Joseph Harold Dionne
elevated GU5Jw January 6, 1937 – March 8, 2022
elevated GU5Jw Funeral Mass
Friday, March 18, 2022 at 10:30 AM
elevated GU5Jw Chapel of St. Joseph – Holy Cross Catholic Funeral Home
elevated GU5Jw Interment
Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery
8361 Yonge Street, Thornhill, ON, L3T 2C7
elevated GU5Jw Obituary
elevated GU5Jw Peacefully, at McKenzie Health Palliative Care. His flame will be carried by his loving wife of 65 years, Barbara (Brennan), his two sons Bob and Rick (Claire), and his granddaughter, Laura.
elevated GU5Jw Harold was born in Quebec City in 1937 to Laura (Hunter) and Charles Dionne, whose family arrived in the St. Lawrence River Valley in 1663. A working class kid, Harold and his brothers took weekly showers at the local YMCA. At age 11, he found his first regular paycheque working as a bellhop in one of the city’s bustling hotels. After graduating from St. Pat’s High and night studies at Laval University, Harold took a job with IAC finance, which transferred him to Montreal in 1962, and then to Toronto during the Canada-Russia Summit Series of ’72. Here he helped the firm establish Continental Bank of Canada, all the while discovering Ontario with his young family, one hockey rink, and one provincial park, at a time. Harold retired at 55 to establish his own consulting firm, Dionne & Associates.
elevated GU5Jw Harold was a snowbird, a world traveller, and a coast-to-coast explorer of North America through the open windows of oversized four-door Buicks and Dodges — this, after discovering the limitations on his first family car, a 1956 VW Bug. Harold was also an oft-bandaged home handyman, a despairing fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and a tomato sandwich connoisseur who loved a cold martini and a well-turned double play. Harold was a long-time member of Thornhill Country Club where he pursued a passion for curling and an unrequited love of golf. A past-president of Don Mills Rotary, a Paul Harris Fellow, Harold was also an avid volunteer who worked with Good Shephard shelter Toronto, St. Vincent De Paul, and Out of the Cold, among others. He was also a member of St. Luke’s congregation in Thornhill.
elevated GU5Jw And always, a loving husband and dedicated father who left a foundation of all good memories.
elevated GU5Jw Harold is predeceased by his younger brothers Norman (Brenda) and Jerry (Diana). A service will be held at Holy Cross Cemetery in Thornhill. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Parkinson’s Canada at https://www.parkinson.ca/getinvolved/waystogive/
elevated GU5Jw
elevated GU5Jw
WAS LIKE A CLOSE FAMILY MEMBER HAROLD SHARED MANY GOOD TIMES WITH LIETTE AND I AND MY FAMILY BOTH AT THE LAKE AND IN MTL AND FLORIDA.WE WERE FORTUNATE TO HAVE SEEN HIM IN OCT IN TORONTO.MY KIDS AND I WILL MISS HIM .HOPEFULLY HE HAS MET MY WIFE IN HEAVEN BY NOW AND THEY WILL LOOK OVER US FROM CLOUD 9.REST IN PEACE HAROLD AND THANK YOU FOR A LONGTIME FRIENDSHIP,,,,,,,,,,JOHN AND FAMILY
Dear Barbara & Family
Our sincere condolences on Harold’s passing. He will be sorely missed by his IAC coworkers and those who had the good fortune to know him. Over the years we enjoyed many fun times with the Dionne’s at our respective GTA golf clubs and also in Florida.
Glen & Helen McLeod – Burlington
Harold was the best Godfather one could ever ask for! I loved his sense of humour and how he always welcomed us with open arms. He had a twinkle in his eyes and the gift of making us laugh!! Harold I will miss you!!!!
Barbara, Bob & Rick; Harold always brought us a smile – even my boys remember. As dad said, we have many fond memories. We will all miss him (and so will the rain!). We cherish the memories.
Harold and I crossed paths professionally on a regular basis in the 80’s and 90’s. I worked for him on two separate occasions at Continental Bank and Lloyds Bank and we were later colleagues at ATT Capital. He was a fine gentleman and a good man. My life is richer for having known him.
My condolences to Barbara and family.
Alan Parkinson
Dear Barbara & Family,
We offer our sincere condolences on Harold’s passing. He was such a good neighbour and he will be sorely missed.
Linda & Pete
Thornhill
Dear Barbara,
Our deepest sympathies to you and your family.
Lisette & Keith
Sincere condolences to Barbara and Family from Mary Ellen and me.
I first met Harold at Rotary at which time I found out that we were around the corner neighbors in Thornhill. We also had some common interests, one being the Thornhill Club. Harold was always an inspiration. Mary Ellen and Don
Barb & family- Marg & I are saddened by your loss of Harold. He was a special person to us. May God look after him
Many fond memories of Harold. He had a way of making me laugh, he nicknamed me “snefanie” and used to pick me up by the ears when I was young! He always had some funny words of wisdom when we got into trouble! His bright light is passed on through his family. My thoughts and prayers are with you now.
I will always have great memories of Harold, his sense of humour, how we would banter back and forth between Leafs and the Habs- on those rare occasions when the Leafs managed a win, it wouldn’t take long to get an email saying “salut la visite” from Harold. 😉 I always enjoyed Barbara and Harold’s annual visits to the lake. Many good times and lots of laughter. He will be missed, my thoughts and prayers are with you all.
I have lost a good friend, since school days at St. Pat’s in Quebec City and then later, many golf games, a few beers afterwards and some great conversations to fix the world. Our condolences to Barbara and to Rick and Bob. We already miss his puns and sense of humor