It is with deep sadness that the family announce the death of our husband, father and grandfather, Richard Wellington Malo.
He and his twin brother were born in Fort William Ontario on June 22, 1925, the youngest of 10 children. He grew up on Wiley Street and attended St. Stan's School. At the age of eighteen he enlisted in the Canadian Army, with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles serving in Europe during the Allied invasion of WWII.
He was wounded in Nijmegen, Holland and always enjoyed telling the story to anyone who cared to listen. Those who have been told the story are likely grinning even now. Richard’s family was very fortunate that day. In the Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery near Nijmegen, there are over 2,300 Canadian soldiers buried. A further 103 Canadian soldiers who have no known graves are memorialized there.
Richard held various jobs which included driving the Snoboy truck for Gamble Robinson, a food distributor, where he met his wife of 58 years. His children and grandchildren will be forever grateful to the folks at Gamble Robinson for hiring young Shirley Kennedy fresh out of high school in 1955.
In 1954, Richard began what would become his longest term of employment with the Lakehead Psychiatric Hospital, retiring after 31 years in 1985. If it seems that Richard held these jobs concurrently, that’s exactly what happened. His children recall fondly “helping” their father make his deliveries on Saturday mornings.
He is survived by his wife, Shirley, his children, Janice Brescacin (Dave), Jim (Wendy White), Robert (Claudia), and Jennifer Kunnas (Shawn). Richard was blessed with eight beautiful grand-daughters: Lauren Brescacin (Calgary), Michelle Brescacin (Mississauga), Juliana, Kirsten and Lexi Malo (Thunder Bay) and Michaela, Molly and Mara Kunnas (Thunder Bay). He is also survived by his brother-in-law James Stitt, sister-in law Linda Poulsen (Lowell) and sister-in-law Sharron Owen. Left behind to mourn are numerous nieces, nephews and extended family, especially Kevin and Cole Carolan, sons of Robert’s wife Claudia.
Predeceased by his parents, Joseph and Emma Malo, his eldest son and daughter-in-law, David and Lucy Malo, siblings Arnold, Francis, Robert, twin brother Edward, Monica, Viola, Geraldine, Florence and Edna.
Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday September 11, 2015 at 12:10 p.m. at St. Agnes Roman Catholic Church, 1021 Brown Street, Thunder Bay. Visitation will be at 11 a.m. prior to mass.
In lieu of flowers donations to St. Joseph's Foundation of Thunder Bay or the charity of your choice would be greatly appreciated.
Richard Malo will be remembered in the Blake Funeral Chapel Memorial Grove. Annual dedication service Sunday, June 12, 2016.
