A P.E.I. man who died on Friday charged a $10 admission fee to his wake as a fundraiser for the local rink.

'If they don't want to pay the $10, they don't get in,' said Jimmy MacConnell. (Family photo)

Jimmy MacConnell had been selling tickets at and raising money for the Three Rivers Sports Complex for years. The 86-year-old was named Georgetown Citizen of the Year in 2004.

MacConnell lived in Georgetown his whole life, serving in the air force during the war and the village store for years with one of his brothers.

MacConnell never married, and his real love was hockey — first as a player, then as a supporter, often organizing fundraisers and selling tickets.

His family believes he raised tens of thousands of dollars.

MacConnell's niece, Barb Mazerolle, was with him when he made the unique request for his wake to the director at the Ferguson Funeral Home four years ago.

"When we got to the funeral home, the first thing he said to Garth Ferguson was, 'Before we go any farther,' he said, 'I've got one question to ask you.' And Garth said, 'Sure.' And he said, 'I want an admission,'" said Mazerolle.

"Garth said, 'An admission?' And he said, 'Yep.' He said, 'Anybody who wants to see me has to pay $10.' He said, 'If they don't want to pay the $10, they don't get in. Just that simple.' So this was his final. All donations go to the rink."

"He was the kind of person who thought outside the box," said nephew Brad MacConnell. "Always challenged all of us to be better people."

Georgetown resident Cindy MacLean said she used to joke with MacConnell about him charging cover to his wake.

"He used to kid around and say 'well you aren't going to get off easy when I die' he said 'you're going to have to pay a cover charge of $10 to see me ...' and that's exactly what he did," MacLean said with a smile.

MacConnell's cover charge to get into his wake was advertised on Facebook.

MacConnell's wake was held on Monday night, with many people placing their $10 donation directly in his casket.

One former mayor accidently crashed the wake without paying up.

"We were unaware of the situation of making a cash donation," said Mike Gallant. "So I would expect Jim will be sending us a bill soon."

"I know he's looking down on us and laughing his head off saying 'I told you so, I told you so'," said MacLean.

There were numerous cheques for as much as $300, and the Town of Georgetown donated $2,000 in MacConnell's honour.

MacConnell's wake raised more than $3,000.