John Clifford Thornley
1941-2020
With very heavy hearts, but
also gratitude for a life well lived, we announce the passing on April
28, 2020 of our dear father Cliff Thornley. Cliff passed away
peacefully at his residence at Thomas Hall in Fredericton, New
Brunswick. Cliff was predeceased by both his parents, John
Clifford Thornley and Catherine (Whitehead). He will be
lovingly remembered by his wife of 55 years, Jean (Simmonds), his
children Richard (Sandy), Michael (Pamela), Sonya, and Yolanda (Vish),
as well as his grandchildren Benjamin, Alexander, Jake, Finn, Lauren
and Oscar. He will also be missed by his sister Jane
(Steve), his nieces and nephew, Robyn, Sadie, Juliet and Oliver, as
well as many other family all in the UK. Also by the many friends he
has made all around the world.
Born in Warrington England,
he married Jean in 1965 and started a family while attending
university. In 1976 he and Jean made the bold decision to
move their family to Canada, first to Ontario and then finally to New
Brunswick. Cliff loved the outdoors, birdwatching,
gardening, fishing, hiking, bee-keeping, recycling, travelling the
world, being the quickest blood donor in the family, and his football
club, Liverpool FC. He was also a man of the mind. In 1972
he completed his Phd in Materials Engineering from the University of
London, and worked for many years as a Metallurgist at the Research
and Productivity Council in Fredericton. He loved education
so much that he earned a math degree from the University of Waterloo,
just “for the fun of it”. After
retirement, he and Jean spent much of their time travelling with bird
watching groups, gardening, and spending time with family. Cliff also
volunteered many hours helping kids learn to read after he retired. He
was a man of few words (except when helping his family, or the
neighbourhood kids, with their homework!).
Dad will be dearly missed by
all those that knew him. He had a special place in the
hearts of all his far-flung family. “You’ll never
walk alone.”
If this were not the time of
the pandemic, in one final “so Mr. Thornley move” he
would have made the donation of his body to the Medical Neuroscience
department of Dalhousie University, but that is not available at this
time. A remembrance ceremony will be held at a later
date.
www.mcadamsfh.com
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of John Clifford Thornley 19412020..
Death notice for the town of: Fredericton, Province: Nouveau-Brunswick