Remembering John Joseph Emile O'Rourke

Passed away peacefully at Trillium Manor on June 13, 2021, in Orillia, Ontario.

John was born on February 5, 1933, in Montreal, Quebec, to James and Lucille (Labelle) O’Rourke.

John was a man of tremendous faith with a kind and generous heart.  He had a unique way of making everyone feel important and welcome with his warm and inviting spirit.  John was authentic, steady and strong.  He loved his family.

John loved being with people, and people loved being with John.  He loved celebrations, family reunions, travelling, and New Year’s Eve parties. 

He enjoyed getaways to the lake, preparing a roast beef dinner, and a good game of cribbage and cards.  

In his youth, John was a rep hockey player and was a lifelong dyed-in-the-wool Montreal Canadiens fan.

John served in the Royal Canadian Navy and was a noted personality in the Canadian Railroad community working on the Quebec Northshore and Labrador (QNS&L) and the Canadian Pacific Railways as a signal maintainer and later with suppliers to the industry. He later served with the Open Door ministry to the homeless population in the inner city of Montreal. He retired to live closer to his grandchildren in St. Andrew’s, New Brunswick, where he worked as a Commissionaire for the Biological Station and was a marshal at the spectacular Algonquin golf course. John came to Orillia in 2008 and lived at Trillium Manor since 2016.

John is survived by his three children Tamah Markle (Craig) of Orillia, Jeffrey O’Rourke (Holly) of St. Andrews, New Brunswick, and Ian O’Rourke (Susan) of Petaluma, California.  He deeply loved his grandchildren Sarah, Carolyn, Scott, Tiernan, Jonathan, Skylar, Michaela, Caden, and Regan.  John became a great-grandpa last year when his great-granddaughter Bridget was born.

John is also survived by his brother Dennis whose visits with their brother Rich were a source of joy.     

John was preceded in death by his wife of over 50 years, Rita (Coughlan) O’Rourke, his sister Louise (O’Rourke) Bell and his brothers Robert and Richard O’Rourke.

John’s family extends their thanks to the outstanding physicians and nurses at Orillia Soldiers Memorial Hospital for their excellent care, which gave us so much more precious time with him.  A special thank you to Dr. Barnett, who was a lifeline when John suffered his stroke.  We also want to express our deep appreciation for the staff who took care of John as he recovered from COVID after months of isolation in quarantine. 

We are also grateful to Helping Hands for their wheelchair transportation and to Functional Fitness, who provided stroke recovery at the gym.  It was a wonderful social time and very helpful in keeping his compromised body conditioned. 

John’s family and friends extend our deep appreciation for the special PSW’s, nurses, programs and Activation staff in the Oro Medonte unit of Trillium Manor.  They treated us like family.  We shared many celebrations over the years.  We have been deeply moved by your kindness to our family and your tenderness toward John.

Due to COVID 19 restrictions, a small private memorial will be held in the Oro Medonte unit at Trillium Manor.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Trillium Manor, Orillia, Ontario and designated to Music Therapy at https://ca.apm.activecommunities.com/simcoe/ActiveNet_Home/onlineDonationDetail.sdi?oc=ShoppingCart&campaign_id=34&online=true&sdireqauth=1617214568830 , by calling 705-325-1504 ext 4003, or through the Doolittle Chapel of Carson Funeral Home, 54 Coldwater St. E., Orillia (705) 326-3595.

John was a poster boy for this special program that enabled him to communicate in song what he could not speak with words after his stroke.  Your donation will enable other residents to access this special service in his memory.

John was dearly loved and will be missed by countless family members, friends and his community.

A la prochaine Johnny!

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