Foy, Osmond

Sep 01, 2016

1918 - 2016. It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Osmond Foy on Wednesday, August 24 in his 98th year. Osmond was predeceased by his siblings, Kenneth, Lennox, Donald, Oriole, Christina, Esther, John, Laura, and Guy, and by his wife, Helen (Brown). He is survived by his son Richard (Jan) Foy, and his daughter Tina (Dana) Richard. He will be remembered fondly by his four granddaughters, Lisa (Matt) Martin, Heather (Patrick) O’Brien, Kathryn (Neil) Richard and Christina (Mark) Richard. We are thankful that he lived long enough to know his great-grandchildren, Shannon, Sean, Max, Jack and Sam. Osmond maintained a solid relationship with his extended family in the Killaloe and Round Lake area, and was well-respected by them. He will be sadly missed by his Meakin and Anderson nieces and nephews. Osmond encouraged us all to look with optimism to the future, and he was confident that his family would maintain the strong work ethic that he so greatly valued. The youngest of 10 children, Osmond was born in a log house on the banks of the Bonnechere River near Killaloe, Ontario. As a young man, he spent the winters in the nearby logging camps, earning a dollar a day. At the onset of WWll, he joined the army and served overseas as a Bren gun operator. Tempered by the grief and hardships of the Great Depression and the war years, he returned to Canada with hopes of a future made better by the power of sheer hard work. Osmond and his wife, Helen, established a successful family business, Brown’s Tent and Trailer Park, at the head of Mazinaw Lake. In that role, they served as steady and ever-reliable support for cottagers and campers alike. He and Helen were unfailing in their hospitality and their willingness to help others. He served his community as well, in the role of Councillor, Deputy Reeve, and then Reeve of Denbigh, Ashby and Abinger Twp from 1968 until 1982. He had few hobbies, but enjoyed vegetable gardening and took great satisfaction in the quality and quantity of his potatoes.. He was a superb card player and loved a good game of euchre or cribbage. We will miss him dearly and, in the words of one of his nephews, we wish him “a strong walk home”. Very heartfelt thanks to the staff and special friends at Pine Meadow Nursing Home, where he spent his final months.. We were comforted knowing he was in such good hands. The family will received friends at the Milestone Funeral Center, Northbrook on Tuesday from 6-8pm and Wednesday from 11-12 noon. A Celebration of Life Service followed in the Chapel on Wednesday, August 31, 2016 at 12:00pm. Friends desiring may contribute in his memory to the Pine Meadow Special Needs Fund. Online condolences can be shared with the family at www.milestonefuneralcenter.com