ROCHON, Joel Meredith - 1931 – 2019 Author, humanist, wise patriarch of a large family, died at St. Michael's Hospital following a stroke on January 1, 2019.
He was deeply in love with his remarkable wife of 62 years, Mary Rochon, his five children and their spouses who all adored him, Paula (Douglas), Joel (Alison), Lisa (John), Martin (Nadia), Murray, and his 17 devoted grandchildren: Steuart (Patricia), Katie, Cameron; Patterson (Cheryl), Bronte, Kate, William; Geneviève (Bernard), Alexander, Hannah, Dylan; Adam, Connor, Benjamin; Jack, Claire, Gwyneth, and great grandchild, Aspy Rose.
He is survived by sisters-in-law Margaret Priske and Olga McDonald, and predeceased by his sister, Helen Nerby.
Joel lived by the words of Marcus Aurelius: "Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one".
Though he ultimately discovered the identity and story of his birth parents (I.W. Solloway and Tina Safianiuk), the father figure who gave Joel a lifelong spiritual bond was Père Athol Murray, the Catholic priest and iconic visionary who founded the Athol Murray College of Notre Dame, where mind, body and soul were all celebrated.
Joel's life was guided by love, walking and talking his belief in humanity and the need to connect with all people, to deeply hear their stories. He lived the maxims of Notre Dame that continue to resonate strongly in the homes of his family: "Struggle and Emerge"; "He who does what in him lies, God will not deny his grace."
Joel died surrounded by all of his children, and by Mary, who led a powerful and poetic send off for her husband as he slipped away peacefully in the spirit of love he had cultivated profoundly throughout his life.
Funeral Mass to be held Saturday, January 5, 2019, 11 a.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish Church, Newman Chapel, 89 St. George St., Toronto. Visitation: Friday, January 4, 2019 at 105 Cortleigh Blvd. 4-7 p.m. Remarks 6 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations would be greatly appreciated to the Joel and Mary Rochon Scholarship Fund supporting financially disadvantaged students at Athol Murray College of Notre Dame. Attention Jeff Yanko,
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