Obituary of Joseph McNamara

JOSEPH MCNAMARA passed away peacefully at his home in St. Catharines with his family by his side. He is survived by his best friend and wife of forty-eight years, Margaret; his sister, Marie, his children: John, Michael (Ania), Kerry (Mike) and grandchildren: Joe, Aurora, Jack, Michael Richard, Michael, and Gabriel. Joe was born in 1927 in Oshawa to John and Alice McNamara. He grew up in Toronto with his older brother, Patrick and younger sister, Marie. At nineteen years of age Joe entered the seminary and was ordained a priest in 1952 with the Scarborough Foreign Mission Society. He travelled to British Guiana where he worked as a missionary priest for three years, then was stationed in Rome to study at Angelicum Studiorum, where he earned a doctorate degree in Moral Theology. Joe returned to Toronto to teach theology at St. Augustine’s Seminary. In 1968, Joe left the priesthood and married his true love, Margaret Jamieson. The couple moved to Windsor, Ontario where he started a new career in probation and parole. In 1973, Joe was promoted to the Niagara Area Manager position and moved with his wife, Margaret and two young sons, John and Michael to St. Catharines, Ontario. Their youngest child, Kerry was born the following year and the young family made this city their forever home. At the age of 66 Joe retired from his managerial position and enjoyed his days at home, gardening, walking, writing and reading. He loved spending time with horses at local barns with his daughter, and at the Fort Erie race track with his wife and children. Joe and Margaret also travelled extensively, travelling to many countries throughout the world. He attended and watched many Blue Jays games and of course, spent lots of time enjoying his children and grandchildren. At the age of 85, Joe was diagnosed with congestive heart failure and fought a long hard battle to live for as long and as well as he could. The past year was a struggle, but Joe’s strength and strong love for his family carried him through even the most difficult of times. In his 90th year, at 12 noon on Sunday, November 6th Joe peacefully passed away in his home with his family surrounding him. Although he will be greatly missed by his friends and family, his legacy will live on forever. Please join us for a visitation and Celebration of Life on Saturday, November 12th, 2016 at Coppola’s Ristorante & Banquet Facilities at 203 Carlton St., St.Catharines. Visitation from 11 a.m. - 12 p.m., followed by a Memorial Service at 12 noon and lunch at 1 p.m. Memorial Donations may be made online via the link provided at his Memorial Webpage to Learning Disabilities Association of Niagara Region, or by mail to Learning Disabilities Association of Niagara Region, 366 St.Paul Street, St.Catharines, Ontario, L2N 3R2. Please share in your memories, photos and condolences here at his Memorial Website. Your participation in creating his leagacy is appreciated. “Good night sweet prince, may visions of angels lead thee to thy rest” ~ Shakespeare