July 8, 1934 - January 25, 2019
Michael died peacefully January 25th, 2019 in Nanaimo Regional General Hospital. Michael was born July 8th, 1934 in Durban, Natal, South Africa the only son of William and Kathleen Wearne. He grew up serving in the parish of St. John The Divine, Clark Road, Durban where he met and later married his wife Beryl. Michael started his working life in the wool trade in the UK and then as a Purser's Clerk on the Union Castle mail ships from Southampton to Durban. He then joined Woolworths, Pty, Ltd working his way to branch manager in Queenstown, South Africa. He always had an active ministry in the church and was called to the priesthood and entered St. Paul's Theological college, Grahamstown in 1975. He was Ordained Priest at St. Martin-in-the-Field, Durban North in 1979 and became the Vicar of All Saints, Ladysmith, South Africa. In 1985 he did a years clergy exchange and came to the parish of St. John the Evangelist, Ladysmith and St. Philip Anglican church, Cedar on Vancouver Island. God intervened and Bishop Shepherd gave Michael the position of Rector of the parish of St. James Church, Nanaimo until his retirement in 2000. He moved back to Ladysmith and was an Honorary Priest at St.Philip Cedar, and filled in for clergy within the Diocese.
Michael is survived by his daughter, Katherine Green(Patrick); Son, Godfrey (Wendy) and grandchildren; Meghan, Marshall, Nathaniel and Josiah.
The family would like to thank the staff and volunteers of the Palliative Care unit for their compassion and care of Michael in his last days.
A funeral service will be held at the church of St. Philip Cedar, 1797 Cedar Rd, on Saturday, February 9th at 11 am. In lieu of flowers, donations to Loaves and Fishes foodbank through St. Philip Cedar would be appreciated.