05-Nov-1936 - 17-Jan-2023
On the evening of January 17th, 2023, William Henry McFarland, 86, went home to be with the Lord. A long-time resident of Newmarket, ON, ‘Henry’ passed away peacefully at Southlake Regional Hospital in the presence of family.
Henry was born on November 5th, 1936 to William and Isabel McFarland in Portstewart, Northern Ireland. He was soon followed by a younger sister, Genevieve. His high school years were spent at Coleraine Academical Institute, where he freely admitted to spending more time on his sports interests than his academics. These interests included participation on the schools’ rowing (‘twos’ and ‘fours’) tennis and rugby teams. Henry also played ‘rugger’ for Coleraine. After graduating from C.A. I., His dad jumped the pond a few times over the years until Henry joined him in Toronto in 1957 with rest of the family following to ‘the new country’.
In 1957, Henry began working at British American Oil Company while also taking courses in accounting administration at Ryerson Institute of Technology (now called Toronto Metropolitan University). Henry completed diploma studies at night school there and became a certified accountant. For the next 30 years Henry would work at BA then becoming Gulf Canada in the payroll and auditing departments. When Gulf Canada moved to Calgary and became Petro Canada, Henry chose to remain in the Toronto area still working at Petro Canada for a few more years. He later moved on to the City of Scarborough where he worked for several more years in Payroll. Moving to Newmarket in 1996, Henry switched careers, going on to drive school buses and coach buses until he retired.
In the late 1950s and early 1960s Henry played rugby for the Toronto Saracens in the Ontario Sr. League. During this time, he met Maureen Clements while they were both attending Youth for Christ events and later Lorne Park Free Methodist Church. Henry and Maureen married in 1962, and went on to have 2 children, Darlene and Colin. The family lived for many years in Thornhill and enjoyed summers at the cottage on Twin Sisters Lake.
Besides the already mentioned sports, Henry was an avid life-long golfer and avid reader. Playing piano and gardening were beloved past-times as well. He was a self-taught pianist and learned to play by ear. He also thoroughly enjoyed singing in church choirs, and in the York Region Police Choir, which he did for many years. In later years, he enjoyed helping others who needed drives to appointments or just being a friend and going on outings. Despite his many interests, his favourite pass time was spending time with the family.
Henry was predeceased by his parents, William and Isabel. He is survived by his sister Genevieve, his daughter Darlene Suchy (Anthony), his son Colin McFarland (Jessica), his six grandchildren Christopher, Mark and Victoria Suchy; Fiona, Alethia and Kieran McFarland plus nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at the Taylor Funeral Home on Saturday January 21, 2023 with visitation from 10:00 a.m., followed by a funeral service at 11:00 a.m. and refreshments on site.
As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions to Canadian Blood Services or the Newmarket Food Pantry would be appreciated by the family. Please visit give.blood.ca or call 1-888-2 DONATE OR Newmarket Food Bank at https://newmarketfoodpantry.ca/donate/, 905-895-6823. You may also click on the “Donation” tab.
We would like to thank the staff at Southlake Hospital for the amazing care they gave to our dad. Also, Pastor Mike Khan of the Church of the Nazarene, who has made himself available to visit dad and meet with us.