Obituary of Michael Lavery
It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Michael Lavery on Friday, September 7, 2018 at London Health Sciences Centre - University Hospital, at the age of 88, after a brief illness. Loving and devoted husband of Barbara (nee Hynds) for 66 years. Treasured father of Jennifer Vincent (Keith), Lorraine Lavery (Rick Walsworth) and Jeff Lavery (Judy). Much loved Papa of 5 grandchildren: Krista Rivest (Paul), Andrea Vincent (Jon Atkinson), Jonathan Vincent, Brittany Lavery and Stephen Lavery. Great grandfather to Caden and Lauren Rivest, Payton, Reagan and Quinten Atkinson and Hunter Vincent. Dear brother of Joe, Joyce, Richard, Samuel and June. Predeceased by his brother Tom. Uncle to many nieces and nephews. Michael was born in Devonport, England on January 3rd, 1930, to Samuel and Susanne Lavery. His family returned to Lisburn, Northern Ireland when he was a young boy. Michael worked as a draftsman in the Belfast shipyards where he later met Barbara Hynds. They married on July 5th, 1952, and immigrated to Canada in 1954. He continued his work as a draftsman in Owen Sound until 1968, at which point he moved his family to Kitchener, where he taught Mechanical Engineering at Conestoga College until his retirement in 1993. He was a former member of Highland Baptist Church and Stanley Park Baptist Church in Kitchener, where he was involved as a deacon and led the Boy’s Brigade. He worked extensively with Barbara in welcoming Vietnamese immigrants into their home, and assisting them to settle in the KW region in the late 1970’s. After moving to Ilderton in the fall of 2000, Michael was a member of the Westview Baptist Church, and later First Baptist Church in London, Ontario. Michael’s favourite hobbies included woodworking, photography, reading Christian doctrine, listening to classical music, and watching motorcycle races. He was passionate about fixing and riding British motorcycles (Triumph and BSA), and rode a motorbike well into his 70’s. Michael enjoyed time spent with all of his grandchildren: he loved to play with them, as well as attend their school plays, soccer matches and piano recitals. Michael’s family will receive relatives and friends from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. on Friday, September 14, 2018 at WESTVIEW FUNERAL CHAPEL, 709 Wonderland Road North, London. A private family memorial service will be held in the chapel of Westmount Gardens Long Term Care home. Interment to follow at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, London. As expressions of sympathy, donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada would be appreciated by the family.
