In Memory of

Patrick John Joseph
Morrissey

1926 - 2017

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Barnes Memorial Funeral Home Ltd.
5295 Thickson Road North
Whitby, Ontario
CANADA
L1M 1W9

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Obituary for Patrick John Joseph Morrissey

Life Story for Patrick John Joseph Morrissey

Patrick John Joseph Declan Morrissey

Born on February 26, 1926 in Dungarvan, County Waterford, Ireland. He was the middle child of 5 children (Caitlin, Liam, John and Gai) to parents Patrick and Bridget Morrissey (nee Dunlea). He was raised and educated including boarding school and college in Ireland where he played rugby and sang Gilbert and Sullivan. He loved his siblings and had especially fond memories of his beloved brother John and sisters Caitlin and Gai.

In the early 1950’s, Patrick emigrated to Canada to seek work with a couple of his Irish buddies and settled in Toronto. He met Mary Forbes while driving the bus that she took to work at Scarborough General Hospital. She was a young Irish nurse from County Cork who had trained in England and recently arrived herself in Canada. They married on June 26th, 1956 and settled in Scarborough. Shortly afterwards they welcomed two daughters (Cora and Amanda). His two daughters were always his pride and joy and the source of the twinkle in his eyes.

Patrick (also lovingly known as Pat, Padraig, Dad, Grandad and Uncle Paudie to family and friends alike), was a storyteller, a jokester, a tinker (in Irish it means he liked to try to fix things - sometimes successfully), boat captain, bus driver, chauffeur, home/car repair guy, handyman, a self-processed teacher of skills such as plumbing, electricity, singing, driving, etc.

He loved trains and tractors, loved to be surrounded by family and friends, loved to sing and found pleasure sitting by the fire with a cat on his lap and a dog by his feet. He especially enjoyed the cottage on Jack Lake that he built with his family or travelling with his family on their vacations throughout Canada, the United States, Caribbean cruises and his many trips back home to Ireland. He cross-country skied and biked into his eighties and enjoyed his hikes with his “Monday morning“ walking group. On his neighbourhood walks, he always had a smile and greeting for everyone. He enjoyed a pint or a shot of Irish Whiskey and his Irish eyes were always smiling.

Unfortunately, over the last several years dementia had robbed him of his precious memories. He died after complications from pneumonia and emphysema in Oshawa Lakeridge Hospital on March 15th, 2017 (two days short of the Irish Holiday in his namesake)!! He had just turned 91 years of age.

Patrick was a very proud Irish Canadian. His family is hosting a Celebration Reception in his honour in Canada. Although he loved Canada, his true wishes were always to return to Ireland. His final resting place will be in Ireland, in Ballinroad with his parents and siblings who have pre-deceased him.

Dad,
May the road rise up to greet you ,
May the wind be always at your back.

And, from relatives overseas:
Ni bheidh a leithéad ann arís (We will not see his likes again here)
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h’anam dílis (May his sweet soul be at the right hand of the Lord).