It is with great sadness that we announce that Noel Thomas Gantly, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend to so many, passed away Friday evening, April 26th, 2019. Noel was born on December 14th, 1928 in Drumsna, Country Leitrim, Ireland. When he was still a toddler, his family moved to Dublin, and eventually Dad was one of ten children born to his parents Nora, a former schoolteacher, and Thomas, a police captain.
As a young man, he entered the seminary with the intention of becoming a Catholic priest. He studied abroad in Belgium but eventually decided on a life outside of the priesthood. He had become an accomplished pianist and organist, and moved to Canada in the early 1960’s to pursue a career as a teacher. He married his sweetheart Peggy in Terrace, B.C. Peggy was born and raised in Dublin and had been introduced to Dad by some mutual friends.
They moved to Ontario where Dad eventually earned his Master’s Degree in education and had his first teaching jobs. They settled in Ottawa where they had two children, Moira and Mel, before moving back to Prince George, B.C., in 1971, where Dad taught at Lakewood High School.
In 1974, the family moved to Duncan on Vancouver Island where Dad had been hired as a music teacher at Alexander Elementary School. Two years later, they moved to a new, bigger home in Cobble Hill. His gifts as both a musician and teacher came to the attention of the University of Victoria School of Education and in 1978, he began teaching there, commuting all the way from Cobble Hill every day for more than a year.
In 1980, they moved to Victoria so that Dad could be closer to work, and Peggy and the children settled into their new lives in a bigger city. Dad worked the rest of his career at UVic, except for a couple of years in the early 1990’s where he taught in Kelowna. In 1985, he earned his PhD in Education from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, and after he retired in 1993, a scholarship in his name was established at UVic. Some years later, Noel and Peggy moved to Coquitlam, B.C. to be near Moira and her husband Steve and help care for their two young girls. Peggy died in 2006, and Dad spent nine more years on the mainland before moving to Victoria in 2015 to be close to Mel, after Moira and Steve moved their family to England.
Throughout his life, liturgical music was a calling to which Dad was fully devoted, directing choirs and music at churches wherever the family settled.
Dad’s strong heart, love for his family, sense of humour, passion for teaching, and devotion to his faith helped him reach the incredible age of 90. He had a very full life and will be lovingly remembered by his family, friends and former students, near and far. He was predeceased by his dear wife, Peggy; siblings, Joe, Nuala, Cormac, Enda, Brendan, Maureen, Declan and Carmel, and is survived by his children, Moira and her husband Steve, Mel and his partner Jess, and his beloved granddaughters, Emma, Aine and Annie.
Our family wishes to express its immense gratitude to each and every member of the care team at The Heights at Mt. View, where Dad spent his last few months. The kindness, compassion, respect and love with which they treated him was extraordinary and made his last days the most comfortable, dignified and peaceful as possible.
A Funeral Mass was held on April 30th at St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Victoria, B.C. We thank those who were able to attend, and are also grateful to those who couldn’t but who shared with us their good wishes, love and fond memories of Dad.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
15 Responses
I had the privilege of meeting Noel during one of my years whilst studying at UVic in the Music Education Department, honoured to have him mentor and evaluate my teaching methodology at Alexander Elementary School while I undertook the ‘practicum’ portion of my program. I remember Noel as a humble, kind and helpful soul, guiding me along the way on my musical journey. Thanks to Noel, I succeeded in my quest, teaching K-5 Kodaly in the Nanaimo School District for over ten years before moving to Victoria. I count my blessings having had Noel encourage me not to give up on my dream of teaching music to children, and cherish those memories even today, almost 50 years later. Although I have only recently come across Noel’s obituary, I offer my heartfelt condolences to his family.
Noel was a sweet man whom I had the honor of looking after in his final days. He was always amenable and gracious and he died with dignity with family by his side. I miss him but I also know he is in heaven with those loved ones who have already passed before him. My deepest condolences to the family and so sorry for your loss.
Condolences from Catherine Hawkins. Holy Cross Parish, Victoria
Noel’s talents and friendships live on at Holy Cross. He helped to establish the roots of our special community.
I first met Noel in the early eighties, when he came to teach Music Education to Post Degree students training to be rural teachers at the UVic sponsored program at David Thompson University Centre in Nelson, where I was the Early Field Experience Coordinator. A few years later in 1990, I married Trev Miller, Moira’s father-in-law, so became part of the extended family of Noel. Since Noel moved back to Victoria after Steve, Moira and family moved from North Vancouver to England 5 years ago, we have seen more of Noel. He was always so personable, a true example of a “gentle”man, interested in others, kind and considerate. He was a gifted musician, a committed educator and loved his family so much. We will miss him.
I am very sorry to hear of Noel’s death and send sincere condolences to Moira and Mel and their families.
I first became acquainted with Noel and Peggy when the congregation met in the community hall on Tyndall Avenue, before Holy cross church was built in Gordon Head, with Fr. Joe Jackson as parish priest.
Noel was the organist and choir director and was happy to recruit any parish member to the choir. He was an enthusiastic music educator and quite happy to squat on the floor with young students and enter wholeheartedly into the spirit of the song. I’m sure he is doing the same thing with any novice angels in heaven!!
I have fond memories of this gentle man.
Frances White.
Sacred Heart parish
Victoria