It is with deep sorrow that I have to announce the sudden passing of my son, Steven Gildea, in Australia on the 29th of April, 2024. It is something that no parent should have to face, and it is so difficult to put down on paper just what Steven accomplished in his short life of 52 years.

He was a boy and a man of many talents; musician, guitar, cello, piano, and he was also quite a talented magician. Steven was one of the founders and partook in "The Gathering" at Island Lake in Fernie. He was a talented golfer, winning the club championship in 1992 and graduated from San Diego Golf Academy as a golf pro. Steven also had several positions as an assistant golf pro in BC. He left that career to go into the construction industry, becoming a talented woodworker and had a natural talent for custom mosaic tile work.

Steven fell in love with his future wife Claudia from Australia and their first son Liam was born there. They came back to Fernie for a few years and welcomed daughter Molly. They were drawn back to Australia where they had their third child, Noah. Steven was a great Dad and loved his children so much. He raised his children to be just as talented as he was, instilling the love of music in all of them.

Sadly, he and his wife divorced after many years together. In what turned out to be the final months of his life, he again found the love he so desperately needed in his girlfriend, Renai. She was his rock in his final troubled moments.

Steven was a multi-talented man, who sadly had to deal with some demons. He leaves behind his ex-wife Claudia, their children; Liam, Molly, and Noah; his broken hearted younger sister Alleine Anselmo, " Kiddo" as he always called her, he was her protector as she grew up; myself and Steven's father, who never ever thought I would have to be writing this.

I am broken hearted at the thought Steven has gone, but we can all take comfort in knowing that his demons have gone, and he is at peace in the arms of his mother Dorothy Gildea in Heaven. We gain comfort too in seeing the legacy this kind, talented man has left on this earth. He will live on in his three children and will never be forgotten by his family here in Fernie. Rock on my son, alongside your best buddy Troy "Bubba" Cook, rock on.