John Joseph Cleary
April 20, 2019
It is with sadness that we announce the passing of John Joseph (Jack) Cleary, in London on Saturday, April 20th, 2019 in his 93rd year.
Jack will be profoundly missed by his best friend and beloved wife of almost 69 years, Marie (nee Evans). He was the proud and loving father of Karen (Andrew) Waller of Ancaster and Kevin (Patricia) of London and loving Poppa of Alexandra and Brad Waller and Derek Cleary. He leaves behind many nieces, nephews, sister-in-law Marion Cleary and many cherished friends.
Born in Seaforth, Ontario on May 27th, 1926, Jack is predeceased by parents Minnie and Bill Cleary and by brothers Jim (Jessie), Pat and Billy (Hazel).
After graduating from the Canadian School of Embalming in 1949, Jack worked in the funeral business in Southwestern Ontario until he established his own company in London in 1973. Prior to London, the family lived in Toronto. He was widely known and highly regarded within the trade in Canada even after his retirement in 1991.
Jack served in the Royal Canadian Navy during World War II and is a member of the Canadian Legion, Branch 156, Seaforth.
A devout parishioner at Holy Family Parish in London, Jack was an usher for many years. He is a past member of Sunningdale Golf and Country Club and enjoyed travelling and his various card groups. Jack loved to travel the world and shared this passion with his family. Together, he and Marie spent many winters in Arizona. He actively pursued volunteer work, particularly at University Hospital for more than 20 years and with his therapy dog Quincy at Parkwood Hospital. For that service, Jack and Quincy received the Governor General’s Award for outstanding community service.
Visitation will be held at WESTVIEW FUNERAL CHAPEL, 709 Wonderland Road North, London, on Tuesday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at HOLY FAMILY PARISH, 777 Valetta Street, London, on Wednesday, April 24th, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at St. James Cemetery, Seaforth.
Thank you especially to Dr. Mahmoud and RN Michelle at University Hospital, for providing such exceptional care and comfort and to Margaret Rowland for her love and support at this time for Marie.
In lieu of flowers, a donation to the charity of your choice would be appreciated.
“…the time of my departure has come, I have fought the good fight.
I have finished the race, I have kept the faith…”
(2 Timothy:4 6-7)
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Jack was a real nice man and a real gentleman. I know you will have many fond memories.
Marie and family.....my sincere condolences. It was a pleasure to have met you through my dear friend, Charlie. Jack and Charlie are probably playing golf or cards in heaven.
Marie and family.....my sincere condolences. It was a pleasure to have met you through my dear friend, Charlie. Jack and Charlie are probably playing golf or cards in heaven.
Marie and Family: I was saddened to learn of Jack's passing. My dad, Charlie, and Jack were very good friends. They played many rounds of golf together and spent hundreds of hours around the poker table. My father had great respect for Jack and derived great pleasure from their camaraderie. May Jack rest in peace.
JACK was a dear and valued friend who we were priviledged to have as a friend. Our thoughts and prayers are with you Marie and family.
Dear Marie and family, Our deepest condolences on the death of Jack. Our parents spoke very highly of the Cleary families and cherished this friendship. May God grant Jack eternal rest. Children of the belated Joseph and Florence Devereaux.
To the Cleary family, Please accept our sympathies on the loss of your patriarch. He was a good friend to our family and we enjoyed him very much. He was a true professional and did more than his share to exemplify what it means to be a funeral director. The Denning family
Dear Marie & Family. As we have just returned from a trip to Europe we were very saddened to hear of the passing of your beloved husband and father Jack Cleary. Like so many others who have posted here we have many fond memories of Jack and enjoyed the many visits we had with him over our years in Funeral Service. He really was a gentleman and I had the upmost respect for him. We are so sorry that we missed his funeral for if we had been home we would have been there. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. I will cherish our last visit when he and Mac Douglas came up to Bayfield and we went out to lunch and had a wonderful time reliving all the years we had known each other. Rest well my friend you are now with the angels. Well done thy good and faithful servant. We will never forget you. Michael & Marguerite Falconer
Dear Marie and family We are so sorry to hear of the passing of Jack, wonderful neighbour and friend. Jack was such an inspirational role model for us, wonderful husband and father, caring, thoughtful, and gentle. "Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherent the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." Matt. 25:31. Rest in the peace of Christ, Jack. Tom and Gloria
Dear Marie & Family. As we have just returned from a trip to Europe we were very saddened to hear of the passing of your beloved husband and father Jack Cleary. Like so many others who have posted here we have many fond memories of Jack and enjoyed the many visits we had with him over our years in Funeral Service. He really was a gentleman and I had the upmost respect for him. We are so sorry that we missed his funeral for if we had been home we would have been there. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. I will cherish our last visit when he and Mac Douglas came up to Bayfield and we went out to lunch and had a wonderful time reliving all the years we had known each other. Rest well my friend you are now with the angels. Well done thy good and faithful servant. We will never forget you. Michael & Marguerite Falconer
(Donated to Canadian Cancer Society)
(Donated to Charity of Choice)
(Donated to Charity of Choice)
(Donated to Our Local Hospital)
(Donated to St James Church)
(Donated to Sarnia Humane Society)
I have many fond memories of "Gentlemen Jack Cleary" from my early days in this profession. Statesmen like Jack Cleary represented the mentors in our profession that young arrivals sought to emulate. Everyone that ever had anything to do with Jack knew he was a man of integrity, professionalism, and a lot of style. He is truly the kind of person that you knew made the world a better place. I miss him and offer my sincere condolences to his family.
