentor to many in this lifesaving program.
Harold passed peacefully on Sunday January 4, 2026, with his wife Paula at his side. A funeral mass was celebrated on Friday January 9, 2026, at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in Shad Bay, Nova Scotia.
