Joseph Harrow Laing

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our father, Joseph Laing. He was just a couple of months shy of his 97th birthday and now has gone to join our Mum after almost 25 years apart. Dad is predeceased by his wife Elizabeth (Betty) Finlay, his brother James (Jimmy), his sister Elizabeth (Betty) Miller, and his brothers Alexander (Alec), John, Archibald (Archie), David (Dave) and William (Bill). He is survived by his four children Cathy Brannigan, Brenda Patten (Randy), Bruce (Richard) and Jeanette Wilson (Steve). His is also survived by his grandchildren Melanie Pugsley (Mark), Iain Brannigan (Karina), Siobhan Brannigan (Michael), Devin Patten, Conor Brannigan, Krystle Patten (Jordan), Roisin Brannigan (Brandon), Mark Wilson (Meg) and Claire Wilson (Devon), as well as his brother Robert (Bert) and sisters Barbara Cowan, Janet (Etta) Roberts and Helen (Ella) Blair. His only great grandchild Calum Pugsley will miss him dearly, along with many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. Born the seventh of twelve children in North Glencraig in Fifeshire, Scotland, Dad grew up in Lochgelly and began working in coal mines in his late teenage years. He followed his best friend Jim Breslin to England before immigrating to Canada to join some of his siblings who had also immigrated here. He arrived in 1952 and met our Mum less than a year later at a dance – Dad always said Mum was a good dancer and that’s what caught his eye! They were married in 1954. Dad worked for Corrections Canada for 25 years after various jobs in the airplane building industry at Orenda and McDonnell Douglas. He was proud to have worked on the wings of the Avro Arrow. Dad was an enthusiastic singer, having sung for many years in Barbershop choruses, his church choir and a gospel choir. He was well known at his long-term care home Woodhall Park for breaking out into song in the dining room and happily joining in any music-involved activity.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church on Balmoral Drive in Brampton.