Jack Patrick Dunne

DESCRIBED AS A GUARDIAN ANGEL TO HIS WIFE AND AN INCREDIBLE LOVING PROTECTOR OF HIS FAMILY AND HOME, JACK PATRICK DUNNE PASSED AWAY PEACEFULLY AT HOME IN THE EARLY HOURS OF THURSDAY, MARCH 24, AT THE AGE OF 72.

IN THE EARLY HOURS OF MARCH 24TH IT HAD STARTED TO SNOW.

I WAS TOLD THAT JACK HATED THE COLD AND WHEN JARYLL TOLD HIM IT WAS SNOWING THAT MORNING, HE LOOKED AT HER, AND CLOSED HIS EYES FOR THE LAST TIME. THERE WOULD BE NO MORE WINTER FOR JACK.

THE FAMILY ALSO RECALLED THAT FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS HUMMINGBIRDS WOULD COME AND VISIT JACK IN THE BACK YARD.

WELL, IT’S TOO EARLY FOR HUMMINGBIRDS, BUT ON THE MORNING OF JACK’S PASSING, LESLEY LOOKED OUT THE FRONT WINDOW OF JARYLL’S HOUSE AND THERE WERE FOUR BLUEJAYS SITTING IN THE TREE.

I OFTEN LOOK FOR SPIRITUAL SYMBOLISM FROM NATURE AND BLUEJAYS ARE SEEN AS A SPIRITUAL SYMBOL REPRESENTING FAITHFULNESS, SOLIDARITY, COURAGE AND PROTECTION. HOW APPROPRIATE THAT THEY SHOULD BE PRESENT FOR THE FAMILY THAT DAY.

JACK WILL BE DEARLY MISSED BY HIS LOVING WIFE, PARTNER AND VERY BEST FRIEND JARYLL AND THEIR FAMILY OF FIVE CHILDREN: MICHAEL RYBCHYNSKI, JOELLE DUNNE, LESLEY (MIKE) FREDETTE, KATELYNN (ZEN) BEREZNICKI, AND RYAN (CHELSEA) DUNNE. HE WAS A LOVING AND DEVOTED GRANDFATHER TO: MICHAEL, BROOKLYN, ZENON, AIDEN, NATALIE AND INDY.

JACK’S STORY BEGINS IN EDMONTON WHERE HE WAS BORN ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1949 TO CYNTHIA LIBBY AND FRANCIS DUNNE.

JACK WAS THE SECOND YOUNGEST OF FIVE SIBLINGS AND WAS ESPECIALLY CLOSE TO HIS OLDEST SISTER MAUREEN MCLEAN (AKA MOE) AND HIS OLDEST BROTHER NEIL.

HE WAS A MAN OF MANY TALENTS. HIS EARLIER WORK YEARS WERE DIVERSE AND SAW HIM WORKING AS A JOURNEYMAN PLUMBER AND OWNING HIS OWN FURNITURE REPAIR BUSINESS FOR MANY YEARS.

RYAN SAYS THAT JACK WENT TO TRADE SCHOOL TO BECAME A LICENSED PLUMBER BUT HE NEVER ENJOYED THE TRADE.

BACK IN THE EARLY 1990S, HE WAS TREATED FOR HODGKINS LYMPHOMA. THIS TIME MAY HAVE LATER INFLUENCED HIM MAKE A CAREER CHANGE WHICH LEAD HIM INTO A TWENTY-SEVEN-YEAR CAREER AS A CEMETERY AND FUNERAL SERVICE COUNSELLOR HELPING FAMILIES THROUGH DIFFICULT DECISION-MAKING TIMES.

BESIDES HIS FAMILY, JACK’S PASSIONS INCLUDED GOLFING, FLYFISHING, PLAYING CRIBBAGE AND CANDY CRUSH, WATCHING NASCAR AND CHEERING ON THE EDMONTON OILERS!

HE WAS ALSO PASSIONATE ABOUT RENOVATING THE HOME HE SHARED WITH JARYLL FOR TWENTY-FOUR YEARS AND LANDSCAPING THEIR BACKYARD INTO A PLACE OF STORY-TELLING, JOY, COMFORT AND PEACE FOR ALL FAMILY AND CLOSE FRIENDS.

