Obituary for Sidney Joseph Patrick Gray
In Loving Memory of
Sidney Joseph Patrick Gray
November 4th, 1938 – August 4th, 2023
It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Sidney Joseph Patrick Gray, beloved husband, father, grandpa, brother, uncle, and friend on Friday August 4th, 2023, at the age of 84 after a brief battle with cancer.
His life will be lovingly remembered by his wife Velma, children Linda (Jack), Carol, and Paul (Robyn), stepdaughter Heather as well as his grandchildren Nicola, Jessica, Rachael, Devlin, Meghan and Adam and great grandchildren Kelton, Chase, and Liam.
Sid was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland to Rose and Charlie November 4th, 1938, and in whose loving arms he now rests. He grew up a devout Catholic and spent a number of years as an altar boy at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. Sid was the oldest son of eight children; sister Helen (Brendan), sister Betsy (Mick), sister Maeve (Brendan), sister Roisin (Pat), brother Cathal (Eileen), brother Gerard and predeceased by his brother Kevin (Dianne).
Sid met his lifelong sweetheart Velma (nee Donaldson) while working at Ford in Belfast in 1960. They were married in 1964 in a civil ceremony at Belfast City Hall. They raised four children and many beloved dog children and lived in Belfast before emigrating to Winnipeg, Manitoba on July 5, 1970, to start a new life far away from the troubles in Belfast at that time. They quickly found their Irish community in their new homeland and spent several decades as active founding members of the Irish Association of Manitoba. Sid held many roles at the Club and most notably served as President in the mid-1980s, when 654 Erin Street was purchased by the IAM. He performed in several of the Tara Players theatre productions over a period of 30 years. He loved the camaraderie and great craic he shared with the cast and crew from the production rehearsals through to the final curtain. This pastime gave him so much joy! Along with stage acting Sid’s other hobbies included the Winnipeg Blue Bombers football team. He was a passionate fan and supported the team through thick and thin. When he could, he loved to attend the games at the stadium cheering on his favorite team, even as the snow fell, and the temperature dipped. When he wasn’t watching the Bombers, you could always find him with close friends on a golf course, one of his other great passions.
But spending time with his family was his favorite place to be. He watched us all grow up and was the steady hand that guided us through our childhood. As the grandchildren came one by one his heart swelled with love and pride. Our gatherings will never be the same without him, but we will continue to gather and remember. After dedicating his working life to Ford, he began his well-deserved retirement in 2003. His retirement was filled with many, many golf games with his buddies (you know who you are!)
Sid was a humble man who never forgot where he came from. He taught us all the value of a dollar; he understood what was important and what didn’t matter; and he dearly cherished the many friendships he forged with so many great people over the years.
The Gray clan wishes to extend their immense gratitude to the all the wonderfully caring and empathetic staff in the Palliative Care wing at Riverview Health Centre. You made Sid’s last few days as comfortable and peaceful as could be, and we can never thank you enough for your compassion and kindness. A special thank you to Joe Campbell for being at Sid’s side the day before his passing. Your presence gave him the comfort and grace he needed to leave this earthly plane and start a new journey in the kingdom of Heaven.
Thank you also to family and friends near and far who have reached out to us with your moving acts of kindness and heartfelt words of sympathy. The stories and memories you have shared with us warm our hearts and give us great comfort in this time of unbearable sadness.
The family invites all Sid’s friends to a celebration of his life at The Irish Association of Manitoba on Friday, September 8th at 4:00 p.m. We look forward to seeing you all, sharing many Sid stories and raising a glass to a life well lived. In lieu of flowers, Memorial donations can be made in Sid’s name to the Winnipeg Humane Society.
Be yourself; everyone else is taken. - Oscar Wilde
Sidney Joseph Patrick Gray
November 4th, 1938 – August 4th, 2023
It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Sidney Joseph Patrick Gray, beloved husband, father, grandpa, brother, uncle, and friend on Friday August 4th, 2023, at the age of 84 after a brief battle with cancer.
His life will be lovingly remembered by his wife Velma, children Linda (Jack), Carol, and Paul (Robyn), stepdaughter Heather as well as his grandchildren Nicola, Jessica, Rachael, Devlin, Meghan and Adam and great grandchildren Kelton, Chase, and Liam.
Sid was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland to Rose and Charlie November 4th, 1938, and in whose loving arms he now rests. He grew up a devout Catholic and spent a number of years as an altar boy at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. Sid was the oldest son of eight children; sister Helen (Brendan), sister Betsy (Mick), sister Maeve (Brendan), sister Roisin (Pat), brother Cathal (Eileen), brother Gerard and predeceased by his brother Kevin (Dianne).
Sid met his lifelong sweetheart Velma (nee Donaldson) while working at Ford in Belfast in 1960. They were married in 1964 in a civil ceremony at Belfast City Hall. They raised four children and many beloved dog children and lived in Belfast before emigrating to Winnipeg, Manitoba on July 5, 1970, to start a new life far away from the troubles in Belfast at that time. They quickly found their Irish community in their new homeland and spent several decades as active founding members of the Irish Association of Manitoba. Sid held many roles at the Club and most notably served as President in the mid-1980s, when 654 Erin Street was purchased by the IAM. He performed in several of the Tara Players theatre productions over a period of 30 years. He loved the camaraderie and great craic he shared with the cast and crew from the production rehearsals through to the final curtain. This pastime gave him so much joy! Along with stage acting Sid’s other hobbies included the Winnipeg Blue Bombers football team. He was a passionate fan and supported the team through thick and thin. When he could, he loved to attend the games at the stadium cheering on his favorite team, even as the snow fell, and the temperature dipped. When he wasn’t watching the Bombers, you could always find him with close friends on a golf course, one of his other great passions.
But spending time with his family was his favorite place to be. He watched us all grow up and was the steady hand that guided us through our childhood. As the grandchildren came one by one his heart swelled with love and pride. Our gatherings will never be the same without him, but we will continue to gather and remember. After dedicating his working life to Ford, he began his well-deserved retirement in 2003. His retirement was filled with many, many golf games with his buddies (you know who you are!)
Sid was a humble man who never forgot where he came from. He taught us all the value of a dollar; he understood what was important and what didn’t matter; and he dearly cherished the many friendships he forged with so many great people over the years.
The Gray clan wishes to extend their immense gratitude to the all the wonderfully caring and empathetic staff in the Palliative Care wing at Riverview Health Centre. You made Sid’s last few days as comfortable and peaceful as could be, and we can never thank you enough for your compassion and kindness. A special thank you to Joe Campbell for being at Sid’s side the day before his passing. Your presence gave him the comfort and grace he needed to leave this earthly plane and start a new journey in the kingdom of Heaven.
Thank you also to family and friends near and far who have reached out to us with your moving acts of kindness and heartfelt words of sympathy. The stories and memories you have shared with us warm our hearts and give us great comfort in this time of unbearable sadness.
The family invites all Sid’s friends to a celebration of his life at The Irish Association of Manitoba on Friday, September 8th at 4:00 p.m. We look forward to seeing you all, sharing many Sid stories and raising a glass to a life well lived. In lieu of flowers, Memorial donations can be made in Sid’s name to the Winnipeg Humane Society.
Be yourself; everyone else is taken. - Oscar Wilde