Garnet “Gary” Austin Foran
Garnet “Gary” Austin Foran, 83, passed away Monday, June 10, 2024.
Gary was born August 25, 1940 in Sudbury, ON, the youngest child of Frank and Ann Foran (née Kirwan). His youth was shared between Preston, Sudbury and rural Nova Scotia.
Of the many beautiful things that Gary was, perhaps the most important of those was being a man of gratitude. Although tragedy struck early in his life with the death of his mother, he went on to live a life that greeted each day and each person as a gift.
Lifelong, he was thankful for the foundations of faith, compassion and confidence that a few remarkable nuns at St. Clement’s school first encouraged in him. Those foundations led him to study at the seminary at Université Saint-Paul Ottawa, then to a brief time as a grade school teacher, and then into a 31-year career at the South Waterloo Housing Authority where he and his staff helped house families and seniors.
The highlight of Gary’s brief teaching career came in June 1969 when he was introduced to a delightful young supply teacher named Connie who had a smile he couldn’t forget. The two would marry in 1972 and start a family in, of all places, Hespeler.
Gary loved his city of Cambridge. He volunteered for years on the boards of the Cambridge Memorial Hospital, Trinity Community Table, Cambridge Food Bank, Knights of Columbus and St. Clement’s Parish.
His greatest joy in life was his family. We, his family, hope to carry forward his warm heart, helping hands and joy for life.
Gary was preceded in death by his parents, his stepmother Del, his parents-in-law Alfie and Florence House, and his brothers Vernon, Ronnie and Jackie.
He is survived by his wife and best friend Connie, along with his sons Tim (Sacha Bradley) and Matt (Mandi Siatkowski), his grandchildren Coco, Goldie, Ginger and Charlie, his brother Richard and many cherished cousins.
As per Gary’s wishes, there will not be a visitation after his passing. He believed he’d already been blessed with beautiful goodbyes from all the friends, colleagues and family that stopped in to see him in recent months at Cambridge Memorial Hospital and Innisfree Hospice.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations be made to Innisfree Hospice, the tiny and wonderful hospice that provided the most compassionate care for Gary in his final weeks.
The family would also like to thank the doctors and nurses at Cambridge Memorial Hospital’s Medical Daycare Team who cared for him with joy and determination during his ten years of cancer treatment.
Gary’s Celebration of Life will take place at St. Clement’s Church Saturday June 15th at 11:00am. St. Clement’s was special to him his whole life long, home to his baptism, wedding and funerals for many of his most cherished friends and family. The celebrant for this mass will be our cousin, Father Murray McDermott.
Messages and condolences may be left at www.tricitycremations.com. Please visit Gary’s obituary notice on Facebook.