DALY, JOHN
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of John Douglas Daly at St. Joseph’s Hospital on October 13, 2015. He was born in Saint John, NB on September 8, 1935 to the late John and Florance “Flossie” (Foran) Daly and was the loving husband for 62 years to his wife Mertiece (Verner) Daly.
Poppa never shied away from hard work and instilled a strong work ethic in his children, just leading by example. Starting at the age of 7, he worked purchasing groceries for neighbours on his way to and from school. His hard earned weekly pay of 10 cents was spent attending Saturday matinees with his brothers Bob and Ronny. In his early years he worked at the Empire shoe repair and at the International Fertilizer Plant with his father in law, Ernie Verner.
In the early sixties, he began his career at the Saint John Shipbuilding and Dry Dock. During his tenure there, he became a member of Local 3 Saint John Shipbuilding and Dry Dock where in his 36 years of membership he held various positions, including being the 1st Vice President, 2nd Vice President, Executive Member, Warden and Guard, Trustee, sitting on the Unemployment and Compensation Committee, Empower and Apprentice Committee, Safety Committee and ending as President.
A small man with a powerful voice, John sat on many varied committees and his interests were diverse. He served on the United Way Board of Governors as a Labour Representative Member of the Board, the New Brunswick Federation of Labour and for 15 years he held positions as the President, Vice President, Warden and Guard, Trustee and sat on the Injured Workers Committee for the Saint John & District Labour Council. He was the Vice President in charge of various committees, including the Women’s Education Committee, the Safety Committee, and the Selection Committee. He attended A.R.L.E.C. (Atlantic Region Labour Education Center) at St. Frances Xavier in 1979 & 1981, and served a 2 year term as Vice President of the Marine Workers Federation. Conventions he attended benefitted from his expertise and he served on a committee at every one. On behalf of the Marine workers he was a vital part of all the committees on Constitution, Bylaws and Resolutions. And in 1999, he and Mertiece formed a grandparent’s rights group.
He was always fiercely proud of his Irish heritage and he was an equally proud East ender attending St. Patrick’s and St. Vincent’s School. At the age of 5 years he joined the Boys and Girls Club and it was there that he held the title of Fly Weight Boxer and was the captain of a tumbling team. Poppa continued to remain active in sports in later years playing senior hockey and baseball.
John loved to read and play chess. He was a very smart man and at the age of 73 he took an interest in learning to use the computer. After becoming very adept with using the internet, he became focused on genealogy and spent hours searching his family’s ancestry back hundreds of years.
Along with his loving wife, he is survived by his daughters; Dianne (Carl) Gustavsen, Brenda (Leroy) Maskell, Wanda (Andrew) Amos, Tammy (Mike) Marshall and special foster daughter Cindy Campbell, sons; John Andrew and Todd, sister Dianne Evans and brother Robert (Jackie) Daly, 13 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, his three great-great-granddaughters, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Poppa was predeceased by his son Timothy Patrick Daly and infant daughter Mary Francine as well as his sisters Mary and Elaine (Bridget), and his brother Ronnie.
Arrangements are entrusted to Fundy Funeral Home, 230 Westmorland Road (646-2424), with visitation held on Thursday, October 15, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8pm and Friday from 9 to 11am. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Friday, October 16 at 12:05pm at Stella Maris Catholic Church (201 Bayside Drive) with burial to follow at Ocean View Memorial Gardens. Due to severe allergies within the Daly family, they request that no scents be worn by those attending the visitation or funeral service.
Donations in memory of John may be placed to the Saint John Boys and Girls Club, the New Brunswick Lung Association, or to the charity of the donor’s choice.