In memory of
John Ligouri O'Neill
January 6, 1938 - September 17, 2026
John, 88, of Toronto passed away peacefully due to complications of prostate cancer at the Palliative Care Unit of Sunnybrook Hospital, on September 17, 2026. We are grateful to the dedicated K-Wing staff at Sunnybrook who ensured his comfort in his final days.
John was born in a farmhouse near Gananoque, Ontario that was without electrical power or running water. He began his education in a one room rural schoolhouse, then graduated from Gananoque H.S.
He knew he was not suited for rural life and left the farm in 1957 to find his way to Toronto and completed a diploma in Print Management from Ryerson (later earning his bachelor's degree). In the business world he worked his way upward through the ranks to become a Vice President with Carling O’Keefe Breweries and then Molson Breweries. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Packaging Association of Canada and held the position of Chairman for one term. Upon retirement he joined CESO (Canadian Executives Service Organization), serving as a Volunteer Recruiter for fourteen years matching Volunteer Advisors to international assignments in developing countries.
On February 5,1960, he met Shelagh Parker, the great love and centre of his life, a date they celebrated every year. To his everlasting sorrow Shelagh predeceased him in 2021. Over their lives together he and Shelagh not only shared a love of travel, but they were also equally happy entertaining their extensive network of friends or working in their beautiful gardens.
John will be remembered for his warmth, generosity and humour. He valued his time with friends and family, especially if it involved sitting together for a chat, sharing a wonderful meal, or enjoying the theatre.
John is survived by his children Andrew (Olga) and Jeremy (Diane), his grandsons, Parker, Alexander and Thomas, and granddaughter, Shaughnessy. He is also survived by his siblings Jim, Edmund (Sandra) and Mary Carroll (Earl), and sister-in-law Judy. John was predeceased by his son Jordan in 2010, his brother Joseph and sister-in-law Dianne.
Funeral arrangements will be private. A celebration of life for close family and friends may follow with details to be announced.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre Foundation or the Sunnybrook Foundation, and dedicated to prostate cancer or cardiac disease research.
Notes:
I selected a picture of John and Shelagh together because as has been noted by many people over the past week they were a team, and many felt that they couldn't think of one of them without thinking of the other.
I would not want to be accused of plagiarism, so I must acknowledge that much of the above should be attributed to John. In his usual effort to be organized, and to make this situation as easy as possible he included a draft obituary in his "Doomsday Book". - Jeremy
John was born in a farmhouse near Gananoque, Ontario that was without electrical power or running water. He began his education in a one room rural schoolhouse, then graduated from Gananoque H.S.
He knew he was not suited for rural life and left the farm in 1957 to find his way to Toronto and completed a diploma in Print Management from Ryerson (later earning his bachelor's degree). In the business world he worked his way upward through the ranks to become a Vice President with Carling O’Keefe Breweries and then Molson Breweries. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Packaging Association of Canada and held the position of Chairman for one term. Upon retirement he joined CESO (Canadian Executives Service Organization), serving as a Volunteer Recruiter for fourteen years matching Volunteer Advisors to international assignments in developing countries.
On February 5,1960, he met Shelagh Parker, the great love and centre of his life, a date they celebrated every year. To his everlasting sorrow Shelagh predeceased him in 2021. Over their lives together he and Shelagh not only shared a love of travel, but they were also equally happy entertaining their extensive network of friends or working in their beautiful gardens.
John will be remembered for his warmth, generosity and humour. He valued his time with friends and family, especially if it involved sitting together for a chat, sharing a wonderful meal, or enjoying the theatre.
John is survived by his children Andrew (Olga) and Jeremy (Diane), his grandsons, Parker, Alexander and Thomas, and granddaughter, Shaughnessy. He is also survived by his siblings Jim, Edmund (Sandra) and Mary Carroll (Earl), and sister-in-law Judy. John was predeceased by his son Jordan in 2010, his brother Joseph and sister-in-law Dianne.
Funeral arrangements will be private. A celebration of life for close family and friends may follow with details to be announced.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre Foundation or the Sunnybrook Foundation, and dedicated to prostate cancer or cardiac disease research.
Notes:
I selected a picture of John and Shelagh together because as has been noted by many people over the past week they were a team, and many felt that they couldn't think of one of them without thinking of the other.
I would not want to be accused of plagiarism, so I must acknowledge that much of the above should be attributed to John. In his usual effort to be organized, and to make this situation as easy as possible he included a draft obituary in his "Doomsday Book". - Jeremy