Obituary of John McAlea

McALEA, John – With his family at his side, John passed away peacefully at Bluewater Health in Sarnia, on January 31, 2013 at the age of 91.  Beloved husband of the late Joyce Rose McAlea (Davey) (2009) for 63 years.  Loving father of James McAlea, Sarnia, Marie & her husband Al Ceponis, Sarnia, Dominic McAlea & his wife Judith, Brussels, Owen McAlea, Sarnia and Veronica & her husband Denis Major, London.  Proud grandfather of Catherine, Peter, Mary Ann, Veronica, Jacob, Molly, Aimee, John Ross, Liam and Ryan, and great-grandfather of Maxx, Abbey and Callum.  Dear brother of Joseph (Pearl) McAlea and Dany McAlea, all of Morecambe, England, and brother-in-law of  Pat Davey, Montreal, Owen (Marilyn) Davey, Gagetown, NB, Paul (Sue) Davey, Vancouver, BC, and Stephanie (Rene) Gasparotto, London. Also survived by many nieces and nephews.  Predeceased by his parents James and Anne McAlea, his sisters Annie Wilcox and Mary Young, his brother Jim McAlea, grandson Philip Stanley McAlea Ceponis, sisters-in-law Marie Jones, Veronica Violet Cox and Margaret Elizabeth Davey, brothers-in-law James Michael Davey, Leslie Cox and James Jones, and niece Alexandra Susan Gasparotto.  Born in Belfast, Ireland on 26 August 1921, John emigrated to England with his family in 1929.  During WW II, he served as a mechanic and Bren gun carrier operator in the British 8th Army, 8th Indian Division, Royal Signals – seeing service in India, Persia, Iraq, Syria, Egypt, North Africa, Italy and Germany and participating in the battles of El Alamein and Monte Cassino.  In 1952, John was the first in his family to emigrate to Canada.  He came alone with the clothes on his back and very little money to find work, housing and secure a new future for his family who joined him over the coming years.  John worked many jobs in Sarnia until he found steady employment as a stationary engineer in the Power House at Polysar.  He worked there for 35 years without missing a single day.  Known as Honest John and Johnny by all those who loved him, he enjoyed telling stories, listening to his records, playing the lottery and being with his extended family whom he adored and loved deeply.  His family is very grateful to Bluewater Health staff for their kindness and professionalism in caring for John.  Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Fr. Kathemo Makucha at Our Lady of Mercy Roman Catholic Church on Tuesday, February 5, 2013 at 1:30 p.m.  Interment Our Lady of Mercy Cemetery.  Arrangements entrusted to the McKenzie & Blundy Funeral Home, 519-344-3131.  As an expression of sympathy, friends who wish may send memorial donations to the Alzheimer Society of Canada, 420 East St. N., Sarnia, ON  N7T 6Y5.  Messages of condolence and memories may be left at www.mckenzieblundy.com. A tree will be planted in memory of John McAlea in the McKenzie & Blundy Memorial Forest. Dedication service Sunday, September 15th, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. at the Wawanosh Wetlands Conservation Area