Patrick Dooley
Born In: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Born: July 13th, 1931
Passed in: North Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada
Passed on: July 13th, 2009
It is with heartfelt sadness we announce the sudden passing of Patrick Ronald Dooley, beloved son, husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle on his 78th birthday Monday, July 13, 2009 at his residence.
Born in Ottawa on July 13, 1931, Pat was the son of Norma Dooley of Ottawa and the late Frank Dooley. Pat joined the Canadian Army, a driver with the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps in Ottawa in 1949. He completed basic training at the Service Corps School in Camp Borden, Ont., and was posted to London, Ont., as a driver. Further postings included tours in Halifax; Soest, Germany; Camp Borden; Rivers, Manitoba; Saigon, Vietnam (as a transport Sergeant with Military Component to the Canadian Delegation); returning to Rivers, Manitoba, then to Edmonton; Lahr, Germany; Petawawa, Ont., Ismailia, Egypt and Gagetown, N.B., retiring in 1981 to his home on Peppett Street, North Sydney.
He steadily progressed from Private to Chief Warrant Officer and served with distinction as the Regimental Sergeant Major with 4 Service Battalion, in Lahr, Germany; and 73 Service Battalion, Ismailia, Egypt. He also served as the Brigade Regimental Sergeant Major with 4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group in Lahr, Germany. During his service he was decorated several times and was awarded two commendations for individual excellence.
He trained as a paratrooper and later as a HALO free-fall jumper and often trained with the then newly formed Skyhawks Demonstration Team. In some thirteen years serving with airborne units he completed more than 200 jumps. He often distinguished himself, pioneering new techniques to deliver needed material to troops on the ground via parachute delivery systems.
After retirement from the Canadian Forces, CWO (Ret) Dooley served with the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires, and remained until his passing a member of the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps Association.
Pat was a faithful member of St. Joseph Church, North Sydney and the Past Grand Knight of Father William Kiely Council, Knights of Columbus, and also a 4th Degree Member of the Father William B. MacLeod General Assembly. He was an active volunteer with the North Sydney Food Bank.
Surviving besides his mother Norma, is his wife Elizabeth ‘Betty’ (Cousins) (Boutilier) Dooley; his two sons, Ron (Kathy Hale), Calgary and John Anthony (Diane), Ottawa; three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; a stepson, Kevin Boutilier, Bedford; five brothers Earl, Gerry, Orville, Lambert, Leo and two sisters, Theresa and Stella, all of Ottawa.
Pat was predeceased by his first wife, Theresa Dolomont and his son, Jimmy.
Visitation for Pat will be held from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Thursday in the W.J. Dooley Funeral Home, 107 Pleasant St., North Sydney. A funeral mass will be celebrated 10 a.m. Friday at St. Joseph Church, with Rev. Jim Attwood officiating. Burial to follow in Holy Cross Cemetery, North Sydney.
Memorial donations may be made to a charity of choice.
Members of the Knights of Columbus are asked to gather for prayers 7 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Online condolences may be sent to info@wjdooley.com.