IN 2021, JACK RETIRED HIS GOLF CLUBS. HE CONTINUED HIS LOVE FOR GOLF WHEN HE AND JARYLL STARTED THE ANNUAL DUNNE GOLF CLASSIC TOURNAMENT, WHICH WILL CONTINUE FOR YEARS TO COME IN JACK’S MEMORY!

FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS, JACK FOUGHT CANCER AND TOWARDS THE END, COPD ALSO GRIPPED HIS BODY.

HE BEGAN CHEMO TREATMENTS IN DECEMBER OF 2019. HE ONCE SAID THAT HAD HE KNOWN SMOKING WOULD CAUSE THESE HEALTH CONDITIONS, HE WOULD NEVER HAVE SMOKED.

SO WHO WAS THIS MAN, JACK DUNNE …

I RECALL JACK AS A QUIET PROFESSIONAL; HE WAS ALWAYS WELL DRESSED AND HE HAD THIS HANDSOME SHOCK OF PLATINUM-COLORED HAIR.

RYAN SAYS HE COULD ALSO BE DESCRIBED AS KIND, QUIET, A GENTLE MAN WHO HAD A GOOD SENSE OF HUMOUR.

JACK DIDN’T LIKE SUGAR COATING THE TRUTH NOR PLAYING GAMES WITH PEOPLE. BUT HE DID LIKE HIS COFFEE WITH THREE SPOONS OF SUGAR. HE CALLED A SPADE A SPADE. AND HE HAD A DRESSER DRAWER FULL OF BLACK SOCKS.

HERE ARE SOME FAMILY TRIBUTES:

JARYLL SAYS SHE FIRST MET JACK WHEN SHE WAS IN THE TRAINING/ORIENTATION PROGRAM TO BECOME A CEMETERY/FUNERAL PRENEED COUNSELLOR.

AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE, THERE MAY BE A STEADY REVOLVING DOOR OF PEOPLE IN THIS TRAINING PERIOD AS THEY EXPERIENCE COMMISSION SALES.

IT WAS JACK’S PRACTICE TO WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE HAD SETTLED IN … WAS PERMANENT … BEFORE BEGINNING A CONVERSATION … SOMETIMES THAT TOOK SIX MONTHS OR LONGER.

SO AFTER JARYLL’S FIRST MONTH, SHE ASKED HIM, “WHAT’S IT GOING TO TAKE FOR YOU TO SPEAK TO ME? I’M NOT THAT BAD OF A PERSON …”

JACK RESPONDED: “WE’LL SEE” …

IT WASN’T UNTIL JARYLL MADE HER FIRST SALE THAT JACK RESPONDED: “YOU MIGHT LAST” … THAT WAS 24 YEARS AGO …

JARYLL SAYS JACK WAS ALWAYS GRATEFUL FOR HIS FAMILY, FOR THE LOVE THAT SURROUNDED HIM, AND ESPECIALLY FOR JARYLL STICKING WITH HIM THROUGH HIS CANCER TREATMENTS.

BUT HIS GRATITUDE WENT EVEN FURTHER:

EARLIER THIS MONTH, DURING A STAY AT SOUTH HEALTH CAMPUS, HE WOULD ALWAYS THANK THE NURSES WHO CARED FOR HIM, EVEN WHEN THEY HAD TO PUT IN AN IV OR TOUCH HIM WITH COLD HANDS. THE NURSES WERE ALWAYS WANTING TO COME AND SEE “THE CUTE PATIENT IN ROOM 4, UNIT 66.”

JACK ALSO THANKED THE LAB TECHNICIANS WHO WOULD COME BY AND COLLECT BLOOD AND THE CLEANING STAFF FOR KEEPING THE ROOM CLEAN.

FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS, JACK WOULD WORK OUT WITH FIVE POUND WEIGHTS TO RESTORE HIS MUSCLES SO HE COULD GET OUT IN THE GARDEN THIS SPRING. RECENTLY, HIS FAVOURITE FOOD WAS ICE CREAM WITH BAILEYS AND SPAGHETTI WITH MUSHROOM SAUCE.

