Michael Paisley
July 23, 1928 - April 13, 2025
Funeral Details: A funeral service will be held Friday, April 25 at 11 a.m. at St. John Vianney Church (13 Baldwin Lane, Barrie) with a light reception following. Interment will take place at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Barrie, at a later date.
The family of Michael James Paisley is saddened to announce that he passed away at Royal Victoria Hospital on Sunday, April 13, 2025. He was 96.
Michael was born on July 23, 1928, in Montreal, Quebec, where he met and married his beloved wife, Shirley Workman. He and Shirley moved from Boucherville, Que., to Ontario in 1979, and resided in Burlington, South River, Oro Medonte and then Barrie. He started his sales career in Montreal at General Electric and from there moved into hydraulic and pneumatic equipment sales at Parker Hannifin, and then real estate, until his retirement.
Michael was active in his community and was a member of the Lion’s Club, town council in South River and a proud member and former president of Barrie’s Irish Claddagh Club. He enjoyed his years singing with Barrie’s Merry Melodiers. He was a member of the Sacred Heart parish in Boucherville, and attended St. Mary’s Church and St. John Vianney Church in Barrie. Michael will be remembered not only for his love of skiing and golf but also for his infectious humour, his love of family and for always having a song to sing or a story to tell.
Michael’s survivors include his daughters Catherine Paisley, Joanne Gorda (Jim), Rosemary Toth, and son-in-law Scott Richardson. He will be missed by his grandchildren Emily Gorda, Amanda Beales and husband James, Heather Kirk and partner Markus, and Mike Gorda and his fiancée Jayde, his sister-in-law Isobel Workman, nephew Tom Devan and family, niece Susan Grimes and family, nephew Robert Goyette and family, and niece Louise Goyette and family. He will also be missed by the Remillard, Foley and Casey families.
He is predeceased by his daughter Maureen Richardson (2009), his wife Shirley (2015), his granddaughter Kristi Toth (2017) and son-in-law Louis Toth (2020).
Friends and relatives are welcome to join the family in celebrating Michael’s life. A funeral service will be held Friday, April 25 at 11 a.m. at St. John Vianney Church (13 Baldwin Lane, Barrie) with a light reception following. Interment will take place at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Barrie, at a later date.
The family wishes to thank the RVH nurses in the cardiac-renal unit who provided exceptional palliative care and the many caregivers who went above and beyond for their father.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to the Canadian Kidney Foundation or COPE Service Dogs are welcome.
Helen Kindy
Posted on: Thursday, April 17, 2025What a wonderful life he led and reaching the grand old age of 96 years is no small feat. I will remember him meeting my COPE foster puppy Yorkie with great excitement and showing me around his lovely retirement home. RIP Michael.
Irene & Mike Paquette
Posted on: Tuesday, April 22, 2025Dearest Cath, Rosie, Joanne & your families,
We’ll always be smiling when we think of your beloved Dad. Mr. Paisley was so welcoming, so warm-hearted, and very entertaining! And the same goes for your Mom, departed some years ago now, but who we’ll always remember for what a special lady she was too. We send to all of you our deepest sympathies. Love Irene and Mike
Louise Goyette
Posted on: Thursday, April 24, 2025No one could brighten the room like uncle Mike. As the song goes, « when Irish hearts are happy, all the world seems bright and gay ». What a generous, warm being!
I will never forget the long summers of camp fires, songs and laughter at Lake Monroe, the weekends by the pool and the barbecues in Boucherville.
Cath, Jo and Rosie, I send my love and my thoughts to you all.