Obituary of Francis Laurence Leahy

Leahy: Francis Laurence “Frank” Died Thursday, May 28th, 2015 at the P.R.H.C. His spirit is carried on by his loving wife, Julie, their eleven children, thirty-six grandchildren and one great grandchild. If you were blessed to know Frank, you came to know several truths about him; he was a man of vision; a builder ahead of his time who moved in belief and perseverance; he was a believer, a man of God, striving toward and satisfied with not what was merely good but only what was true; he was alive, so much so that it's hard to believe the grave could contain him; and all his living and building was for his children and their children and their children; he loved his Julie; and knew his faith, his hope, his belief was only possible because it rested upon hers; and with her, his music, his fiddle and her piano, together they taught their children this music; and he taught them to offer this music up as a prayer; a Father, total and always, to the end; and of his grandchildren, they were his jewels, persistently teaching them, ensuring they were formed in the values of faith, family, farming, and music; or in the words of Pope John Paul II, 'The land we love and the values we cherish.' He was a farmer; nature was his home, for there he was free to be his own man, ploughing his field, planting his seeds, and so many times you'd find him at a fence appreciating the beauty of a crop well sewn - like art, or waiting for rain; he was a listener with a razor sharp ear for ideas; there was no room for pretending as he was a discerning and decisive man; you always knew where you stood with him. And he stands now before the Father in heaven; and we are now and forever in the deepest gratitude to the Father for giving him to us. Loved and missed by his wife of 52 years, Julie (nee MacDonnell). Loving father of Christine Quigley (Edward), Julie Carter (Andrew), Denise Flack (Rob), Siobheann Donohue (Rory), Donnell Leahy (Natalie MacMaster), Maria Leahy, Francis Leahy (Chanda), Agnes Enright (Mark), Douglas Leahy (Jennifer), Erin Leahy and Angus Leahy. Papa is remembered by his grandchildren Brendan (Sarah), Anna, Edward, Emily, Aidan, Mariah, Hannah, Kieran, Mary Frances, Michael, Clare, Julia, Alec, Sadie, Xavier, Aliyah, Maraiah, Savannah, Julayna, Francis, Jacqueline, Liam, Isaac, Mariel, Aaron, Andrew, Ellen, Matthew, Adele, Gregory, Angus, Cecelia, Joseph, Evelyn, Douglas and by his great granddaughter Naeve. Survived by his brothers Dr. Philip Leahy (the late Theresa), Kevin Leahy (the late Berenice “Bunny”) and his sister-in-law Madelyn Leahy (the late Bob). Also survived by several nieces and nephews. Predeceased by his brothers Ollan Leahy (Agnes), Clare Leahy (Joyce), Reverend Father Leo Leahy, Vincent Leahy and Ray Leahy (Edna). Friends and relatives may call at THE HENDREN FUNERAL HOMES, LAKEFIELD CHAPEL on Sunday May 31, 2015 from 6:00 – 9:00 PM and on Monday June 1, 2015 from 2:00 – 4:00 & 7:00 – 9:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated from St. Paul the Apostle R.C. Church, Lakefield on Tuesday June 2, 2015 at 12:00 PM. Interment, St. Joseph’s R.C. Cemetery, Douro. A reception will follow at St. Joseph’s Parish Hall, Douro. Friends may send condolences, or arrange flowers by contacting the funeral home at www.hendrenfuneralhome.com or by calling 705-652-3355.