Memories of my Dad, M. Earle McCabe

August 31, 2013

Over time, the sadness will be replaced with only fond memories of our times together.

By Maureen McCabe

The passing of a father is so difficult to bear because this means the end of an era within a family and the absence of all those precious moments of sharing stories, traditions, laughter, and history.

Father Luigi brought smiles to our eyes when he said, In life, you earn Air Miles when you are living a good life, doing good deeds… so that when you’re ready to fly… you can cash them in… to get into the air, soar like an eagle, and ultimately reach heaven. A friend wrote, Maureen, sorry for your loss. I’m giving you all of my Air Miles… which brought tears to my eyes. May God bless his soul.

We hope you enjoy watching a video which we had created as a tribute to our father and that it brings you warm memories of your time with our dad, as it does with us. The instrumental music chosen helps to focus on the photos and the memories they conjure.

On YouTube, I discovered a lovely version of the first hymn by Marty Haugen, “We Remember,” which was recorded during a Catholic mass. The lyrics start at 0:50.

We remember how you loved us to your death,
and still we celebrate, for you are with us here;
And we believe that we will see you when you come,
in your glory, Lord, we remember, we celebrate, we believe.

Many thanks to family and friends who supported us in the recent months, and for your continued prayers. We are grateful for the many tributes and share a few:

• I have fond memories of your father back in the 1980’s when we worked on a certain leadership campaign together… my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
• He had a wonderful life and always gave back to his community.
• I always enjoyed visiting your dad. He was very welcoming and thoughtful.
• I was pleased to get to know his “being” towards the end. A very special man and soul. I will never forget how happy he seemed to be when we greeted him by name at the 12:15 mass.
• I had spent good times with your Dad. We shared some good jokes and laughed together.
• What a wonderful video tribute to your Dad’s life.
• It was sort of ironic timing that I recently asked you about that lovely picture of you and your Dad. What the photo revealed was the quality of your caring and his dependence on a daughter of such caring.

Share with your parents how much you love them while they are still with you. I’m glad that I did with my dad, whom I miss dearly. The following is an excerpt from his obituary.

M. Earle McCabe, age 82, passed away peacefully at his home with his daughters and family at his side, Sunday, August 18, 2013. Born in Port Arthur (now Thunder Bay) the son of Dorinda (Walsh) and Capt. N. Vincent McCabe, Earle attended St. Andrew’s Separate School and went on to St. Paul’s College in Winnipeg, and to Kings Business College.

Married on August 31, 1957, to Madeleine Papineau, they welcomed the birth of their two daughters, Maureen and Margot. Earle sadly lost his wife of 35 years, Madeleine, on July 23, 1993. Fortunately, joy returned to Earle when he married Noreen Servais on October 12, 1996. Ten years later, he lost this second love of his life to cancer.

Earle’s business acumen followed him from his early days at Lowery’s to Clerk of the Small Claims Court, to Administrative Manager at Carrel and Partners Law Firm, and culminated in his becoming Deputy Director of the Ontario Separate School Trustees Association.

Earle was deeply committed to serving his community, particularly the advancement of Roman Catholic education. To this end, he served 22 years on the Port Arthur and Lakehead Separate School Boards, holding the office of Chairman for 10 years. He was also a Vice President of the Ontario Separate School Trustees Association. He relentlessly pursued the extension of separate school funding to include high schools, lobbying various levels of government until it came to fruition in 1984.

He was a member of the Knights of Columbus becoming Grand Knight of the Leo Council 1130, a charter member, officer, and Grand Knight of the Fourth Degree Father Baxter General Assembly and the Las Navas 152 Order of Alhambra. Passionate about politics, he served on the executives of both the Port Arthur provincial and federal Progressive Conservative Riding Associations and later continued his association in Toronto. He was president of the Sunnyside Campers Association and a member of the Board of Governors of the Lakehead Symphony. He avidly followed world politics and sports, particularly “his” Blue Jays!

A special thank you to Mary-Anne who took many photos on that hot, humid Sunday in July, just one month before he passed. There are many great memories in those smiles.

May God rest his soul in peace and give strength to his family to bear this immense loss.

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