HERE ARE SOME OF HIS FAVOURITE THINGS: VODKA, CALGARY STAMPEDERS, CASH CAB, HIS BLACKBERRY PHONE, ANY NEWS PROGRAM. HE HAD THE “TICKLIEST” FEET OF ANYONE THAT JARYLL KNEW, HE DIDN’T LIKE BEING COLD AND HE RETAINED TRIVIAL INFORMATION.

Notes from Ryan and Joelle

I WANT TO SHARE SOME MORE FAMILY MEMORIES AND TRIBUTES.

RYAN AND JOELLE RECALL HOW JACK LOVED READING THE NEWSPAPER AND WATCHING THE NEWS. HE HAD A SINCERE, GENUINE INTEREST IN POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT. THEY SAY HE WOULD HAVE MADE A GREAT POLITICAL SCIENTIST.

HE WAS A FAITHFUL CONSERVATIVE (THAT WAS HIS POLITICAL ORIENTATION) AND A PROUD ALBERTAN; HE HAD A TREMENDOUS DISDAIN FOR JUSTIN TRUDEAU WHOM HE NICKNAMED ‘TRUDY’.

HE LOVED AND RESPECTED ANIMALS, PARTICULARLY DOGS AND HAD A LOVE OF THE OUTDOORS.

RYAN RECALLS THAT WHEN HE WAS LITTLE, HE AND HIS FATHER WOULD FEED PEANUTS THROUGH THE KITCHEN WINDOW TO A NEIGHBOURHOOD BLACK SQUIRREL THAT THEY NAMED, “LITTLE BUDDY.”

JOELLE AND JACK WOULD WATCH ‘THE LITTLEST HOBO’. RYAN REMEMBERS HIM RELIGIOUSLY WATCHING THE ORIGINAL TV SHOW, MACGYVER.

JACK LOVED ROCK MUSIC AND POTATO SALAD

THEY HAVE FOND MEMORIES OF FISHING TRIPS TO ALLEN BILL POND, HIKING IN JOHNSTON CANYON AND PICNICS IN KANANASKIS.

JACK LOVED BOATING WITH HIS SISTER MAUREEN AND HER HUSBAND KEITH AT THE SANNICH INLET IN VICTORIA, BC.

HE WAS AN EXCELLENT PING PONG PLAYER, ENJOYED BOWLING, GOLF AND ACTION MOVIES.

“HE WAS THE TYPICAL DAD IN THAT HE WOULD ALWAYS REMIND US TO GET REGULAR OIL CHANGES, HAVE QUALITY WINTER TIRES AND NEVER SKIP OUT ON TUNE-UPS,” SAYS RYAN.

IN HIS EARLIER YEARS HE OWNED A SILVERADO TRUCK THAT HE ADORED.

HIS YOUNGEST SISTER HAS MEMORIES OF THEM PLAYING MONOPOLY IN THE EARLY MORNING BEFORE THE REST OF THE FAMILY GOT UP.

HE HATED HAVING HIS PICTURE TAKEN AND IT WAS ALWAYS A CHALLENGE TO GET ONE OF HIM. “DAD NEVER WANTED TO BE THE CENTRE OF ATTENTION NOR DID HE WANT TO BURDEN PEOPLE WITH ANYTHING. HE WAS SELFLESS”, RYAN RECALLS.

RYAN ALSO SAYS JACK WAS PAINFULLY STUBBORN AND HIS SIGNATURE MOTTO WAS: ‘I’LL DECIDE.’

JACK HAD ANOTHER FAVOURITE SAYING: “ LET ME THINK ABOUT IT.” HE DIDN’T SWEAR BUT YOU WOULD OCCASIONALLY HEAR THE “WTF” PHRASE.

RYAN AND JOELLE END THEIR TRIBUTE BY SAYING: “DAD ENDURED MANY SIGNIFICANT HEALTH CHALLENGES THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE, BUT NEVER COMPLAINED. HE HAS LEFT A LIFE LESSON OF PERSEVERANCE UNTIL THE VERY END.”

