Bishop's Funeral Home, Fredericton, NB, 506-458-1885
John Patrick McKendy
1949 - 2008
Service Information
Service Date
Wednesday November 5, 2008
John Patrick McKendy, loving father, Quaker and professor of sociology
at St. Thomas University, and long-time peace theorist and activist,
passed away at his home in Douglas, NB on Friday, October 31st, 2008
at the age of 59.
John is survived by his two daughters, Colleen McKendy (Brendan Moore) and Laura McKendy of Fredericton, their mother, Carol Wakeham, of Fredericton and John's mother, Bernadette McKendy of Bathurst. He is also survived by three brothers: Charles (Nancy Ouellet) of Saint John, Kevin of Fredericton and Michael (Judy) of Fredericton, and three sisters: Margaret of Miramichi, Cecilia MacNeil (Philip) of Fredericton and Mary Bernadette (Bill Pickett) of Riverview. He is mourned by his nieces and nephews: Charlie and Liam McKendy, Angel Cavanaugh, Ben, Brian and Monica McKendy, Nathan and Neil Pickett, Maureen MacNeil, Kristin Van Pelt (Keith), Kaitlin Wakeham, and Megan and Ryan Coslove. He is also mourned by his parents-in-law, Gerald and Eileen Wakeham of New Jersey, his sisters-in-law Cathy Wakeham (Steve Chatburn) of NJ and Patricia Coslove (Kevin) of NJ, and his brothers-in-law Bob Wakeham (Heather Coultas) of St. John’s Newfoundland and Jerry Wakeham (Cheryl) of NJ. He was predeceased by his father, Arthur McKendy, in 1993.
John grew up in Bathurst, NB. Upon graduating from LeBlanc High School in 1967, he attended St. Francis Xavier University. He pursued postgraduate studies in sociology at the University of Toronto, obtaining a PhD in 1981. He taught sociology at St. Thomas University for 29 years. John's research interests included social inequality and social justice, gender and social class, the sociology of emotions and violence, and social structure.
He was a spiritual man; a member of the Fredericton Worship Group of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), as well as the Fredericton Peace Coalition. John both promoted and practiced non-violent conflict resolution. For many years, he assisted men in Dorchester Penitentiary in discovering alternatives to violence. John spent the past two summers in the African nation of Burundi, contributing to the construction of an AIDS clinic for women through the African Great Lakes Initiative Program of the Friends Peace Teams. He planned to return in January to continue his humanitarian efforts.
John had many interests. He loved camping and hiking, and had covered many miles of trails throughout North America, especially in the National Parks. His dream was to one day walk the entire Appalachian Trail. He was also a licensed amateur radio operator for almost 40 years with the call letters VE9JM.
By John’s request, donations can be made to the Canadian Friends Service Committee (http://cfsc.quaker.ca/). St. Thomas University has established a scholarship in John's name and donations can be made through the University.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Bishop's Funeral Home. No flowers by request. There will be no visitation but friends and family are invited to a celebration of John’s life at two o’clock on Wednesday, November 5th, at St. Dunstan’s Church, Regent Street, Fredericton.
John will always be remembered for his kind and gentle spirit.
John is survived by his two daughters, Colleen McKendy (Brendan Moore) and Laura McKendy of Fredericton, their mother, Carol Wakeham, of Fredericton and John's mother, Bernadette McKendy of Bathurst. He is also survived by three brothers: Charles (Nancy Ouellet) of Saint John, Kevin of Fredericton and Michael (Judy) of Fredericton, and three sisters: Margaret of Miramichi, Cecilia MacNeil (Philip) of Fredericton and Mary Bernadette (Bill Pickett) of Riverview. He is mourned by his nieces and nephews: Charlie and Liam McKendy, Angel Cavanaugh, Ben, Brian and Monica McKendy, Nathan and Neil Pickett, Maureen MacNeil, Kristin Van Pelt (Keith), Kaitlin Wakeham, and Megan and Ryan Coslove. He is also mourned by his parents-in-law, Gerald and Eileen Wakeham of New Jersey, his sisters-in-law Cathy Wakeham (Steve Chatburn) of NJ and Patricia Coslove (Kevin) of NJ, and his brothers-in-law Bob Wakeham (Heather Coultas) of St. John’s Newfoundland and Jerry Wakeham (Cheryl) of NJ. He was predeceased by his father, Arthur McKendy, in 1993.
John grew up in Bathurst, NB. Upon graduating from LeBlanc High School in 1967, he attended St. Francis Xavier University. He pursued postgraduate studies in sociology at the University of Toronto, obtaining a PhD in 1981. He taught sociology at St. Thomas University for 29 years. John's research interests included social inequality and social justice, gender and social class, the sociology of emotions and violence, and social structure.
He was a spiritual man; a member of the Fredericton Worship Group of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), as well as the Fredericton Peace Coalition. John both promoted and practiced non-violent conflict resolution. For many years, he assisted men in Dorchester Penitentiary in discovering alternatives to violence. John spent the past two summers in the African nation of Burundi, contributing to the construction of an AIDS clinic for women through the African Great Lakes Initiative Program of the Friends Peace Teams. He planned to return in January to continue his humanitarian efforts.
John had many interests. He loved camping and hiking, and had covered many miles of trails throughout North America, especially in the National Parks. His dream was to one day walk the entire Appalachian Trail. He was also a licensed amateur radio operator for almost 40 years with the call letters VE9JM.
By John’s request, donations can be made to the Canadian Friends Service Committee (http://cfsc.quaker.ca/). St. Thomas University has established a scholarship in John's name and donations can be made through the University.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Bishop's Funeral Home. No flowers by request. There will be no visitation but friends and family are invited to a celebration of John’s life at two o’clock on Wednesday, November 5th, at St. Dunstan’s Church, Regent Street, Fredericton.
John will always be remembered for his kind and gentle spirit.
www.bishopsfuneralhome.com