Obituary for James Brian "Jim" Donnelly
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father James (Jim) Brian Donnelly of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario at the age of 90 at Health Sciences North in Sudbury Ontario on January 1, 2023.
Jim was born December 7, 1932 in Sioux Lookout, Ontario, son of Joseph Anthony and Mary Theresa (Landon) Donnelly. He joined CNR as a Trainman in 1951 and married Jeannine Marie Larocque of Pinewood, Ontario on April 7, 1956. They resided and started their family with their three first born in Sioux Lookout until moving to Winnipeg, Manitoba in June 1962. The family expanded with the arrival of three more daughters. Jim joined Metropolitan Life as an Insurance Agent in May 1962, and quickly rose to Assistant Manager in June 1962. Jim graduated as a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) and received his CLU designation in June 1967. He also graduated from Metropolitan Managers’ Development Program in the same year. He was eventually elected as the President of the Winnipeg Life Underwriters Association and later the President of the Winnipeg CLU Chapter. Jim also served as the President of the St. Gerard’s Catholic schoolboard for five and a half years.
In February 1973 Jim joined the Crown Life Insurance Company where he was appointed the Manitoba Provincial Training Manager. In September 1975 the family relocated to Mississauga, Ontario, and for the next year Jim worked as a Training Consultant.
In 1976, Jim, Jeannine and family moved to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario where Jim took up the post of Crown Life Agency Manager. Continuing with his insurance career Jim started U&R Tax Service which eventually became Superior Tax Action Service and was still operation at the time of his passing. In 1989, Jim remarried to Jacqueline Audrey Cerra of Sault Ste. Marie.
Jim leaves behind his children Dan (Thelma), Kathy (late Robert Donnelly), Allanna (Peter) Papaioannou, Susan (Barry) Hand, Carol Ann (Paul) Rocca; 11 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, 4 great-great-grandchildren. Jim is also survived by sister Allanna Goodfellow, sisters-in-law Lillian Donnelly, Lorraine Beaudry, Beulah Larocque, Lina Siwak, Yolande Pecz, Angele White and brother-in-law Noel Larocque; and numerous nieces and nephews. Jim was predeceased by his parents, his daughter Joanne, his first wife Jeannine, his son Robert, and his second wife Audrey; brothers Joseph (Edie), Lawrence (Marie), and Francis, sisters Mary Lazarotto (Oscar) and Laura McKee (John); in-laws Gerry Greer, Donald Handley (Minerva), Florise Seguin (Felix), Estelle Poshtar (Allan), Fernande Larocque, Rhea Fouillard (Lazare), Claire Fouillard (Alexandre), Aline Schuschke (Werner), Roland Larocque, Robert (Darlene) Larocque and Marie (Harold) Slon.
As a very devoted Catholic, Jim was brother in the Knights of Columbus since 1951. He was elected Knight of the Year for council in 1981 and appointed District Deputy 1982 to 1986 by the State Deputy of the Ontario State Board of the Knights of Columbus. He was also a 4th degree Knight. Jim was very active in the Sault Ste. Marie community participating in Bon Soo, Rotary Day and could be found selling tickets/calendars for numerous charity events. He was very proud to participate in the installation of the statue of astronaut Roberta Bondar in Sault Ste. Marie. Jim was also an active member of the Royal Canadian Legion.
Jim was loved dearly by his family despite the long distances and took every opportunity to bring family together such as visiting the trailers in Brimley, Michigan, at one of the many family reunions, or whenever an opportunity arose.
We loved nothing more than spending time with Dad for chats, stories, a lot of laughs and maybe a song or two. Dad was the glue that kept our family so tightly knit, and we will miss his bright smiling Irish eyes. Love you lots Dad, Rest in Peace.
Friends and family are invited to visit O’Sullivan Funeral Home (215 St. James St., SSM) on Friday, January 13, 2023, from 6:00pm – 9:00pm, Prayers at 7:30pm. A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, January 14, 2023, at 11:00am at Our Lady of the Highway (466 Second Line East Sault Ste. Marie, ON P6B 4K1 705-253-8191).