MEMORIES FROM MICHAEL

JARYLL FIRST INTRODUCED JACK TO HER KIDS OVER PIZZA. JACK SAID ‘I CAN’T BE YOUR DAD, BUT I’LL BE YOUR FRIEND.”

MIKE RECALLS THAT JACK PICKED HIM UP AT A HOSPITAL ONE NIGHT AFTER TOO MUCH PARTYING. JACK DIDN’T LOOK TOO HAPPY THAT TIME.

NOR DID HE GET MAD WHEN MIKE DESTROYED HIS BELOVED DODGE NEON AFTER A GRADUATION PARTY. MIKE HAD DECIDED NOT TO DRIVE HOME IN A STATE OF, LET’S SAY EXCESS PARTYING, SO HE SLEPT IN THE CAR.

“WHEN I DROVE HOME IN THE MORNING I CLIPPED A SIGN.” I WOKE JACK UP … HE WAS UPSET BUT NOT ANGRY. LESSON LEARNED: DON’T SLEEP IN A CAR.

MIKE ALSO RECALLS THAT JARYLL AND JACK PLAYED THE SLOTS.

“ONE NIGHT, MOM SENT ME OUT TO FIND JACK … I WENT FROM BAR TO BAR LOOKING FOR HIM AND FOUND HIM PLAYING THE VLT. HE SAID LET THIS RIDE AND ORDERED A BEER. HE HIT A BIG PRIZE. I ASKED HIM TO CASH OUT. JACK SAID, “NO, NO, BUT AT THAT MOMENT THE POWER WENT OUT AND WE WENT HOME.”

JACK WAS A NICE GUY AND MIKE COULD SIT AND TALK WITH HIM. THERE WERE CONVERSATIONS IN THE GARAGE. HE ENCOURAGED ME TO BE HAPPY WITH WHAT I DID.

“WE SOMETIMES TALKED ABOUT JOBS AND CAREERS.” JACK WAS ALWAYS SUPPORTIVE AND VERY PROUD WHEN MIKE BECAME A RED SEAL CHEF. WE ARE GOING TO ENJOY SOME OF MIKE’S SKILL LATER TODAY.

MIKE WAS HONOURED TO HAVE BEEN ASKED TO BE THE MARRIAGE COMMISSIONER TO ALLOW A NEW STEPDAD INTO HIS FAMILY WHEN JACK AND JARYLL WERE MARRIED AT JOHNSTON CANYON ON SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 2002.

“JACK TAUGHT ME TO BE PATIENT AND KIND AND I HOPE TO PASS THIS ON TO MY KIDS.”

PERHAPS THE HIGHEST COMPLIMENT THAT MIKE COULD PASS ALONG ABOUT JACK IS WITH THIS THOUGHT: “FOR SOMEONE NOT TRYING TO BE OUR DAD, HE DID A GREAT JOB OF BEING OUR DAD. HE WAS A KIND MAN, HE WAS NOT MY DAD BUT HE LOVED LIKE A FATHER.”

MEMORIES FROM KATELYNN

I DON’T HAVE A GOOD MEMORY SO ASKING ABOUT SPECIFIC MOMENTS IS A LITTLE HARD FOR ME.

I COULD SAY HE LOVED HUMMINGBIRDS AND GOLF, FIRES AND THE BACKYARD.

I RECENTLY FOUND OUT HE HATED THE COLOUR GREEN, WHICH IS SAD BECAUSE THAT’S MY FAV COLOUR.

HE WAS AS STUBBORN AS THEY COME … WHEN HIS MIND WAS MADE UP, THERE WAS NO CHANGING IT.

I COULD SAY HE WAS AN AMAZING MAN THAT DESERVED MORE TIME ON THIS EARTH AND DIDN’T DESERVE TO SUFFER LIKE HE DID.

I COULD SAY ALL OF THAT AND MAYBE A BIT MORE, BUT I’M PRETTY SURE EVERYONE WILL TELL YOU THAT STUFF.

WHAT I DON’T THINK ANYONE WILL TELL YOU IS HIS LITTLE SECRET. I’M NOT SURE IF HE EVEN KNEW, BUT I DID ... JACK WAS MY MOM’S GUARDIAN ANGEL.