We are sorry for your loss. Jack was such a wonderful person. Our thoughts are with you and the family during this difficult time.
Marie & family: Sincere sympathy on your loss of Jack! A fine and true gentleman, and will be missed by all. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
I met Mr. Cleary when Karen and Andy were married. We enjoyed a round of golf at his club prior to the ceremony. He was a fine gentleman. My condolences to the family
My sincerest condolences to the family at this difficult time. It was an honour and pleasure to know Mr Cleary and his wonderful family.
Condolences to Marie, Karen & Andy, Kevin & Pat and Jack's grandchildren and extended family. Jack was a gentleman in every way. Always gracious, thoughtful and kind he exemplified the best of Christian values and humanity. I'm sure he touched many over his long life, as he did Heather and I, and will live on in our hearts. "Well done, good and faithful servant! "
I was so sorry to hear about your father's passing. I know this is a very sad and difficult time for you and your family. You have my very deepest sympathy
So sorry to hear of Jack's passing. He was a true gentleman and a man we greatly admired. May he rest in peace.
My thoughts and prayers are with Marie, and all of Jack's family at this time. I have had a number of memories of Jack come to my mind since I heard of his passing. The first is that Jack epitomized the term "gentleman." He was always gracious and kindly - something we could use more of in these times. I can almost imagine his gentle laugh. The second is that he called on at least two generations of my family in the funeral profession. God bless you Jack on your journey, and God bless your family in their loss.
To Marie, Andrew and Karen: Please accept my condolences at the passing of Jack, a fine gentleman that I only knew briefly. I still remember the wonderful Christmas that I was able to spend with Jack and Marie many years ago when, for the first time, I was able to learn more about Jack and his business and his home life. I will miss him as I am sure that we all will.
Mr. Cleary often visited families at the firm I worked for in London. Few Funeral Directors left a greater impression on me as a young man then Jack. He was always professional, poised, and nearly a decade later I can still vividly picture his black and white houndstooth jacket, and flawlessly shone shoes. Jack served and mentored so many. My sincere condolences to his family.
I know I'm being repetitive, but the word 'gentleman' was so richly deserved by Jack! He was a strong and supportive presence in my life as a young funeral director, and I owe much to this fine man! Always happy and smiling, he was truly an inspiration and a welcome face anywhere you would meet him! Rest well, Jack!
To the Cleary Family, My condolences to you. My first and lasting contact with Jack when I was a beginning student. I had been given a task by my employer and I was way over my head and desperately needing assistance, when in walked this well dressed and kindly gentleman. To make it short, Jack come to my assistance and helped me out of my dilemma. Further more, my situation and embarrassment was never shared. For many years, we had an ongoing cordial business relationship. Always a gentleman, dependable and honest, he was a great ambassador for his chosen career in Funeral Service. Thank you Jack.
Jack was one of those wonderful suppliers that I always looked forward to his visits. He always had a kind word of support and was great at sharing experiences from the past. His being always present at the golf events were a special time. We stop at this time to remember the significance of his life.
I have many wonderful memories of Jack from the days when he made his call to us in Sarnia. A truer gentleman would be hard to find. We would always go to the old Embassy restaurant for coffee and conversations about what was going on in the profession. If he noticed another travelers car in the parking lot when he arrived, Jack would always wait in the car until that salesman left. That's class. My condolences to you all.
Cleary Family , Take pride in your great fortune of having such a wonderfull husband , father , grandfather and mentor , I cannot think of finer tribute than being remembered as a Gentleman . I am saddened by the loss of another of mentor to us all . Jack ; May You Rest in Peace .
It was always a pleasure when Jack called on us. He and my dad were old navy men, his advice to us was a great help in our business. Jack was one of the true gentlemen one meets in ones lifetime. My condolences to Marie and family
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Dear Marie & Family. As we have just returned from a trip to Europe we were very saddened to hear of the passing of your beloved husband and father Jack Cleary. Like so many others who have posted here we have many fond memories of Jack and enjoyed the many visits we had with him over our years in Funeral Service. He really was a gentleman and I had the upmost respect for him. We are so sorry that we missed his funeral for if we had been home we would have been there. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. I will cherish our last visit when he and Mac Douglas came up to Bayfield and we went out to lunch and had a wonderful time reliving all the years we had known each other. Rest well my friend you are now with the angels. Well done thy good and faithful servant. We will never forget you. Michael & Marguerite Falconer
~ Michael & Marguerite Falconer