Obituary of Charles Coady

COADY, Charles J. (of Arnprior, Ontario) Born on February 10, 1923 and granted peace on December 19th, 2011. A Pilot, Journalist, Lawyer and Ski Instructor, Charles loved splitting and stacking wood, enjoying a cup of green tea and sharing a good joke. A product of his generation, he did not say much. His quietness masked a shy personality; his great sense of humour was telegraphed by the twinkle in his eye. Charles was completely colourblind but he trained as a pilot in World War II. He did not let the Air Force in on this little secret until after training. He was subsequently assigned to towing gunnery target drones, or as he said, increasing the lead levels of the Great Lakes. Following the war Charles studied journalism at the University of Western Ontario, obtaining his degree in 1948. In 1952 he enrolled in Osgoode Law School, and completed a law degree while reporting for the Toronto Star. Following this, he returned to his beloved Ottawa Valley, where he opened his own practice on John Street in Arnprior, and remained there for the duration of his career. Charles' life was defined by the seasons. He took up skiing in his forties and ultimately spent his winters as a ski patroller and then instructor. He spent all other seasons cutting and splitting wood. He was happiest in the quiet of the woods. The last few years were less than kind as he endured the ravages of Alzheimers disease. God's gift in this time was to preserve his memory of music, which resulted in us singing Christmas carols in July so as to watch him come back to us, however briefly. Charles leaves behind his wife of 58 years, Mardi (Dunn) and children Martha (the late Bruce Barrie), Jane (the late Richard Lafave), Clare (Paul Reid), Michael (Marja Suomela), Laurie (Anders Sodergren), John (Jane Nyman) and Lisa (Vincent Gracco), as well as ten grandchildren. He is survived also by his brother John (Dorothy) Coady. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Maisie Coady as well as his sisters Ruth and Betty and brother, Edmund. Private visitation. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish in Braeside, Ontario on December 22nd, 2011 at 11.00 a.m. It will be followed by a reception in the church hall.The family requests that contributions be made to the Grove Nursing Home in Arnprior, Ontario. Charles' family will forever be grateful for the professional, warm and kind care he received there.