GROWING UP, WE DIDN’T HAVE THE EASIEST LIFE. MY MOM TRIED THE BEST SHE COULD BUT HAVING US THREE KIDS ALL 18 MONTHS APART, WELL AS TEENAGERS I BET YOU CAN GUESS THE REST.

JACK CAME INTO THREE TEENAGERS IN THEIR PRIME CRAZINESS. WE SURE PUT HIM THROUGH THE WRINGER. BUT DID HE LEAVE? NO.

DID HE STAY AND KEEP MY MOM HAPPY FOR TWENTY-FOUR YEARS? YES.

HE STAYED WITH HER THROUGH EVERY VENTURE SHE CHOSE. HE WORKED ENDLESSLY WITH HER TO CREATE AN AMAZING BACKYARD. HE BECAME THE SUPPORT SHE NEEDED WHEN LIFE GOT TOUGH. HE BECAME THE OTHER HALF THAT SHE SO NEEDED AND DESERVED.

HE WAS HER GUARDIAN ANGEL ON EARTH AND WILL NOW BE HER GUARDIAN ANGEL FROM THE SKY.

MEMORIES FROM LESLEY

LESLEY SAYS THAT SHE WILL BE FOREVER GRATEFUL THAT JACK PUSHED HER TO SUCCEED IN LIFE. HE CAN NEVER BE REPLACED … HE BECAME A FRIEND … WE WOULD SIT AND TALK … ABOUT ANYTHING …

“IT WAS ALWAYS A CHALLENGE WHEN BOTH THE FLAMES AND OILERS WERE PLAYING HOCKEY AT THE SAME TIME AS TO WHICH TV CHANNEL WE COULD WATCH … JACK WOULD NEVER LET US CHANGE FROM THE OILERS GAME.” HE LOVED TO PLAY CANDY CRUSH. AND HE LOVED HIS GRANDKIDS.

GRANDDAUGHTER BROOKLYN LOVED TO SNUGGLE WITH GRANDPA JACK ON THE COUCH AND WATCH TV, PLAY ON HIS IPAD OR PHONE WHILE THEY ATE CHEEZIES AND PLAIN POTATO CHIPS.

* * * * * * * * * *

A man described as a guardian angel to his wife and an incredible loving protector of his family, passed peacefully away at home in the early hours of Thursday, March 24, 2022.

Jack is survived by his loving wife, partner and very best friend Jaryll and their family of five children: Michael Rybchynski, Joelle Dunne, Lesley (Mike) Fredette, Katelynn (Zen) Bereznicki, and Ryan (Chelsea) Dunne. He was a loving and devoted grandfather to: Michael, Brooklyn, Zenon, Aiden, Natalie and Indy.

Jack was the second youngest of five siblings and was especially close to his oldest sister Maureen McLean (aka Moe) and his oldest brother Neil.

Jack was a man of many talents. His earlier work years were diverse and saw him working as a journeyman plumber and owning his own furniture repair business for many years.

Later he, was guided to help families through difficult decisions during a twenty-seven-year career as a Cemetery and Funeral Service Counsellor.

Besides his family, Jack’s passions included golfing, flyfishing, playing cribbage, watching Nascar and cheering on the Edmonton Oilers! He was also passionate about renovating the home he shared with Jaryll for twenty-four years and landscaping their backyard into a place of story-telling, joy, comfort and peace for all family and close friends.

In 2021, Jack retired his golf clubs. He continued his love for golf when he and Jaryll started the Annual Dunne Golf Classic Tournament, which will continue for years to come in Jack’s Memory!

For the past four years, Jack fought cancer and COPD which gripped his body.

A private family Celebration of Life will be held to honour Jack at South Calgary Funeral Centre, 12700 Macleod Trail South (at Lake Fraser Gate).

A private family graveside service will be held at Prairie Sky Cemetery.

If friends so desire, memorial donations may be made directly to the Alberta Lung Foundation, (https://www.ablung.ca/donate).

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.southcalgaryfuneralcentre.ca for the Dunne family.