With heavy hearts and much sadness, we surrounded John with our family love as he slipped away at the age of 82 on Sunday, September 19, 2021. John was a devoted husband to Heather Angus (predeceased 1996), and present wife, best friend and confidante, Shannon Saigeon (nee Piller) married 2001. John is the proud dad of Robert Woolfrey (Tanya), David Woolfrey and proud step-dad of Tara MacDonald-Lahey (nee Saigeon) (Jonathan Lahey) and Sean Saigeon (Heather Reilly). Dearly loved and missed by 9 grandchildren Johannes and Esther Woolfrey, Freya Atkinson Woolfrey, Alexander and Daniel MacDonald and Mekena Lahey, and Piper, River and Emmi Saigeon and one step grandson, Dominic Lahey.
He is sadly missed by his sister, Lois Bartle (Peter) and their children, Marion Watkinson (George), Jane Ball (Steve) Sue Collins (Chris) and their children. Lovingly remembered by his sisters-in-law Elizabeth Angus, Gene Dixon (Piller) and family and Wendy McCloy (Piller) and family and brother-in-law Kim Piller (Irene) and family and several nieces and nephews and Doug McCloy and Eva and Frank Ell. John will also be deeply missed by his extended family of Ganongs and Thompsons, and the Willms in Ontario, British Columbia and Saskatchewan and the Woolfrey and LeMoine clans in Newfoundland, who have always been there full of support, kindness and love for John and our family.
John will also be sadly missed by a close group of long time family friends Bob and Carol Dunn, Brian and Cathy Bissell, Velta and Erick Mitrevics, Wally and Jackie Fenske (50 years plus), Bev and Craig Wright, Jan Nobuto, Brenda and Mike McElroy, Doreen and Mike Sproule, Dr. Peter Rumney and Shelley Neal and all of their families and all of the Oliphant cottage friends (1973), all of whom have stood by John throughout his life, his teaching career and his exciting summer adventures, his journey with dialysis and lately with his diagnosis with cancer.

John was born in Grand Falls, Newfoundland (parents Alice (LeMoine) and Wallace (Woolfrey) just up the street from the Exploits River, where he developed his love of fishing. Being a true Newfoundlander, he carried his hilarious sense of humour, his gentleness, his forgiveness and patience, his kindness and love and understanding of what is essential in people where ever he travelled. Through the summers at Memorial University, John travelled to many parts of the world, including the British Isles, Hawaii, Atlantic Seaboard. As a member of the U.N.T.D’s (University Naval Training Division ), achieving the rank of Acting Sublieutenant, spending his summers at Stadacoma in Halifax N.S. and Royal Rhodes in Victoria B.C. Through his entire teaching career with the Etobicoke Board of Education, now a part of Toronto District School Board, he continued to welcome, with open arms, children and families from “down east” and every corner of the world to his classrooms as a teacher, guidance consultant, Vice- Principal and Principal.
His strong faith and love of Christ were central in his daily life. Together with all of his family, friends and his faith community at Kingsway Baptist Church, he led his life by example with the Fruits of the Spirit. John was a true role model for all those he met and made friends with at the Dialysis Clinic at St. Joseph’s Health Centre for the last 15 years. He accepted his health issues with determination, courage and with the most positive outlook on life that we have ever experienced.

Countless memories of John include: his sense of adventure in Algonquin Park with the boys and his buddies recreating the experience of exploring new lands, his trips back to Grand Falls to go blueberry picking up in the back country after the Labour Day parade, his hosting lobster dinners to perfection, his many golfing trips, his cruising days sharing a Margarita and a cigar at any port in the Caribbean on his motorized wheelchair with his buddy Craig, his musical talents on the spoons, the harmonica, the Irish Bodhran and the ugly stick, those to which no one else can compare, and remembering his musical ‘ditties’ from his navy days, some needing a little censorship depending on the age of the listeners! His children, grandchildren and close friends will cherish these memories forever. John was fiercely proud of all of his children and grandchildren and his nieces and nephews. He continuously showed love, support and direction with them in private one-to-one conversations no matter what their age! In special moments with Robert, Tara, David and Sean, John was the “rock”…giving guidance with understanding, love and humour and always with a choice!

John has been our resident woodcarver since 1995 when he decided to create, carve, sand and paint intricate Canadian Ducks, fish and birds! His creative abilities also led him to take many “happy cloud” painting lessons from Bob Ross! Many family and friends have been the recipients of one of these masterpieces, along with countless Christmas Tree decorations!

After his diagnosis with End Stage 4 Prostate Cancer last October, John’s mission was to complete all carving projects immediately…some still needing initial carving, others needing sanding, some painting and some just needing the final touches! Needless to say, John has been busy! He awoke every morning singing “This is the day the Lord has made, Let us rejoice and be glad in it” and set up in his carving corner! The carving is complete!

We are all very thankful for St. Joseph’s Health Centre Dialysis Unit and the Islington Satellite Clinic where John has received excellent care and treatment by all of the doctors and nurses throughout the years. We are, also, most thankful for the excellent care from the St. Joseph’s Health Centre Oncology department. We are overwhelmed with the kindness, compassion and understanding of Dr. Leora Reiter, Joni Mann and their staff at the Dorothy Ley Hospice and the Home Care Community services under the care and direction of Samantha Pinto and her staff. We are very thankful for all of their expertise and support in providing comfort, care and quality of life for John. Our family will be forever grateful to you.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, a private family service has taken place. A Celebration of John’s Life will be announced and held when the restrictions have lifted. Funeral arrangements by The Simple Alternative (Mississauga). In lieu of flowers, donations in honour of John can be made to the Dorothy Ley Hospice or the Kidney Foundation of Canada and would be greatly appreciated by the family.
“John, Long May Your Big Jib Haul!”

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: A time to weep, and a time to laugh, a time to mourn, and a time to dance. “ Ecclesiastes 3:1,4