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McCarthy, Henry “Harry”
It is with immense sadness that we announce the passing of Harry on July 03, 2023 at Stratford General Hospital, age 94, while awaiting a cup of tea from the staff members. Ultimately, it was his wife Frances (1931-2006) and son Henry (1962-1962) who delivered the steaming beverage to him, “steeped for 6 minutes, piping hot, with three spoonfuls of sugar”.
Harry was father to Susan Fremit (Guy Holsten), Jane Debbrecht (Jim), Lynda McCarthy (Alex Magditsch), and Peter McCarthy (Cindy). He was a loving Granddad to Sonja Johnston (Glenn), Juliana Magditsch, and Matjia and Rhiannon McCarthy and Great Granddad to Liam and Evan Johnston.
Harry will be deeply missed by extended family including his sister Elsie and brother-in-law Ken Dalton and their children (Jennifer and Andrew), grandchildren and great grandchildren in England. Additionally, special friends in Canada include Jean Murdoch, Beth and Bill Austin, Mara Dodig, and Vickie and Graham Dunnet. A special thank you to the doctors and nurses at Stratford General Hospital, and a very special thank you to his trainer, Jo-Anne Randerson. Your compassion and kindness will never be forgotten.
Harry was born on December 8, 1928 in London, England, where the incredible intellect of a boy born to working-class parents in “the East End” led to scholarships that provided excellent educational opportunities at the preeminent Colfe’s Grammar School. His schooling was abruptly cut short when Colfe’s was destroyed by a V2 flying bomb in 1944, and he subsequently joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) where his mathematical ability was put to great use as he trained as a navigator. When his time in the RAF came to an end, he used his math skills to become an accountant, a career path he would follow the rest of his working life. His passion for cycling led Harry to join a local cycling club, where he met the love of his life, Frances. She had already completed cycling tours in the Alps before meeting him and Harry should have been warned – her hill-climbing abilities were always going to surpass his! They wed, then started their family together in England, but greener pastures beckoned and in 1957, they immigrated to Canada where they continued to grow their family. Sharing a cup of tea and a bowl of porridge together every morning, the couple were grateful for the many opportunities afforded to them, in this new country they called home. Harry was an accountant for a variety of industries including Robinson Cotton Mill (Woodbridge, ON), Nicholson Lumber (Burlington, ON), and Sinclair Radio Laboratories (Concord, ON), and while he always occupied an executive position, it was his tangible support of the factory floor worker that set him apart and made him a much-loved member within these corporations. At the age of 40, “retirement” beckoned, and with his beloved Frannie, and four kids in tow, Harry made his way to Portugal and Spain. For eighteen months, they travelled a nomadic life in an ancient Bedford van, before eventually making their way back to Canada, continuing employment, and locating in Milton, Ontario. Harry would always say that this period in Europe was one of the best in his life – the open road, surrounded by his beloved family. In later years, Harry and Frances would split their time between Canada and Kerrville, Texas, cycling wherever they went. The Niagara Escarpment in one country, the Hill Country in the other. In between cycling trips, they could be found in their home basement, Frances making pottery and Harry making miniature steam engines. In Harry’s later years, life without Frances proved to be extremely lonely but he found a welcoming community in New Hamburg, which he embraced with gratitude.
“Unforgettable, in every way. And forever more, that’s how you’ll stay”
A funeral service will be held at St. George’s Anglican Church, New Hamburg on Friday, July 14th, 2023 at 2:00 p.m., with a reception to follow. The Church has no parking lot, so parking is limited to the street or at the nearby medical facility.
Please RSVP below to attend the service.
For those unable to attend, the service may be viewed via livestream at www.henrywalser.com/live-streaming
Services entrusted at the Henry Walser Funeral Home, 507 Frederick Street, Kitchener, 519-749-8467.
As expressions of sympathy, donations to Stratford General Hospital or Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary would be greatly appreciated by the family.
Visit www.henrywalser.com for Harry’s memorial.
Monday July 3rd 2023
Death notice for the town of: Kitchener, Province: Ontario
death notice Henry Harry McCarthy Monday July 3rd 2023
obituaries notice Henry Harry McCarthy Monday July 3rd 2023
We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Henry Harry McCarthy Monday July 3rd 2023 and hope that their memory may be a source of comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughts and kind words are greatly appreciated.
