Douglas Joseph Doug Hamilton

HAMILTON, Douglas Joseph - Passed away at the Guelph General Hospital, with his wife at his side, on Friday, April 10, 2009. Douglas Joseph Hamilton in his 87th year, was the beloved husband of Irene (Smith) Hamilton, and the late Jemima (Ritchie) Hamilton (1995). He was the loving father of Susan Hamilton and her husband Ross Fair of London, Jane Hamilton Wilson and her husband Rod Wilson of Guelph, and step-father of Heather and her husband John Weigh of Guelph, Barbara and her husband Allen Wynne and Robert Smith all of England. Doug was the proud Papa of Kate Wilson, Jennifer Wilson, Jonathan Weigh (Lisa), Simon Weigh (Jennifer), Elizabeth Zegerius (Gerry), Andrew Higgins, Matthew Higgins, and Gareth Higgins, and great- Papa to Lilly, Martijn, Alex, Poppy, and Owen. He was the dear brother of the late Margaret Wood. Doug is survived by many nieces and nephews. Doug was born and raised in Toronto where as a very young lad he was a choirboy at church. He always loved to sing and others loved to hear him. During the Great Depression, financial circumstances forced him to leave school and family at the young age of 14 and work on a farm in the Kingston area, which contributed to his family’s income. Doug was tenacious and knew the value of hard work, always expecting it of himself. After entering the plumbing trade, at first as an apprentice and later as a journeyman, he met and married his first wife Jemima (Ritchie) from Guelph. They made their home in Toronto. Soon after their wedding, during WW II Doug joined the Royal Canadian Navy. After completing basic training in Halifax he sailed around the world. He always cherished the memories of these travels. Upon his return from service he turned his attention and skills to building a home for his wife and planned family in North York. It is in this home, built by his own loving hands, that he and Jemima raised their two daughters Susan and Jane. Although Toronto was their weekday home, Doug lived for the weekends when he traveled to his island cottage on the Severn River near Port Severn. Doug most enjoyed entertaining others at the cottage and sharing his passion for boating and boat building. He also enjoyed reading, photography, and the winter pastime of snowmobiling. He was infamous for his political views and enjoyed arguing and defending the rights and responsibilities of “the working man”. Doug was a devoted father who could only be described as a cultural feminist before his time. He believed that women could and should do whatever they wished and not be held back by gender stereotypes. He believed in and supported his daughters and his granddaughters, Kate and Jennifer, and felt and expressed enormous pride in their independence and accomplishments. Upon retirement, Doug and Jemima moved to Guelph. During these golden years they celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary and a family life full of love. After Jemima passed away in 1995, Doug was painfully lonely and missed the companionship and love he had always known. As luck would have it (with some family intervention from his sister-in-law Helen Ritchie), he soon found love again and married Irene (Smith) in 1997. This was the beginning of a new phase in Doug’s life. He embraced his new large blended family. He had enough love for them all. In their twelve years of marriage, despite health challenges and concerns, Doug and Irene continued to enjoy the cottage, their shared faith and many family oriented pursuits. Irene was devoted to Doug in his later years and provided him with compassionate care and loving kindness. When recently admitted to hospital, Doug fought to hang onto life. He was determined to recover from this recent bout of illness. However on April 9th, knowing that he would no longer be able to do the things he loved and enjoyed, he set his sights upon heaven. With courage, dignity and his sense of humour intact, he assured each and every family member of his undying love and said his final goodbye. He died holding the hand of his beloved wife, Irene. Resting at the Gilbert MacIntyre & Son Funeral Home, Hart Chapel, 1099 Gordon Street, Guelph, where the family will receive friends on Wednesday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. A Funeral Service will be held in the chapel on Thursday, April 16, 2009 at 1 p.m. with The Rev. Samuel McCallum officiating. As expressions of sympathy, donations to the Canadian Cancer Society or to the Lung Association would be appreciated by the family (cards are available at the funeral home 519-821-5077 or send condolences at www.gilbertmacintyreandson.com).

A Funeral Service will be held in the chapel on Thursday, April 16, 2009 at 1 p.m.