The family of Michael Gaffney is devastated to announce his passing on Wednesday, November 17, 2021 at the Norwood Hospice in Edmonton, AB after a brief illness.
Michael was born on January 19, 1963 in London, England. His early years were spent in England and Ireland, and the family emigrated to Canada in 1973. Michael was very proud and happy to obtain Canadian citizenship as a teenager in Ontario. He participated in the Air Cadets which started a lifelong love of aircraft, and was fortunate enough to pilot a glider at that time. Michael also won the Duke of Edinburgh silver medal as a teen for his excellence in volunteerism and skill building the Air Cadets.
Left to mourn Michael are his wife Lisa, and children Alison, Daniel, Emily and Lauren, as well as his grandson Caelan. Michael is also survived by his parents Thomas and Margaret Gaffney of Co. Mayo Ireland, his sister Deirdre (Andreas) and brother Declan (Deirdre) of Germany and Ireland respectively. Agnes and Lorne Swanson, his mother- and father-in-law, as well as Jim (Kerri), Gary (Cheryl) and Tim (Janice), Michael’s brothers-in-law and their spouses, also mourn him, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, friends and neighbours.
Michael has spent much of his life caring for others: as the oldest child, he cared for his siblings, later on he became a wonderful husband and father and cared deeply for his family. As a parent, he volunteered with Cub Scouts, minor hockey, Sunday school, school trips, and any other activities that his children were interested in.
Michael was a talented artist with training in graphic design. He had many hobbies and was an excellent amateur photographer. He worked for many years to produce books, catalogues, magazines, flyers and many other items, later on becoming a production manager for a publishing company. His work was greatly valued and his amazing planning and organizational skills, as well as perfectionism, in the trade of publishing was much appreciated. Michael worked as a volunteer firefighter with the Devon Fire Service as well. This inspired a love for emergency first response. He found his vocation as an Emergency Medical Responder, worked in this career for 5 years, and loved every minute of it. It was imperative to Michael to be doing work that involved helping those in need. He brought tremendous life experience and maturity to his role with EMS and was much admired by his patients and co-workers.
Michael will be missed terribly by his family and so many others. A funeral service will be held at St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church in Devon, with interment at the Peace Cemetery to follow.
Serenity Funeral Service Leduc 780-980-3688
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of GAFFNEY Michael November 17 2021..
Death notice for the town of: Edmonton, Province: Alberta
I am so sad to hear of Michael’s passing after a brief illness. I send my condolences to his wife Lisa, his 4 children,and grandchild, to his parents Peggy and Tom in Ireland and to Declan and Deirdre and their spouses and families. I had brief encounters with Michael through the years in Dublin and in Meelick Swinford and never wavered in my appreciation of his humour and kindness in his dealiings with others. He found happiness in Canada and gave of his talents in every situation he could contribute. May he rest in peace in his adopted land and may his relatives and friends know his spirit lives on in their memory..
Eleanor Kieran Dublin, Ireland