Cleo Gratton was known for his big heart and his instinct to look out for others. A retired diamond driller in the mining industry with a love for moose hunting and travel with his wife, Diane, he lived life fully until his health began to deteriorate after a triple bypass surgery two years ago.

Gratton had been contemplating a medically assisted death (MAID, or medical assistance in dying) for some time, but his most recent hospital stay — fraught with pain and disappointment — confirmed his choice. He resolved never to return to Health Sciences North, choosing instead to die in his Chelmsford home with dignity.

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Gratton was in the process of arranging a medically assisted death when he passed away naturally and peacefully at home, surrounded by his family on Oct. 26.

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