Whelan (Whalen), William "Bill" Pius Passed away in Ottawa in his sleep on 11 May 2024. Born in Bear River Prince Edward Island on 9 July 1931, Bill was devoted to family, Church, and Country. Predeceased by his siblings, however the Eastern PEI Whalen family still has many cousins, nieces, and nephews extended throughout Canada. We are sure Bill/Dad/Papa is getting early tee-offs and getting done 18 in under three and a half hours as he golfs in heaven. Retired as a Colonel (Logistics Officer in the Royal Canadian Air Force) in the mid 1980's, Bill went on to serve as a Public Servant for a few years before taking his full retirement. He and his lovely wife, Mary Alvire Whelan (nee LeClair) spent long summers in Prince Edward Island at their cottage on the Bay in Rusticoville enjoying their beloved Prince Edward Island views. Each Fall would see them return to Ottawa where many of their sons and friends remained throughout the years with their grandchildren and great grandchildren close by or often visiting. Vera/Mom/Nanny is missing her best friend, her husband, and her hero but she is surrounded by her extended family to help celebrate Dad/Papa. After having met up in Montreal and started dating, they married in Prince Edward Island in Rustico at Stella Maris Church on 27 July 1957. Being a military family, they moved often and created a family from Edmonton to Toronto back to Edmonton, to Lac St Denis over to Moncton and down to Sacramento. When Bill and Vera arrived in Ottawa in 1971, they settled down in their new hometown and developed roots in the new community of Beacon Hill North with their five boys: Kevin (Jan, children Jordan (Natasha, child Matteo), and Elizabeth); Mark (Kim, children Kevin (Alexe, child Dax), Emily (Justin, children Bennett and Charlie), and Amy); Paul (Charity, children Elisha and Kotton); Glen (Colette, children Mackenzie (child Marshal), and Drew;); and, Gary (Lisa, children Owen and Brian). Dad loved his family and his Church. His days were spent trying to keep five boys busy and working on files at National Defence such as the CF-18 purchase (yes, our fighter jets are that old). He was definitely known as 'Mr. Whelan' or 'Sir' to his sons' friends, many of these friends to this day have memories of those years of the Whelan boys being a good family to call if you wanted to get a neighbourhood game of baseball, football, or ball hockey together. With the Church he provided leadership and guidance on councils and helped to raise funds and build two Churches (Annunciation of the Lord in Beacon Hill North and Good Shepherd in Orleans/Blackburn Hamlet). All are invited to attend an interment ceremony in Stella Maris cemetery after morning service at Stella Maris Catholic Parish Church in North Rustico, PEI (58 Church Hill Ave) this Wednesday 14 Aug after the 0900hrs mass. Those wishing to send a message to the family may do so by sending an email to [email protected]. In lieu of flowers, family request donations to a couple of Dad/Papa/Bill's favourite charities of the Ottawa Mission or the Ottawa Food Bank in his memory. 9 July 1931 to 12 May 2024
William "Bill" Pius WHELAN (WHALEN) — Ottawa