Memorial donations may be made to ARCH or the Heart and Stroke Foundation (payable online or by cheque).
Jim was born December 7, 1932 in Sioux Lookout, Ontario, son of Joseph Anthony and Mary Theresa (Landon) Donnelly. He joined CNR as a Trainman in 1951 and married Jeannine Marie Larocque of Pinewood, Ontario on April 7, 1956. They resided and started their family with their three first born in Sioux Lookout until moving to Winnipeg, Manitoba in June 1962. The family expanded with the arrival of three more daughters. Jim joined Metropolitan Life as an Insurance Agent in May 1962, and quickly rose to Assistant Manager in June 1962. Jim graduated as a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) and received his CLU designation in June 1967. He also graduated from Metropolitan Managers’ Development Program in the same year. He was eventually elected as the President of the Winnipeg Life Underwriters Association and later the President of the Winnipeg CLU Chapter. Jim also served as the President of the St. Gerard’s Catholic schoolboard for five and a half years.
In February 1973 Jim joined the Crown Life Insurance Company where he was appointed the Manitoba Provincial Training Manager. In September 1975 the family relocated to Mississauga, Ontario, and for the next year Jim worked as a Training Consultant.
In 1976, Jim, Jeannine and family moved to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario where Jim took up the post of Crown Life Agency Manager. Continuing with his insurance career Jim started U&R Tax Service which eventually became Superior Tax Action Service and was still operation at the time of his passing. In 1989, Jim remarried to Jacqueline Audrey Cerra of Sault Ste. Marie.
Jim leaves behind his children Dan (Thelma), Kathy (late Robert Donnelly), Allanna (Peter) Papaioannou, Susan (Barry) Hand, Carol Ann (Paul) Rocca; 11 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, 4 great-great-grandchildren. Jim is also survived by sister Allanna Goodfellow, sisters-in-law Lillian Donnelly, Lorraine Beaudry, Beulah Larocque, Lina Siwak, Yolande Pecz, Angele White and brother-in-law Noel Larocque; and numerous nieces and nephews. Jim was predeceased by his parents, his daughter Joanne, his first wife Jeannine, his son Robert, and his second wife Audrey; brothers Joseph (Edie), Lawrence (Marie), and Francis, sisters Mary Lazarotto (Oscar) and Laura McKee (John); in-laws Gerry Greer, Donald Handley (Minerva), Florise Seguin (Felix), Estelle Poshtar (Allan), Fernande Larocque, Rhea Fouillard (Lazare), Claire Fouillard (Alexandre), Aline Schuschke (Werner), Roland Larocque, Robert (Darlene) Larocque and Marie (Harold) Slon.
As a very devoted Catholic, Jim was brother in the Knights of Columbus since 1951. He was elected Knight of the Year for council in 1981 and appointed District Deputy 1982 to 1986 by the State Deputy of the Ontario State Board of the Knights of Columbus. He was also a 4th degree Knight. Jim was very active in the Sault Ste. Marie community participating in Bon Soo, Rotary Day and could be found selling tickets/calendars for numerous charity events. He was very proud to participate in the installation of the statue of astronaut Roberta Bondar in Sault Ste. Marie. Jim was also an active member of the Royal Canadian Legion.
Jim was loved dearly by his family despite the long distances and took every opportunity to bring family together such as visiting the trailers in Brimley, Michigan, at one of the many family reunions, or whenever an opportunity arose.
We loved nothing more than spending time with Dad for chats, stories, a lot of laughs and maybe a song or two. Dad was the glue that kept our family so tightly knit, and we will miss his bright smiling Irish eyes. Love you lots Dad, Rest in Peace.
Friends and family are invited to visit O’Sullivan Funeral Home (215 St. James St., SSM) on Friday, January 13, 2023, from 6:00pm – 9:00pm, Prayers at 7:30pm. A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, January 14, 2023, at 11:00am at Our Lady of the Highway (466 Second Line East Sault Ste. Marie, ON P6B 4K1 705-253-8191).
Memorial donations may be made to ARCH or the Heart and Stroke Foundation (payable online or by cheque).