Donald Daley

It is with heavy sad hearts we said goodbye to our dear old, funny, generous dad. Following a valiant attempt to recover from a stroke he passed away peacefully in our arms. We stayed with him all night, picture a very uncomfortable but completely perfect family hospital slumber party, and held him as he peacefully sipped away. He always assumed it would be his heart that would fail him, but in the end it is ours that were broken.

He was a trouper never losing his sense of humour.

His final summer was spent in his happy place (he had many), his camp in Summerville, visiting with lifelong and new friends, doing morning crosswords in ‘river view cafe’, napping on his many cots, riding his brand new ride on, cursing the cormorants on his indestructible mooring, going to the Saturday and Sunday markets, and countless cribbage games.

One of his parting comments to us was “I’ve had a good go of it” and he sure did. He often reminisced and entertained us with stories about his childhood and life growing up in the south side of Saint John, his adventures while living in Europe and the life he built, ‘not bad for a boy from the south end’ .

And he did have a good go at it. Following a career as a CF-100 pilot in the Air Force he moved onto a ‘real job’ as a commercial pilot with Air Canada. He was retired for as long as he worked and enjoyed many ‘phases’ and hobbies, sailing (the epic trip from Barrie to Saint John), then boating in a ‘stinkpot’, Florida migrations, golfing, woodworking, stained glass, watercolour painting and most recently tai chi.

But for us he was Dad. Giving us a life full of opportunities and memories, snowshoeing in the woods around Ilse Perrault, skiing in the Laurentions, sailing in Lac St Jean, Kempenfelt Bay and the Kennebecasis River, summers in Willow Grove, winter trips to Florida and endless summers at the camp.

Thanks Dad, we love you.

Don was predeceased by his loving wife, Aurona, and his oldest daughter Cathy. He is survived by his children Carole Lowther (partner Doug), Shaun Carroll (partner Phil), Beth Hill (partner Tim), and Bill Daley (partner Trina), 12 grandchildren and a growing number of great grand children.

The family invites His close friends to drop in at Wickie’s Pub, 274 Burton Avenue, Barrie. on Friday, October 18, 2024, from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

In lieu of gifts a donation to the Legion, through the Poppy Fund at https://legion.ca/donations,  or to the Army Navy, would make him happy.

If you wish to forward cards to the family, please reach out to his daughter, Carole Lowther, to obtain her mailing address.