Obituary of Edwin Gerald Palfery

Edwin Gerald Palfery passed away peacefully on December 31^st at the age of 99 at Spruce Lodge, Stratford.

Ed leaves behind his wife Jean Palfery (Irwin) his daughter Robin (David J Mountain) and grandsons Joseph and William Mountain.  He is also survived by his sister Evelyn McMurray, 6 nieces, 7 nephews and their families.

Ed was predeceased by his parents Victor and Mabel Palfery, siblings Florence Mordhorst, Ken Palfery and niece Lori McMurray.

Born in 1926, Ed’s early years were spent camping in Mimico in the summers and living in Brooklyn, New York over the winters depending on available work for his father.  At the age of 15, after graduating two years early, he remained in New York with his older sister and her family when the US joined WWII.  Throughout the war, he worked for Babcock & Wilcox in accounting and as an Engineer’s Assistant installing and repairing marine boilers on the ships preparing for convoy to Europe.  After the war, he returned to Mimico and high school to attain a Canadian diploma.  He attended University of Toronto while teaching science at Meisterschaft College and playing the organ at Christ Church Mimico. He went on to become head of Science at Mimico Collegiate Institute and his 40+ year career culminated as Vice Principal of Alderwood Collegiate and finally West Humber Collegiate.  His favourite place was his lab at Mimico Collegiate, standing eating his lunch in his lab coat with the odd mouse or rat poking his head up from his breast pocket looking for treats, surrounded by students, plants and small animals, including one memorable grey agouti named Charley, after the then principal.

Upon retirement, Ed focused on his lifelong hobbies of gardening and building furniture in his furnace room or garage for family and friends.  His joy spending time with his grandsons knew no bounds including catching their childhood colds while playing Thomas the Tank Engine on the floor.  He never appeared at our door without a small toy or candy in his pocket earmarked for the boys “just because.”

A heartfelt thank you to the many PSWs, nurses and doctors who have looked after my dad at Chartwell Anne Hathaway, Stratford General Hospital and Spruce Lodge with such time and care.

In lieu of flowers, donations to The Spruce Lodge Foundation or Avonbank Community Church are appreciated.

Arrangements for a family service and burial at Avonbank Cemetery will take place in the spring.