PETER FRANCIS NEARY, born 15 August 1938, Bell Island, Conception Bay, Newfoundland; died 14 March 2024, St. Joseph’s Hospice, London, Ontario, Canada.
Predeceased by his parents Peter Francis and Margaret (Dalton) Neary; brothers John, Stephen, and Gerald; sisters Margaret Durkin and Mary; niece Paula and nephews Gerald and Bernard. Leaving to mourn his beloved family: wife Hilary (Bates); sons Nicholas (Kristine Spekkens) and John (Sonja Babovic); grandchildren Ella and Charlie Neary, Colin Neary and Lillian Nickerson; sister Anne Reed (Dave); nieces and nephews: Janet and Karen Neary, Andrea Zucca, Stephanie, Monique and Pierre Neary, Rodney Parsons, John Durkin, Brenda and David Reed; brother-in-law Jock Bates (Liz Wanzel); sister-in-law Rosemary Bates Terry, nieces-in-law Sarah Iwakabe and Hilary Bolton.
Peter joined the Department of History at the University of Western Ontario in 1965 and taught until his retirement in 2005. He also served as dean of the Faculty of Social Science. He wrote extensively on the political, economic, and social history of Newfoundland, on many of the artists who painted her land and sea, and on the development of Canada’s policy for veterans of the Second World War. His last two books were written with Melvin Baker and published by McGill-Queen’s University Press: Joseph Roberts Smallwood: Masthead Newfoundlander, 1900-1949 (2021); and Out Here: Governor Sir Humphrey Walwyn’s Quarterly Reports from Newfoundland, 1936–1946 (June 2024).
Peter was devoted to his family and friends (especially to his four wonderful grandchildren), to wide-ranging conversation, good food and books, music, his church, vigorous walks in Gibbons Park, and picking berries on the hills of Newfoundland. He had never turned an ignition key in his life.
The family thanks the medical and nursing staffs of University Hospital and St. Joseph’s Hospice for their compassionate care of Peter.
Cremation has taken place. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Peter’s Cathedral Basilica, 196 Dufferin Avenue, London, Ontario at 10:00 am, Wednesday 3 April 2024, followed by burial at St. Peter’s Cemetery, 806 Victoria Street (west half), and a reception at St Michael’s Roman Catholic Church parish hall, 511 Cheapside Street. Arrangements are being overseen by Harris Funeral Home.
Donations in Peter’s memory can be made to St Peter’s Cathedral Saint Vincent de Paul Society, 511 Cheapside Street, London ON N5Y 3X5; to the Dean’s Excellence Fund, Don Wright Faculty of Music, Room 210, Talbot College, University of Western Ontario, London ON N6A 3K7; or to a charity of your choice.
Requiescat in Pace, Peter Francis Neary.