It is with heartfelt sadness that the Whalen family announces the passing of family patriarch, Henry Thomas Whalen. Henry died, surrounded by family, on Sunday, August 11, at 9:00 p.m., at Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital, in Fredericton, New Brunswick, at the age of 86. He is predeceased by his parents, (father) Henry Whalen, (mother) Margaret (O’Brien), (brother) Valentine, (sister) Margaret, (niece) Angela Jackman and (daughter-in-law) Louisa Hawkins.
Henry (nicknamed Harry or Tom) was an East Coaster for most of his life and always a Newfoundlander. Born in Belle Island, Newfoundland, Aug 1,1938, he was the oldest of 12 children. He lived on the island until the age of 17, when he joined the Canadian Military, serving first with the 8th Hussars and then The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment), culminating in over a decade of service.
During Henry’s time at Camp Gagetown he met Evangeline, his wife of nearly 61 years. They married in 1963 and went on to have four children – Tommy, Stephen, Timothy, and Wendy. Henry is Grampy to ten grandchildren; Matthew, Kyle (Melissa Smith), Madison (Calum Murray), Sophia, Brooks, Samantha, Anderson, Adriana, Declan, and Tayzlee.
After leaving the army, Henry became one of the first people to work at the Chipman Centennial Arena, where he coached multiple boys’ and girls’ hockey teams, leading several of them to championships. Henry volunteered an immense amount of his time to various social organizations as a 4th degree in the Knights of Columbus, a longtime member of The Royal Canadian legion, the Lions Club, and played numerous musical shows for senior citizens all over New Brunswick.
A lifelong singer and guitarist, Henry is an inductee, next to his son Steve, on the Minto Country Music Wall of Fame. Henry also served as the President of the Paper Workers Union at Grand Lake Timber in the early 1980s, where he advocated for better wages and for women’s right to work in the sawmill. He also worked several years long-haul trucking, building maintenance, and driving cab before finally retiring in 2011.
Henry enriched everyone’s lives with music, fun and laughter. He played in many bands during his lifetime, and his passion and love for singing, playing the guitar, fiddle, piano, accordion and mandolin will live on in his children and grandchildren. He will be deeply missed by his community, close family, and his many, many nephews and nieces in Ontario, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and New Brunswick.
Henry’s visitation will be held at Bishop’s Funeral Home, 540 Woodstock Road, Fredericton NB on Tuesday August 13, 2024, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., and Wednesday August 14, 2024, from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
The funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 15, 2024, at Holy Family Catholic Church, 1500 Hanwell Road, Fredericton, NB, E3C 1N3, followed by a grave site service at 2822 Route 640 Hanwell, with a reception to follow back at the church.
Online condolences and sharing of memories may be made at www.bishopsfuneralhome.com
