Obituary of John Hanlon

Hanlon, John Joseph (1939-2023)

Passed away suddenly but peacefully away at his residence in St. John’s, John Joseph HANLON, 84, originally of Stephenville Crossing (Harmon Field).

Jack was predeceased by his parents, John Francis and Mary Veronica; son Leonard Hanlon (1981); brothers Hughie and Charlie; sisters Jody and Elizabeth; parents-in-law John Francis and Edith Marie ;in-laws Gabe Hickey, Michael Hanlon and his partner Edna, Ron and Violet Hepditch, Walter Hanlon, Jim Long, John Massel, Isabel Hanlon. He is also predeceased by his nieces and nephews Stanley, Eddie Jr, and Bridget.

Jack was survived by his family, including his ex-wife and best friend Edith Hanlon, children Patrick (Anne), Veronica, Lisa Holden, Robert (Renee), Reed, Ashley Butler (Matthew), and Penny; step-children Roy Halweg (Nancy) and Tracey Hanlon (Clem); grandchildren Robert, Benjamin, Matthew, Jeremiah, Bryce, Link and step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren Ryan (Jenna), Kyle, Brayden (Megan), Brianna, Connor, and Gabriel.

Jack is also survived by his siblings Carmelita Visheau (Eddie), Bridget Ann Threader, Monica Long, Debbie Rutgers (John), Penny Suljack (John), MIke (Brenda), Alban (Katherine), Gerard (Mary), Pat (Shonda) and their families. He is also survived by a large extended family including in-laws Fergus and Alma, Anna, Bernard and Jackie, Suzanna, Marjorie, Rose and Gussie, Mary, Gary, and a large circle of friends and family in Hamilton, ON and O’Donnells, NL and across the country.

Jack carried the “jack of all trades” label with pride, and he was able to analyze and work on everything from electrical and plumbing to doing car repairs. He was inquisitive by nature, always eager to learn more, whether it was reading the old Funk and Wagnall’s New Encyclopedia or a book he had read a thousand times. He was the proprietor of the Elizabeth Ambulance Service in Corner Brook, NL during the 1970s until the loss of his son, Leonard from suicide in 1981. Brokenhearted, he returned to Newfoundland to begin life anew in the town where his father was born. Although Jack often shook off the label of being a Newfoundlander, he enjoyed its many opportunities to enjoy leisure time, whether it was fishing at “the gut”, or taking drives to places with significant historical meaning. Jack was a complicated and complex man, there was no denying this facet of his life; despite this, he never hesitated to lend a hand, offer sage advice, or be a person of comfort during a crisis. Indeed, though his legacy may be complicated, his humanity was not.

 Visitation in Good Shepherd Parish, St. Joseph's, SMB on Friday, January 19th, 2024 from 7 - 9 pm, Saturday, January 20th, 2024 from 10 - 1pm. A celebration of life will take place at Good Shepherd Parish, SMB on Saturday, January 20th, 2024 at 2 pm close to what would been his 85th birthday. Interment in Sacred Heart Cemetery, O'Donnell's, SBM.  Flowers gratefully declined, but donations to the family are graciously accepted, or a contribution may be made to the Dr H. Bliss Murphy Cancer Centre, the Autism Society of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Canadian Mental Health Association, or a charity of one’s choice.