Aloysius Corrigan

Passed away peacefully on Wednesday April 22, 2026 at the age of 96. Predeceased by his wife, Mary (Ita) who passed in December of 2021. He will be forever loved and missed by his children Eugene (Laura), Liam, Vincent (Bernie) and Sheila (Glenn) and grandchildren, Megan, Sarah, Emma, Brendan and Maya. Son of the late Annie (nee Higgins) and Michael Corrigan of Tang, Co Westmeath, Ireland. Predeceased by his brothers & sisters Joe, Fr. Matt, Andrew, Mary Theresa, Bessie, Anne Marie (infant), Colum, Sean, Fr Frank and Fr Kevin. Sadly missed by his beloved nieces & nephews in Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.

Al was a loving husband, a father, a brother, an uncle, a music teacher turned vice-principal at St Michael’s Choir School and he was a devoted follower of our Lord Jesus. Although he left Ireland over 70 years ago, he never lost the connection to his home and family there. He cared deeply for his many nieces and nephews back home and remained so genuinely interested in family affairs and their wellbeing. Family was important to him and his wish was future generations would continue to hold strong our family ties.

He was Irish through and through. He loved Irish culture, music, poetry, G.A.A, horse racing, tea and biscuits. He left Ireland at a young age and began teaching in England. It was there, he met his wife, who had also left Ireland to pursue her career in nursing. They started their family in England and eventually settled in Canada where they raised their 4 children. He became involved in the Irish Choral Society and his church choir also. He loved music and was often singing or humming a tune whenever he was going about his day regardless of where he was or what he was doing.

He was a fabulous dad, taking us all on holidays every summer and those holidays were full of adventure. He would hitch up the tent trailer to the car and drive for days stopping at different campgrounds every night until we reached our destination. Keep in mind that’s a family of 6 in an old Plymouth Fury with no air conditioning and he was the only driver. We camped at Fort Wilderness in Disneyland, saw a rocket launch in Cape Canaveral at the Kennedy Space Center, boogie boards in Virginia Beach, the list goes on. Closer to home we would camp in Algonquin park looking for bears, roasting marshmallows, hiking, and canoeing. For the times we weren’t out chasing adventure, we had an awesome pool in the backyard with a jumping platform.

In the winter the whole family would go skiing, the kids downhill, Mom & Dad Cross Country. And of course hockey season - 3 boys in hockey and Dad was there taking them to all their games. He was many things to many people but he was also quite simply a really fun guy.

He was devoted to his wife, Ita whom after suffering a series of strokes was confined to a wheelchair. Everyday he’d visit mom in the nursing home except on Sundays when he’d book a wheel trans bus to bring her home for the day. It was actually much more than just booking a ride. He would drive to the nursing home, travel in the wheel trans bus with her to our house, make her dinner and watch tele or sit in the yard with her before heading back to the nursing home that evening where he would stay until she was tucked into bed for the night. Only then would he drive back home. Mondays were his only day off when he would rest.

He was always busy with yard work, gardening or shovelling snow. Even at 96 he couldn’t wait to get into his dungarees and start digging up the flower beds. When he did eventually slow down to sit and enjoy a cuppa, those were the times he’d reminisce about his life back in Ireland. He was a great storyteller and could talk for ages about life on the farm. About his mother’s hard work raising a large family as a widow and the struggles of making ends meet but he was always so positive in his descriptions and stories.

He remembered the little details and described them so eloquently; the lovely penmanship of his sister and the beautiful smooth finishes on his brother’s woodworking projects. His only memory of his father was holding his hand while walking through a field together when he was just a child. His father’s hand so big that he was only able to grasp a hold of one of his fingers as they crossed the field together. I could sit and listen to him recite poetry or tell stories for hours. I am grateful for the times we did just that although a lifetime of them still isn’t enough.

Family and friends are welcome to gather at Giffen-Mack Funeral Home & Cremation Centre, 4115 Lawrence Ave East, West Hill, ON, on Monday April 27, 2026 from 6 pm – 8 pm. Mass of Christian Burial at St. Joseph Church, 200 Morrish Road, Highland Creek, Scarborough on Tuesday April 28, 2026 at 11 am. Al will be laid to rest at St Joseph’s Cemetery, Highland Creek.