May 9, 1934 - November 3, 2024
Joseph Leonard Moss departed in the quiet and early morning of Sunday, November 3, 2024, surrounded by the love of family and friends. Born in Aughnahoo, Pettigo, County Donegal, Ireland on May 9, 1934, he was the son of the late Joseph and Anna Mae (Leonard) Moss. Joe has reunited with his beloved wife Brede (deceased 2018). A loving but firm father to his eight children: Joseph, Ann Marie (Al Weber), Aideen (Michael Buckley), Rory (Ann Huff), Nirmala (Patrick Boucher), Clodagh (Michel Faigaux), Cyril (Meg Smith), Aisling (Tony Stead), whom he guided with discipline, hard work and a good dose of mischief. As Papa, his legacy lives on in his eighteen grandchildren whom he adored: Eilis, Niall, Rory and Clodagh Weber; Ciarán, Caitríona and Aidan Buckley; Viola and Sinéad Moss; Róisín, Saira and Chandra Boucher; Daisuke and Mika Faigaux; Maeve and Joseph Moss; and Lily and William Stead. The heartbreak of his children, in-laws, grandchildren and friends is immeasurable.
A formidable force, Joe was always up for a challenge. Joe and Brede left Ireland with four children, taking a role with the Irish Freedom from Hunger Campaign which brought the family to Kenya, Tanzania, India and Sri Lanka. They left Sri Lanka with two additional children, arrived in Canada in 1971, and purchased a farm just outside Stratford, ON. Two more children arrived, making the family complete. Joe and Brede raised eight children on their own, while running a successful fruit and vegetable farm. The strength of Joe and Brede’s commitment to each other and to hard work instilled a work ethic and tremendous bond between their children. This bond carries forth in the family today with the addition of in-laws and grandchildren.
Joe was a rebellious spirit who always pushed boundaries and fought for the greater good. Ahead of his time, Joe designed and fabricated reusable grocery bags in the 1980s and led an environmental group, Embro Concerned Citizens, which battled a local cement plant for their lack of environmental protections.
Joe and Brede retired to Stratford where Joe’s skills as a farmer were exemplified in his glorious gardens. Always the romantic, he would cut a rose for anyone who admired his garden, explaining he reserved the red roses for his lovely wife. Joe’s love for Brede and family were at the forefront of his identity. His proud Irish roots brought a love of poetry, music and dance into the family’s life and even at his advanced age and diminishing acuity he could recite a poem or elegy that profoundly reflected his emotions.
Joe Moss was a legend.
The family would like to thank the care team who helped to guide Joe through his final journey especially Palliative Care Dr. Karen Fryer and Fr. David Butler. Of special note, Dr. Sean Blaine, whose good humour was a great match for Joe. A special thank you to daughter Ann Marie, her husband Al, and their children for inviting Joe to live at the farm, giving him a wonderful quality of life. Thanks to daughter Aideen, who gave Joe weekly spa days and his two granddaughters, Eilis and Caitríona, who, as nurses, provided the most dignified and loving care at home on the farm.
Visitation at the W.G. Young Funeral Home, 430 Huron Street, Stratford on Wednesday, November 6, 2024 from 4-8 p.m. The funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Joseph’s Church, 96 Huron Street, Stratford on Thursday, November 7, at 1 p.m. Interment at Avondale Cemetery. Memorial donations in Joseph’s memory may be made to Rotary Hospice Stratford or to St. Josephs Church. www.wgyoungfuneralhome.com
