JOHN FRANCIS CONNOR 1949-2014

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JOHN FRANCIS CONNOR 1949-2014 It is with sorrow that we announce the death of John Francis Connor, dearly beloved husband of Gail Mildren, on March 18, 2014 at the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg, after a short but valiant struggle with lung cancer. He will be deeply missed by Gail and his family Walter and Gladys Mildren, aunt Iris Mildren, nephew Scott Walker and Fred Cross. John was born on January 13, 1949 in Toronto, and received his Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in History and Philosophy from the University of Guelph and his Masters in Library Sciences from the University of Western Ontario. He came to Manitoba in 1973, and, after working for a non-profit community income tax service joined the federal Civil Service, working in the area of employment and training with Human Resources and Development Canada and Unemployment Insurance for 20 years. In 1997, John was transferred to the provincial Civil Service and worked as a service needs determination officer with Employment Manitoba until he retired on March 7, 2012. Throughout his career he took great satisfaction in helping people to find the training and jobs they needed, often going above and beyond the required work. John and Gail were married on September 17, 1983, and when not walking together in the neighbourhood or looking after their cat family, enjoyed traveling together. Highlights included trips to the Caribbean, further afield to London to visit Aunt Iris and Uncle Albert and see as many plays as possible, or just spending time at Victoria Beach, Manitoba, which John dearly loved. He also proudly and strongly supported Gail in everything she did, especially her career and her much loved music. John had a wide range of interests - music, theatre, sports, reading, economics and political affairs. (CBC Radio was a constant companion and he enjoyed working on political campaigns.) He had a special interest in social justice issues. His middle name - Francis - was particularly appropriate, as John dearly loved all furred and feathered creatures, large and small, and devoted much of his time to rescuing and caring for stray, injured or abandoned cats and feeding the birds and wildlife that appeared in our yard. (Including, to our surprise, deer.) John's family would like to thank the staff of GA4, the palliative care team, and Alixe and Sherry at the Health Sciences Centre for the care and kindness shown to John and Gail. And, a very special thanks to our dear "chosen family", Morva, Alan, Myfanwy and Megan. A memorial service will be held at St. Luke's (Anglican) Church, 130 Nassau Street North, Winnipeg, on Saturday, March 29, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. Donations in John's memory may be made to any no-kill animal shelter, the Winnipeg Humane Society, Doctors without Borders or the charity of your choice. "Love doesn't just disappear." NEIL BARDAL FUNERAL CENTRE 204-949-2200 neilbardalinc.com

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As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 22, 2014