Obituary for Jerrold Joseph Donahue
DONAHUE, Jerrold LCol (Ret’d)
Peacefully at home, Jerrold (Jerry) Joseph Donahue, at the age of 90 years, went to his rest in the loving
arms of God on Thursday, February 4, 2021. Beloved father of Catherine and Margaret, both of Ottawa.
Predeceased by his loving wife Claudette and sons Brian and Patrick (Michael).
Born in Fossmill, Chisholm County, Ontario on Oct 22, 1930. Son of the late Joseph Maurice and Mary
Lillian (Lafrance) Donahue. Predeceased by sister Lois Nault (George).
He will be greatly missed by many extended family and friends.
Jerry was a proud member of the Canadian Armed Forces in the Artillery for 37 years. A graduate of the
Royal Military College in Kingston in 1954. He married Claudette (Pigeau) shortly after graduation and
was immediately deployed to Korea for 6 months. During the first 17 years of marriage, Jerry was posted
19 times including 2 peacekeeping tours in Vietnam, for 1 year and 6 months respectively. Along with
several Canadian postings spanning Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario and Manitoba, Jerry and
family also traveled to Texas, Germany, Kansas and Washington DC, before finishing his service in
Ottawa. Following his active military career, Jerry taught a Middle Management course for 9 years on
contract to the Department of National Defence. Jerry was a very active member of the Ottawa
Gunners, serving as President for a number years. He was also a member of the Eastern Ontario
Gunners Association. Jerry was Secretary of the 30th Field Artillery Regiment Senate for 14 years. “Once a
Gunner, always a Gunner”.
Always active in sports, Jerry played softball, baseball, volleyball and hockey in his youth, and still
enjoyed golf and curling up until 2 years ago. A long time member of St. Maurice parish in Nepean, Jerry
also served a few years with the St. Vincent de Paul Ministry within the parish.
Special thanks to the staff and residents at The Ravines Senior Suites in Nepean for welcoming Jerry to
your wonderful community, to Geeta and Home Instead for your assistance prior to the pandemic, to
Lanny and Kelly at Qualicare Home Care, Dr. Susan Whitley and Dr. Matthew Roberts for all your
support, and to our contacts at the Dept. of Veteran’s Affairs. A very special thank you to Barbara for being
Dad’s guardian angel on earth this last year+.
Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1:00p.m. on Saturday, September 4, 2021 at Holy Redeemer Roman Catholic Parish, 44 Rothesay Drive, Kanata. Following Covid-19 protocol, attendance for the Memorial Mass will be strictly limited to registered guests. To register your attendance, please click on the RSVP link below. Attendees are required to wear face masks, and asked to respect and practice social distancing.
For anyone unable to attend, the Mass will be live-streamed through the Holy Redeemer Facebook group via the following link. Jerrold Donahue, LCol (Ret’d) - Memorial Mass, Holy Redeemer Parish
Peacefully at home, Jerrold (Jerry) Joseph Donahue, at the age of 90 years, went to his rest in the loving
arms of God on Thursday, February 4, 2021. Beloved father of Catherine and Margaret, both of Ottawa.
Predeceased by his loving wife Claudette and sons Brian and Patrick (Michael).
Born in Fossmill, Chisholm County, Ontario on Oct 22, 1930. Son of the late Joseph Maurice and Mary
Lillian (Lafrance) Donahue. Predeceased by sister Lois Nault (George).
He will be greatly missed by many extended family and friends.
Jerry was a proud member of the Canadian Armed Forces in the Artillery for 37 years. A graduate of the
Royal Military College in Kingston in 1954. He married Claudette (Pigeau) shortly after graduation and
was immediately deployed to Korea for 6 months. During the first 17 years of marriage, Jerry was posted
19 times including 2 peacekeeping tours in Vietnam, for 1 year and 6 months respectively. Along with
several Canadian postings spanning Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario and Manitoba, Jerry and
family also traveled to Texas, Germany, Kansas and Washington DC, before finishing his service in
Ottawa. Following his active military career, Jerry taught a Middle Management course for 9 years on
contract to the Department of National Defence. Jerry was a very active member of the Ottawa
Gunners, serving as President for a number years. He was also a member of the Eastern Ontario
Gunners Association. Jerry was Secretary of the 30th Field Artillery Regiment Senate for 14 years. “Once a
Gunner, always a Gunner”.
Always active in sports, Jerry played softball, baseball, volleyball and hockey in his youth, and still
enjoyed golf and curling up until 2 years ago. A long time member of St. Maurice parish in Nepean, Jerry
also served a few years with the St. Vincent de Paul Ministry within the parish.
Special thanks to the staff and residents at The Ravines Senior Suites in Nepean for welcoming Jerry to
your wonderful community, to Geeta and Home Instead for your assistance prior to the pandemic, to
Lanny and Kelly at Qualicare Home Care, Dr. Susan Whitley and Dr. Matthew Roberts for all your
support, and to our contacts at the Dept. of Veteran’s Affairs. A very special thank you to Barbara for being
Dad’s guardian angel on earth this last year+.
Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1:00p.m. on Saturday, September 4, 2021 at Holy Redeemer Roman Catholic Parish, 44 Rothesay Drive, Kanata. Following Covid-19 protocol, attendance for the Memorial Mass will be strictly limited to registered guests. To register your attendance, please click on the RSVP link below. Attendees are required to wear face masks, and asked to respect and practice social distancing.
For anyone unable to attend, the Mass will be live-streamed through the Holy Redeemer Facebook group via the following link. Jerrold Donahue, LCol (Ret’d) - Memorial Mass, Holy Redeemer Parish