It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Roy Raymond Pengilley. He passed away very peacefully on August 8th at the age of 87. Born in Toronto, Ontario on July 28th, 1929. He was predeceased by his father, William James Pengilley 1982; his mother, Grace Edna (nee Valuet) 1989; his beloved wife, Mary Elizabeth (nee Green) 1987; his brother, Gerald (Betty) Pengilley; his sister, Gertrude (Les) Carlson; and his grandson, Jarrett Ross Swackhamer 2011.
He is survived and greatly missed by his daughters: Bonnie Lynn (Steve) Swackhamer, Deborah Anne LaFreniere and Michelle Rae (Gerry Maud) Pengilley. He had four grandchildren, Michael Donald Watson, Paul Darryl Watson, Jason Murray Swackhamer, and Shania Anne LaFreniere; nine great grandchildren; two-step great grandchildren, and many nephews and nieces. Both Roy and Mary had a special place in their hearts for their nephew, Doug (Sheena) Griffin.
His life began in a small community of Churchville, Ontario. His parents, William and Grace, owned a fruit and vegetable farm where Roy and his sister (Gertrude), and brother (Gerald) grew up. They all worked the family farm where they grew apples, asparagus, beets, melons, corn, potatoes, raspberries, squash, strawberries, and turnip. They took their produce to the Toronto Markets to be sold.
He had a love for the sport of hockey and began playing at an early age. He became an outstanding hockey player and impressed the scouts with his natural ability and talent; he was asked to play for the New York Rangers at age 19. He declined, as his passion for cultivating and working the farm surpassed any sport.
Roy met the love of his life, Mary Elizabeth (nee Green), at a local dance. They married on September 18th, 1948 and had three beautiful daughters. Mary joined the family home—farm until Roy and Les Carlson, his brother-in-law, built a new home in Streetsville, Ontario.
Roy continued his passion for farming; he was a master gardener who had the innate ability to look at any soil, and determine what would grow best in it. People came from all over and drove for many miles to purchase Roy’s many varieties of famous strawberries. During the winter months, Roy had greenhouses and grew hothouse tomatoes and award-winning flowers. At that time, Brampton, Ontario was the flower growing capital of Canada.
Roy and Mary moved to the city of Brampton, Ontario in 1967. Roy had a career change and established a self-employed, long haul trucking business. He hauled cattle, groceries, general goods, steel, and mainly lumber to Northern Ontario and Quebec. Before he retired, he worked at Peel Manor, a seniors’ home in Brampton, where he attended to the gardens, painted, and handled the maintenance.
Some of his other accomplishments and passions were brick laying—laid bricks for Guelph University, builder of homes, camping, cards—especially euchre, dancing, raised honey bees, fishing, ice-fishing, flying, golfing, horse racing—Woodbine and Mohawk Racetracks, lacrosse, skating, snow skiing, swimming, and water skiing. Roy obtained his licence to fly small planes around 1960; he was a member of the Brampton Flying Club. In his later years, he joined the seniors’ skating club in Coldwater, Ontario. Roy had a generous and nurturing spirit, and he decided to go back to his passion of farming in early 2000. As always, his garden was prolific, and he generously gave away many bushels of fresh fruit and vegetables to the local homeless shelters and the needy.
Roy moved to Victoria, BC in 2007 to be with his three daughters. He enjoyed the casino, golf, and family get-togethers. Until his passing on August 8th, 2016 in Victoria, BC., Roy lived with his daughter, Deborah, and granddaughter, Shania.
Roy was always a gentleman who had a great sense of humour, loved to sit, talk and laugh, tell a good joke and share stories about his life—he had MANY. He will be greatly remembered for his easy going manner, laughter, kindness, and always lending a helping hand to anyone who asked or needed it.
A Memorial Service and Celebration of Life for Roy will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 28th at McCall Gardens’ new location, The Sequoia Centre, at 4665 Falaise Drive, Victoria, BC.
A special thank you to Beacon Community Services.
“The things you do for yourself are gone when you are gone, but the things you do for others remain as your legacy.”
~ Kalu Ndukwe Kalu ~
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
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