In memory of
Frederick Harry Madeley
January 11, 1924 - October 4, 2024
A gentle man, always with a smile and kind word, Fred was an easy man to love. Anyone who knew Fred would speak highly of his friendly demeanor. Fred passed peacefully on October 4, 2024 at the Sunnybrook Veterans Centre.
Fred, born in Toronto on January 11, 1924, was the son of Frederick John and Dora Emily (Underhill) and the youngest of their four children, Doris Patricia, Edna Millicent and Marjorie. In 1920 Edna died of scarlet fever and before Fred’s 2nd birthday, his father died at the age of 36 in1925. His mother Dora was left to raise Fred and his sisters, Doris and Marjorie. Times were tough as the Madeley and Underhill family approached the Great Depression in 1929. Their strength, love and warmth shaped their character.
The family had a house on Cleveland Street with Fred and his sisters growing up in the Bayview/Eglinton area of Toronto with plenty of friends. Fred played sports and hiked through the forests and creeks north of Eglinton Avenue. They made the best of what they had as kids, like finding discarded Canada Starch Crown cans, removing the labels and redeeming them for Toronto Maple Leaf hockey cards. Fred attended Maurice Cody Public School and Northern Vocational Secondary School and after leaving “Northern” he worked for National Steel Car in Malton, Ontario, assembling aircraft for the war. Fred joined the Navy in August 1942 and served on a number of ships on the west coast of Canada and in the North Atlantic. He was discharged as an ABS (Able Body Seaman) and ASDIC (Anti Submarine Detection Operator) in May, 1945, 3 days before VE day (end of the war in Europe). Fred was very proud of his World War II military service for Canada and made a point annually to honour that privilege by attending Remembrance Day services on November 11th. On discharge from Naval Service, Fred attended Ryerson Technical School to become an electrician and worked for many contractors until being hired by the Toronto Board of Education.
On May 21, 1948 Fred married Winifred (Winnie) June Elaine McCahon and shortly after, they moved to the house Fred built on Bakersfield Street in Downsview where they had three sons, Jeffrey, Glenn and Steven. Fred was a dedicated father to his sons running each to their respective hockey games, boy scouts etc. and fiercely defensive and protective of his boys. In 1960 Fred bought a waterfront lot on Go Home Lake in Muskoka and built his cottage where his family would spend summers until he sold the cottage in 2013. Fred was always busy with endless cottage projects. In 1969 Fred and Winnie moved their family home from Downsview to Agincourt in Scarborough.
Fred retired from the Board of Education in 1984 and in 1989 Winnie passed away. Fred’s 3 boys were at his side to console and comfort him over Winnie’s passing at her young age of 64. Fred bounced back and embraced his retirement through his membership at Whitevale Golf Club, winter travel and getting out to attend dance events. Fred loved to dance and at one event, he met Elaine Overbaugh from Burlington. They started seeing more of each other which grew into a long-lasting loving relationship. They made those Agincourt - Burlington trips to see each other often and enjoyed numerous vacations together travelling to the Caribbean, Europe and across Canada.
In January this year Fred and his boys held his 100th birthday party which was well attended by many family friends and relatives. At that time, Fred’s health allowed him to deliver a speech, which he prefaced by saying, “I’ll try to keep this short” summarizing his past 100 years of life, a wonderful life he said, and gave thanks to all. We are all so glad to have had that opportunity to wish Fred, Happy 100th Birthday.
After selling his Agincourt home in 2023, Fred moved into the Pickering Viva Retirement Residence and as his health declined, found it necessary to leave independent living and move to the Sunnybrook Veterans Centre where he spent his final days.
Fred is survived by his sons, Jeffrey (Dianne), Glenn (Cindy) and Steven (Vicki) as well as his seven grandchildren Samantha (Vito), Julie (Christopher), Blair (Sarah), Cameron (Kristyn), Tyler (Madelaine), Sara, Taylor and his two great grandsons, Michael and Zachary.
We are grateful for the health care Fred received from Pickering Viva, Ajax Pickering Hospital and the outstanding care and compassion at Sunnybrook Veterans Centre.
