Obituary of Francis James Lally

Lally, Frank Died peacefully at London Health Sciences Centre (University Hospital) on Friday July 31st, 2015 of pneumonia in his 93rd year. Predeceased by his parents Dr. Vincent Lally and Ruth Macdonell of Cornwall, ON; sister Lorraine Patterson (Trevor) of Hudson, Que; sister Hilda Burns (William) of Cornwall, ON; brother-in-law David Loggie of Summerside PEI. He will be dearly missed by his wife of 44 years Mary Jane (Loggie); his son James Lally and his wife Hilary Tulk Lally of Toronto ON; his sister-in-law Marjorie Loggie of Summerside PEI; Mary McDougall (Bloomfield Hills, MI); the Patterson family – Stuart (Jacqueline), Susan (Ian Wheatley), Jane (Evan White), Jennifer (Bill); Bill Burns (Jackie); the Loggie family – Steven (Lori), Mary Jane (Rob James), Judy (David Gallant), Paul (Helen); Robert and John Pagon (Annie). Frank was born in Cornwall, ON in 1923 and graduated from Cornwall Collegiate. In his youth he loved fishing and duck hunting with his dad on the St Lawrence River. In 1942, at age 19, he enlisted with the RCAF and was sent to the Pacific front – stationed at Pat Bay BC and Alaska. Upon returning to Ontario in 1944, he registered at St. Michael’s College Toronto and subsequently became a member of the Congregation of St. Basil until 1969 during which time he taught at Basilian high schools in Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie and Ottawa and served as a Military Chaplain in Greenwood, NS and Clinton, ON from 1965-69. After his time as a Basilian he sought a career in Social Work at Family and Children’s Services London ON where he met Mary Jane. After they married, Frank was hired by the London Public School Board to teach Math and Guidance at H.B. Beal Secondary School. He retired in 1986 after short teaching assignments at Sir George Ross and Wilfred Laurier Secondary Schools. In retirement Frank served as a guidance counsellor at the Centre for Lifelong Learning, and London & Middlesex Catholic School Board. Frank enjoyed the outdoors in particular, bird watching, and was a passionate fan of Blue Jays. In spite of his formidable size, Frank will be remembered to his family, friends, colleagues and former students as a kind and gentle man, who touched many lives. In recent years Frank has struggled with dementia, and was grateful for the continued support of friends and colleagues. The family will receive friends at the John T. Donohue Funeral Home, 362 Waterloo Street at King Street, on Wednesday, August 5th from 6-9 o’clock. The funeral liturgy will be held on Thursday morning, August 6th at St. Peter’s Cathedral Basilica, 196 Dufferin Avenue, at 10 o’clock. A private interment at St. Peter’s Cemetery Friday morning. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to: Alzheimer Outreach Services, McCormick Home Foundation, 2022 Kains Rd. London ON N6K 0A8 or to the charity of your choice.