Stephen Thomas Defalco
Long-time Winchester resident Steve Defalco died peacefully early Saturday morning (June 19) after a long illness. He was 75.
He was a loving husband to Barbara (nee Laidley), and the former husband of the late Aline (nee Sauriol).
He was the proud father of 11 children: Susan (Martin Donovan) of Montreal; Steven (Lucie Bedard) of Ottawa; Gerald (Sandra Comer) of Hong Kong; Connie (Raymond Blanchette), and Thomas (Cynthia McDonald), both of Ottawa; Jane (Tim Ayres) of Los Angeles; Nancy (Brian Bailey) of Cantley, Quebec; Timothy (Darlene Gagnon), and Mary (Rob Lalonde), both of Orleans; Jeffrey Friend (Niki Rhyndress) of Chesterville; and Matthew (Joanne Raymond) of Guelph.
He was the adoring grandfather of 18: Sean Purcell; Catherine and Nicolas Defalco; Jason Moore and the late Christopher Moore; Dylan and Connor Defalco; Alex and Hannah Defalco; Graham and Evan Camm; Andrew and Jennifer Reoch; Caitlyn and Robyn Defalco; Jessica and Emily Defalco; and Elizabeth Friend Defalco. There are two great-grandsons, Adam Purcell and Christopher Moore.
He was the eldest of nine children born to Francis Defalco (Cecco) and Catherine Gertrude O'Rourke. His siblings include Frank, Martin, Mary, the late Connie, Denis, Terry Ronnie and Elizabeth.
He was born in Detroit, Michigan on Aug. 10, 1928, and resided in Canada since 1930. He became a Canadian citizen. As a young man, he served in the U.S. Army during the occupation of Korea, then followed a distinguished career in the Royal Canadian Air Force. Upon retirement from the military, he was employed as a stationary engineer, and was chief of operations at the St. Laurent Shopping Centre.
In retirement, he took great delight in studying water color and drawing at the Ottawa School of Art and at St. Lawrence College in Brockville. He curled at the Winchester Curling Club and golfed at Cedar Glen Golf Course with equal enthusiasm.
The family will receive condolences at the Duncan Funeral Home in Metcalfe from 12 noon to 3 pm on Sat., June 26. A memorial service will follow. At a later date, there will be an inurnment in St. Columba's Cemetery in Pembroke.
The family would appreciate donations in Steve's memory to Dundas County Hospice or to Winchester District Memorial Hospital.