If desired, memorial donations may be made in Fred’s Memory to the Sunnybrook Veteran’s Centre.
A private family service will take place.
Fred, born in Toronto on January 11, 1924, was the son of Frederick John and Dora Emily (Underhill) and the youngest of their four children, Doris Patricia, Edna Millicent and Marjorie. In 1920 Edna died of scarlet fever and before Fred’s 2nd birthday, his father died at the age of 36 in1925. His mother Dora was left to raise Fred and his sisters, Doris and Marjorie. Times were tough as the Madeley and Underhill family approached the Great Depression in 1929. Their strength, love and warmth shaped their character.
The family had a house on Cleveland Street with Fred and his sisters growing up in the Bayview/Eglinton area of Toronto with plenty of friends. Fred played sports and hiked through the forests and creeks north of Eglinton Avenue. They made the best of what they had as kids, like finding discarded Canada Starch Crown cans, removing the labels and redeeming them for Toronto Maple Leaf hockey cards. Fred attended Maurice Cody Public School and Northern Vocational Secondary School and after leaving “Northern” he worked for National Steel Car in Malton, Ontario, assembling aircraft for the war. Fred joined the Navy in August 1942 and served on a number of ships on the west coast of Canada and in the North Atlantic. He was discharged as an ABS (Able Body Seaman) and ASDIC (Anti Submarine Detection Operator) in May, 1945, 3 days before VE day (end of the war in Europe). Fred was very proud of his World War II military service for Canada and made a point annually to honour that privilege by attending Remembrance Day services on November 11th. On discharge from Naval Service, Fred attended Ryerson Technical School to become an electrician and worked for many contractors until being hired by the Toronto Board of Education.
On May 21, 1948 Fred married Winifred (Winnie) June Elaine McCahon and shortly after, they moved to the house Fred built on Bakersfield Street in Downsview where they had three sons, Jeffrey, Glenn and Steven. Fred was a dedicated father to his sons running each to their respective hockey games, boy scouts etc. and fiercely defensive and protective of his boys. In 1960 Fred bought a waterfront lot on Go Home Lake in Muskoka and built his cottage where his family would spend summers until he sold the cottage in 2013. Fred was always busy with endless cottage projects. In 1969 Fred and Winnie moved their family home from Downsview to Agincourt in Scarborough.
Fred retired from the Board of Education in 1984 and in 1989 Winnie passed away. Fred’s 3 boys were at his side to console and comfort him over Winnie’s passing at her young age of 64. Fred bounced back and embraced his retirement through his membership at Whitevale Golf Club, winter travel and getting out to attend dance events. Fred loved to dance and at one event, he met Elaine Overbaugh from Burlington. They started seeing more of each other which grew into a long-lasting loving relationship. They made those Agincourt - Burlington trips to see each other often and enjoyed numerous vacations together travelling to the Caribbean, Europe and across Canada.
In January this year Fred and his boys held his 100th birthday party which was well attended by many family friends and relatives. At that time, Fred’s health allowed him to deliver a speech, which he prefaced by saying, “I’ll try to keep this short” summarizing his past 100 years of life, a wonderful life he said, and gave thanks to all. We are all so glad to have had that opportunity to wish Fred, Happy 100th Birthday.
After selling his Agincourt home in 2023, Fred moved into the Pickering Viva Retirement Residence and as his health declined, found it necessary to leave independent living and move to the Sunnybrook Veterans Centre where he spent his final days.
Fred is survived by his sons, Jeffrey (Dianne), Glenn (Cindy) and Steven (Vicki) as well as his seven grandchildren Samantha (Vito), Julie (Christopher), Blair (Sarah), Cameron (Kristyn), Tyler (Madelaine), Sara, Taylor and his two great grandsons, Michael and Zachary.
We are grateful for the health care Fred received from Pickering Viva, Ajax Pickering Hospital and the outstanding care and compassion at Sunnybrook Veterans Centre.
If desired, memorial donations may be made in Fred’s Memory to the Sunnybrook Veteran’s Centre.
A private family service will take place.