Joseph Morrissey

Born May 23, 1949, in Leicester, England and passed away peacefully at his home in Victoria, BC on April 17, 2025. Predeceased by his parents, Philip Dermot and Barbara Morrissey, his sister Philomena Keogan and her husband Donald and his sister Margaret (Meg) Morrissey, Joe is survived by his sisters Mary (Tom) Hall, Imelda (Ted) Kedge and brother John (Joyce) Morrissey, as well as cousins, many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

Imelda has fond memories of Joe:

Joe was ingenious. When we moved from our rental house in Vanderhoof next door to the house Mom bought, he was able to move everything, including the piano, on rolling logs.

When Meg and I had our basement suite during university, Joe liked to come over sometimes. He found our place peaceful. He loved Gilbert and Sullivan and would sometimes sing the patter songs. Later, when the recordings that we had listened to on vinyl as children became available as CDs he bought all he could find for himself and some for me too. He also loved to listen to Mozart.

When Meg and I were at university I had an accident in an intersection and the radiator grill was dented in quite badly. Joe got the car to a big tree at the end of our crescent and was able to pull out the grill using a rope and the tree.

Joe loved to memorize and recite poetry. Meg, Joe and I had memorized “The Highwayman” and would recite it together. But one poem I will always connect to Joe was McCauley’s “Lays of Ancient Rome”. I think I might be able to recite 4 verses, but Joe learned over 200. Another poem I can hear him reciting is one by Arthur Hugh Clough with the repeating line: “How pleasant it is to have money, heigh ho, how pleasant it is to have money.”

In all the 45 years I have lived in the Okanagan, Joe never came to visit but whenever Mary and I were in Victoria we always saw Joe. A visit lasted 2 hours as that was as long as we could park on the street before being ticketed. Joe always had Peak Frean cookies and tea for us. He sure loved sugar in his tea.

When my daughter Susie was at U. Vic. Joe was always willing to help her if she needed anything. He was very generous. He was also fabulous at keeping Meg’s wheelchair running. Which reminds me of a time in Vanderhoof when we had an old-time event and Joe made wooden wheels for Meg’s wheelchair. They were amazing!

Joe helped his sister Meg with any issues she had with her wheelchair and was always available to help out when needed.

Joe drove night shift for Blue Bird Cabs for many years.

Good memories. Joe will be missed.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Holy Child Catholic Church, 14009 Rosedale Street in Summerland, BC, on Thursday, June 5, 2025 at 9:00 am (PST), with a reception to follow. Interment will take place at Canyon View Cemetery, Summerland, BC.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Victoria Hospitals Foundation or a charity of your choice.

Condolences may be offered to the family below.

McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com

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