Thomas Etches
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the unexpected death of Thomas Arthur Etches on May 5, 2025, just nine days before his 77th birthday. He passed away at his home in North Bay, Ontario, with his wife Sandra Mary Etches (nee McIntosh) nearby as well as his youngest child, Elizabeth. Tom’s death followed a difficult month-long hospitalization, and though the cause is unknown, he faced it with his usual stoicism.
Born on May 14, 1948, Tom was raised in North Bay, the second youngest of nine children. He graduated from Widdifield Secondary School and went on to study civil engineering at Laurentian University and the University of Ottawa. As a young man, Tom converted to the LDS church, where he met his beloved wife, Sandy, whom he married on October 30, 1979. He is survived by his wife and five children: Thomas(Juliet), Michael (Christina), Ruthanne (Seth), Rebecca (Sean), and Elizabeth.
Tom enjoyed a successful career as a civil/structural engineer and dedicated much of his time to volunteering at church, where he was admired for his kindness, optimism, and love of corny jokes. A devoted father, Tom had a passion for sports and found great joy in watching his children compete. He was a proud grandfather to Nadya, Hannah, Adam, Callen, Alex, Alice, and Talia.
He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
A viewing will be held on May 12 from 6:00-8:00pm at Hillside Funeral Services in North Bay, with another viewing on May 13 from 9:30-10:30am at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The funeral will follow at 11:00am, with a graveside service at 12:30pm at North Bay Union Cemetery. A luncheon will be held at 1:00pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to One Kids Place, a local charity that provides therapy and support services for children with developmental, physical, and communication needs.
Hillside Funeral Services Ltd.
