Joseph O'Callaghan

Joseph Anthony O'Callaghan entered this world on September 11, 1922 in Liverpool, England although he was very quick to explain he was raised in Dundalk, Ireland. Joe was a son, brother, uncle, husband, grandfather and most importantly a father to myself and Maire. Dad was the youngest of 5 brothers and 1 sister but unlike the next generations he certainly was not coddled, instead was forced to be a man much sooner than most as a result of his parents' early deaths. He followed in the footsteps of his father and older brothers becoming a carpenter and apprentice from a young age. He first found himself working on formworks for one of the first nuclear plants in the UK-- this seemed to be the start of his career in heavy construction. As happens in life this was not a linear path, and he spent many years after this in the merchant marine travelling throughout the world in situations we could not even imagine in 2014. Joe worked for many years with Cunard Cruise lines as the ships carpenter "chippy". The job description sounded if something was broken and it wasn't the engine then it was his to make right. It was around this point in his early thirties at a stopover in Liverpool that he met Eileen Caldwell-- the true love of his life and soul mate before that word was fashionable, and my mom. Joe and Eileen were soon married and he continued his adventures at sea bringing "treasures of the world" home whenever he returned to port. After one heroic repair where the ship could not proceed with a hull breach Joe made a rig so he could be continuously lowered into the frigid waters to build forms around this hole and pour concrete in so they could proceed. These actions were awarded with the promise of their dreams to a senior promotion to New York City and this is where they intended to set sail to begin their new life. Although they loved all of their family in the UK, they decided to move across the ocean to give their kids a better chance in life. Despite such an exciting offer to travel to America, Eileen realized it would be more important to move close to where they had family instead. So Joe and Eileen set course to Canada instead, to meet Eileen's older sister Rene. They settled in Toronto, and the Great Canadian dream began. Soon after they arrived in Toronto their first daughter, Maire, was born and three years later Tom arrived on the scene. Unfortunately Dad found out quickly that in the mid-fifties in Toronto "Irish Catholics Need Not Apply" he was never one to feel sorry for himself and persevered walking around with his tool boxes until he was working on various projects such as various high rises, the Gardiner Expressway and subways where he quickly rose from forming carpenter to foreman to superintendent. He was soon hired by Max Tanenbaum who owned KVN and needed a general Superintendent, the two men hit it off and within no time Joe became General Manager of the company . His work ethic was beyond reproach, multi-day, round the clock shifts were not uncommon he lived by the motto that "if you started something you better finish it or you have truly accomplished nothing". He had little tolerance for those that told a great story but did little but not work but held the utmost admiration for those trying to accomplish something. His version of Union negotiations were "I didn't start the fight (and we are not meaning verbal) but I will finish it" and he did, much to their surprise. Mom and Dad continued to try and grasp the Canadian dream and they jumped at the opportunity to own their own construction business with a couple of partners, purchasing the Allan G. Cook Company in Barrie with a partner. The partnership ended badly after numerous years but dad persevered working for a large general contractor in the area, his assignments were usually turning around and completing projects that had gone awry. Unfortunately, this involved travel across the country and Mom and Dad decided they did not like being apart at this stage of their lives. At this point Dad spent the final years of his career with the C.S.A.O. making sure he helped educate and advise construction managers on how to work safely keeping in mind it had to be practical as well. As retirement approached they moved to Housey's Rapids near Gravenhurst. As coincidence would have it his son Tom and wife Nancy moved to nearby Bracebridge so Joe and Eileen were able to see their grandchildren growing up until Mom succumbed to the ravages of Alzheimer's disease. Shortly after Joe moved to a condo in Gravenhurst to view over Lake Muskoka (his little ocean). He would sit out on his balcony enjoying tales at the boat ramp, and it would take him back to his early days at sea. Joe was fortunate to see Sean, Carly and Rory all graduate from university and was immensely proud of them. At 92 years young, Joe was diagnosed with the return of lung cancer that the doctors predicted would take him within 6 months. Never one to give up a fight, no one was going to tell him when to leave this earth and he miraculously survived for a year longer than the medical community predicted. Thank you to the team at CCAC for your support in helping to keep him in the comfort of his home for as long as he was able. Dad spent the last two months at the Huntsville Hospice and thanks to this most compassionate, caring and professional team he was able to complete the final steps of his journey with dignity and on his terms. Also thank you to Julie Larman who looked out for Joe in all of the various settings he was in for these final 6 months, making sure each one seem like his home A Cheer for Joe May your glass be ever full. May the roof over your head be always strong. And may you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you're dead

Visitation Details

Tuesday, June 24th, 2014 5:00pm - 8:00pm, Reynolds Funeral Home "Turner Chapel"

Service Information

Wednesday, June 25th, 2014 11:00am, St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church

Interment Details

Mickle Memorial Cemetery