Born on August 13, 1940, in Toronto, ON, Jim led a full and happy life before passing away peacefully at home in Victoria, BC, on March 21, 2023.
Jim will live on in the loving memories of his wife Judy, daughter Laura (Marshall), son Jeff (Lisa), grandchildren Charlotte, Gus, Ben and June, sister Joan, sisters-in-law Jean (Peter) and Sarah, nieces, nephews and many friends. He is predeceased by his parents Fred and Mabel and his brothers Merv and Harold.
Jim was born into a close extended family who emigrated from Northern Ireland to Canada to start a new life in Toronto and at the family cottage on Bartlett Lake near Burk’s Falls. He earned his undergraduate degree in philosophy at Western then moved to BC, where he met and married Judy, who would be his true love, wife and partner of 55 years. Jim and Judy settled in Ontario and started a family as Jim earned a master’s degree in criminology and later became the Executive Director of the Parole Board of Canada.
Many of Jim’s happiest times were spent fishing, playing cards, sharing stories and puttering at the “old cottage” in Burk’s Falls and later at Judy and Jim’s own cottage on Elbow Lake near Sharbot Lake, as well as at home in Victoria, where Jim and Judy settled in their retirement and made many happy new memories with their children, cherished grandchildren, friends and family.
Jim was a cryptic crossword whiz, an avid sports enthusiast and unbeatable at trivia, but most of all he was a generous and loving family man who was funny, kind and welcoming to all who had the pleasure of knowing him.
There will be a memorial service for Jim on Wednesday, April 12 at 2:00pm at First Unitarian Church, 5575 W Saanich Rd, Victoria, BC. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Jim’s memory to a charity that is meaningful to you.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
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Margo Pearce
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Christopher Henry My deepest condolences to Judy, Jeff and Laura — and all of Jim’s many friends and family members — on Jim’s passing. Jim was a kind and generous man with a great sense of humour — the coolest of all my friends’ fathers. He was endlessly patient with me and Jeff’s other friends who, on occasion, “borrowed” his boat and fishing equipment — and probably his CCR and Pogues tapes, too. On one long drive to the “first cottage” in Burk’s Falls, I learned never to take Jim on in Trivial Pursuit. (To this day, I’ll never forget his winning answer: “Bells of St. Mary’s.”) Knowing what a special place the Siberry cottage on Elbow Lake was to me for so many years, Jim and Judy kindly lent it to Jen and me for a few days after our wedding, to celebrate with our friends. I would sometimes see him in Ottawa, on lunch break from the Parole Board, and we’d have a nice chat. The last time I saw Jim was on the shore of Elbow Lake, looking out at the lake on a moonlit night with a big smile on his face. Jim — wherever you are right now, I hope the fish are biting, the Jays are winning & the bells of St. Mary’s are ringing. – Chris & Jen Henry
Dear JUdy, Laura and Jeff,
So many memories from the “hood” in Orleans. Incredible sadness to hear of Jim’s passing. Sincere condolences to all of you.
One of my favourite memories is from the road trip that my sister, my mom and her sister made to Victoria and you invited all of us to dinner. Jim was taking orders for drinks and offered Scotch as a choice. Having a drink of Scotch was a real treat for mom and then she proceeded to tell Jim that it evaporates if left in the bottle too long. He kept saying “really, Mary” and he had to promise that he would not leave the Scotch in the bottle too long. You have captured that teasing grin in this photo. He will be missed. Sending love and hugs.