passed away peacefully in St. John’s, Newfoundland on Sunday, November 7, 2021 at age 86. He will be sadly missed by his wife Patricia (née Curran), children Lorraine (Brendan), Christopher (Rita), Linda (Patrick), Lisa (Christoph), and six grandsons: Finnian, Cormac, James, Alexander, Benjamin and Fergal. He will also be mourned by his sisters Kathleen, Mary and Eileen, and his many nieces, nephews and extended family. He is predeceased by parents John and Mary (née Sirr) and his four brothers, Tom, Walter, Ted and Sean. Michael was born in 1935, and grew up on a farm in Glinsk, in rural Co. Galway, Ireland. At age 14 he joined the Christian Brothers religious order, and trained as a teacher. He went on to teach at primary schools in Ireland and South Africa. After leaving the Christian Brothers, Michael emigrated from Ireland to Toronto, Canada in 1965. Working as a teacher, he met his wife Patricia while they taught at the same school in 1968. They were married within six months. As an industrial arts teacher, husband and father of four, Michael worked tirelessly to help others. He was a kind and compassionate listener, and could always be counted on to brighten spirits with his sense of humor and playfulness. Michael moved to Mount Forest with his family in 1975, teaching grades five, six and seven at St. Mary’s School. He taught at Sacred Heart School in Kenilworth between 1981 and 1986. He enjoyed teaching woodworking and mechanics, and spent countless hours in his home workshop making wooden furniture or fixing up old cars. Over the years, he never stopped learning, completing his bachelor’s degree in Psychology from UWaterloo in 1982 and community college studies in mechanics. Many years before online and video learning existed, Michael came up with creative ways to educate his students, enlisting his own children to read books on cassette tape for special needs learners, and scavenging broken discarded lawn mowers, to give students hands-on engine repair experience. Later in life, Michael continued to pursue his religious vocation from years prior, completing his training as a Roman Catholic Deacon, supported by his wife Patricia. He ministered at the Simcoe Manor in Beeton, Ontario for 13 years. After retiring, Michael and Patricia moved to Calvert, Newfoundland, living by the ocean. They attended many festivals and kitchen parties there, with Michael singing the Irish National Anthem in Irish on stage at the summertime Southern Shore Shamrock Festival. During his last years, Michael struggled with the effects of dementia, with loving care from his wife Patricia. Patricia and the family extend their sincere thanks to caregiver Chris Maher, who provided excellent care daily to Michael in his final months, as well as the St. John’s Health Sciences staff in 4 North A. He was laid to rest in Holy Trinity cemetery in Patricia’s hometown of Ferryland Newfoundland on November 12th. Donation in lieu of flowers to the Canadian Cancer Society.
