February 7, 1958 - February 8, 2024
After a hard-fought 2 year battle with cancer and hours after his 66th birthday party, we said goodbye til we meet again to Steve Pierce. Steve's will to stay with his family as long as he could showed us all what the power of positive thinking can do. Steve is survived by his wife, Deborah (Harper), his five children, Christopher, Tamara, (Christian) Litimco, Jeff (Jamie), Brett (Megan), Blair, and Steve’s two grandchildren Landon and Selena, his new grand baby due in June and fur-babies Tyson and Lucy.
Steve will be sadly missed by his sister Cheryl Richardson (Mike), brothers Dave (Brenda) and Mike (Trish) and all his nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. Steve is one of four children of Lavonne and Doug Pierce.
Steve was born in Oakville February 7, 1958. Steve was a pretty special boy. He was the inquisitive one! He always needed to know how things worked. And if they didn't, he figured it out and fixed it! From the days of living in Terra Cotta and seeing the farm animals mating and birthing, to figuring out why a press wasn't producing what he wanted, to building his prize possession, 1970 Chevy Nova from scratch. He didn't sleep til the smallest piece of equipment did what it was supposed to do. Steve's dad, Doug, was a great pitcher and was drafted to the MLB but turned it down to be a dad. Steve inherited his dad's sharp baseball skills and was a great third baseman. Playing ball all the while growing up and into the men's leagues. Baseball was a big part of Steve's life. At one time in his 30s and 40s he played on 3 teams a week! It wasn't about the baseball as it was about post game. Gathering with his buddies to discuss the game and all world issues was something Steve loved to do. And there was no time limit. The time together with his boys continued until the last person left. And it was usually Steve!! I could write a book about all the stories Steve shared about his amazing memories with his boys playing ball. Friendships that became like family.
Steve loved his printing career. It wasn't a job for him. He loved the challenge every day brought to make every single job look the best it possibly could. His pride and passion was evident in all the long time friendships he made along the way. Clients who became friends because they could trust Steve with their most important jobs. Steve had many employees that he mentored and took the time to train, to be the best they could to produce the best work. Those amazing friendships led to lots of extra curricular activities and fun that Steve spoke of right up until the end. His many golf trips and rounds of golf while a member at Brampton Golf Club have great stories, fun, laughter and lots of food!! As a single digit golfer, Steve was most proud of his round of 66 at the club!!
Being a grandfather was not something Steve could see himself doing but the day his first grandbaby arrived, there was an immediate bond that became so strong over the past 6 years. He finally had someone with the same love of cars as him. He was so proud to have Landon show so much interest in his cars. Landon is probably the only baby who had a car seat tethered to an 800 horsepower car!! And it was the soothing sound of the engine that always put the baby to sleep! But then sweet Selena came along and she is the apple of Poppa's eye. Steve was able to receive the news that another grandbaby is on the way and he was so happy for the news.
Special thanks to all the loving care Steve received from his Oakville Trafalgar Hospital Cancer Clinic Team including Dr. Herman and nurse Allison and too many amazing Emergency and ICU nurses to mention. Thank you to Stella Ling and the Home and Community Care team of Halton for helping us transition to our home life with dignity and grace, because they care so much. To all the amazing nurses who showed up each and every day to talk to Steve and be sure he was comfortable, we cannot thank you enough. And all the PSWs who made sure Steve was always feeling and looking great every day!!! Also, the amazing people at Cancer Assistance Services of Halton Hills (CASHH) who were incredible with providing what we didn't even know we needed. They were so kind and understanding at a time that felt very overwhelming. They picked up all the pieces and put us back together. Big shout out to Bill at Assisted Mobility Services (AMS) in Georgetown who jumped through hoops to make sure Steve had the motor power he needed to stay mobile as long as possible. This was a very important wish of Steve's and Bill couldn't have responded any quicker for Steve's needs. There are no words to thank Dr. Paul & Debbie Zeni who went above and beyond to make sure Steve had the best care available and gave our family the extra time that we needed and are so grateful to have had with Steve. All these people are truly heroes and angels sent to do God's work on earth.
Steve requested to be cremated and absolutely have a party in his honour. He doesn't want tears and crying. He hated that. He wanted to make sure everyone had a drink, told some funny stories and stay til the end. But remember, Steve will be the last one to leave! We're going to have a Celebration of Steve's Life on Tuesday, February 13th, 2024 at Carl's Catering The Glen at 1857 Queen St.W. Brampton from 5-9pm.
In lieu of flowers, the family would greatly appreciate any donation to Cancer Assistance Services of Halton Hills (CASHH) to ensure the next person with this awful disease also is blessed with their services, as Steve was.
Arrangements entrusted to Jones Funeral Home