Obituary of Philip Albert O'Leary

Philip Albert O’Leary passed away peacefully in the palliative care unit at the Saint John Regional Hospital on Sunday, April 19, 2020. Born on April 8, 1927, he was the son of the late Hugh and Annie (Fletcher) O’Leary. The youngest of 11 children, he was the last living member of his immediate family. He was survived by several nieces and nephews with whom he had many memorable, fulfilled moments. Philip never took anything for granted and enjoyed helping others whenever he could. Philip’s heart has always been open to the less fortunate. From the time he was a youngster, he would stop along the railroad tracks on his way home from the former Charlotte Street School and invite those who rode the boxcars and camped out in a place called 'Hobo Jungle' to his home for a meal. His parents never turned away these down-on-their luck men. He has never taken anything in life for granted. Growing up during the Depression, he knew others were hungry and homeless and it stayed with him throughout his life. He always considered himself lucky to have a place to eat and a bed to sleep in. Philip graduated high school in1944 and went to the University of New Brunswick where he studied forestry for a year. It didn't hold his interest so he left university and went to work at his father's grocery store "up the hill". Always good at sketching, he was hired by the Department of Lands and Mines as a cartographer. After 16 years there, he left the job and for some time he was unemployed but not without work. He volunteered with the Red Cross, CHIMO and sat on the board for the Forest Hill Cemetery. Then he accepted a position with the Canadian Legion as a bartender and door attendant. Retirement came in 1982 and Philip was happy to be able to volunteer full time. He delivered food to the elderly through Meals on Wheels, volunteered at York Manor, the Fredericton Community Kitchen, and continued volunteering with the Red Cross and the CHIMO support line. He had a wonderful human spirit that touched everyone he met. An avid sports person, he loved all sports and excelled at bowling and baseball. He was inducted into the NB Sports Hall of Fame for pitching with the Fredericton General Dairies. Philip continued to play in a senior baseball league whose members were all over 80. He was named the 2019 sportsman of the year for his bowling league and continued bowling well into his 93rd year. Avid not just in sports, intellectually Philip enjoyed his daily crossword puzzles. He excelled as a bridge player, having learned as a child watching his parents play. He was a member of the Kinsmen Seniors Bridge Club, the Royal Canadian Legion, and the K Park Bridge Club in Rothsay. He was a quiet, honest man of integrity who will be missed by his many friends and family. A Memorial Service will be held at the Christ Church Parish Church, 245 Westmorland St, Fredericton, NB on Friday, July 10, 2020 at 2:00 pm. McAdam’s Funeral Home staff will be available to aid in social distancing procedures. In lieu of flowers donations to Red Cross Atlantic Division, Alzheimer’s society of NB, Canadian Cancer Society, Bobby’s Hospice, or Waterloo Village of Saint John would be appreciated by the family.