WOODS, Edward James
WOODS, Edward James
Beloved son of the late Ron and Rita (Ronan), Ed passed away in his 60th year. Ed was a graduate of St. Pius X High School, University of Ottawa, and Lakehead University. He enjoyed a brief career as a geologist, then a longer one in procurement in Ottawa and Mississauga. He piped at the Edinburgh Tattoo, worked at mining camps in Africa, biked through Europe, Australia and New Zealand, built his own cedar strip canoe, and camped in all seasons.
Ed enjoyed few things more than going for a hike, gardening, listening to good music, and creating a meal for and with those he loved.
Ed is sadly missed by his sisters and their families: Mary (Rob D’Ilario), Margi, Monica (Michael Poulin) and Kathleen (Marc Trembley). Proud uncle of Dan and Jamie D’Ilario, Nick Clarke, Thomas and Laura Poulin, and Annie, Will and Finn Trembley. Stepson of the late Roly deGrosbois, and nephew and cousin to many. Ed will be missed by many friends, and was especially thankful for the support of Karen, Erika and Rae.
We will remember Ed as an explorer, outdoorsman, thinker, joker, and storyteller.
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
the rains fall soft upon your fields
and until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand.
Cremation has taken place. Interment at a later date in Colgan, Ontario. If desired, memorial donations to a food bank, shelter, or the charity of your choice would be appreciated by his family.
Janice Campbell
So very sad to hear this news. Please accept our sincere sympathies. He was a lovely man, and I know he will be sorely missed
Janice & Tom Campbell and family
Gail and Paul deGrosbois
Very shocked and saddened to hear of Ed’s untimely passing. Our thought and prayers are with you. We know how close knit you family is, and how much he will be missed.
Flo Friel
Our condolences to Mary, Margi, Monica, Kurny and families.
Ed – you will be missed!
Flo, Vince and family
Carol & Guy Rochefort
Guy and I would like to offer our condolences to you all. Celebrate him with your good memories. Remember him with love. He is at peace. Take care! We are thinking of you. Xoxo
Teresa, Rae and Fiona
Mary, Margi, Monica, Kurny and families – our thoughts and prayers are with you. He will be missed.
Anne de Grosbois
My condolences to Mary, Margi, Monica, Kurny and their families. May the happy memories of Ed help you find peace. God bless him.
Scarlet Bamford
Our thoughts and prayers with the family at this very sad time!
Darren Macoretta
Mary, Rob and family, my thoughts and prayers are with you all at this difficult time.
Lyndsey Thom
Our sincere sympathy to Ed’s family and close friends at this difficult time. Your loss is great.
Lyndsey and Doug Thom, Oakville.
Marc Ronan
Sincere Condolences from the Ronan Family
Jerry and Sheila Munro
Mary, Margi, Monica and Kurny , huge hugs to all of you and your families. It is very sad to hear of Ed’s passing. I have a lot of happy memories and we will miss him . He accomplished a lot in his lifetime and touched many. Our heart goes out to all of you. Love you . Jerry , Sheila and Family
Mary Catherine Whelan
Mary❤️ Margie❤️ Monica ❤️ Kurny ❤️
My heartfelt condolences to all of you , I’m so very sorry , Ed May you rest well you are now in the arms of your parents and all your aunts and uncles who loved you so much
Love and hugs
Mary Catherine & Mike
Mary Catherine Whelan
Mary❤️ Margie❤️ Monica ❤️ Kurny ❤️
My heartfelt condolences to all of you , I’m so very sorry may you rest well you are now in the arms of your parents and all your aunts and uncles who loved you so much
Love and hugs
Mary Catherine & Mike
Rose Marie Armstrong
Our deepest condolences to the families of Mary and Rob, Margi, Monica and Michael, Kurny and Marc. Know our thoughts and prayers are with you.
May God bless you Ed.
Our love Rose Marie, Hugh and family
Bob de Grosbois
My thoughts and prayers are for Ed and all of you. So many memories. Goodby Ed. Condolences from Bob and children.
Karen Cole
To Mary, Rob and family
Ed was a very important part of my life.
I have many happy memories and he will always remain in my heart….
Karen
Karen Cole
Mary, Rob and family
Ed was a very important part of my life.
I have many happy memories.
He will always be in my heart!
Karen
K Woods
May you find peace of heart and mind
Kathleen
Ron Poulin
Our heartfelt condolences, to all of you at this tragic time. May all of his good memories live on. God Bless
Ron & Luanne Poulin
Scott Frew and Nicole Nash
Our deepest sympathy to Ed’s family and friends. We know Ed will be missed by many and that his memory and stories live on through all of you.
Sincerest condolences,
Scott and Nikki
Jan klein
We are truly saddened to hear of Ed’s passing.
Our heartfelt condolences to all members of Ed’s family – particularly – to Mary , Margaret , Monica . and Kathleen. You are in our thoughts at this difficult time of loss. Jan and Lothar
Beverley
My deepest sympathy for the loss of your brother, may his soul Rest In Peace.
Bev
your cousin John
To Mary , Margaret , Monica and Kathleen (and your families): I was sad to hear of your good brother Ed’s passing. Please accept my sincerest sympathies and condolences. It is always difficult to lose a family member. My thoughts and prayers are with Ed and all of you. I have only good memories of Ed. He was a special and interesting guy. Goodbye Ed, we know you have gone to a better place. May you rest in peace.
Nicole Frew
Very saddened. Sending my sincerest sympathies to Ed’s family and close friends.
David LeBrun
Ed and I were close friends in high school and for many years thereafter. He was a thoughtful man with many interests, a lively companion and a devoted family man. As a robust, enthusiastic and capable outdoorsman, Ed introduced me to multi-day cycling trips and hiking in Algonquin Park. These and similar interests took root in me such that I have Ed to thank for some of the best parts of my subsequent life. We fell out of touch in recent years and my poor attempts at reconnecting failed. I am deeply saddened by his untimely death. I remember Ed’s sisters fondly. My thoughts and prayers are with them.
Iva
I feel great sadness and still in shock. I know Ed is in a better place now. My heartfelt sympathies to Ed’s sisters and his nephews all of whom he spoke of many times. I often think of our skates on the canal!
Cynthia Flaro
I am so saddened by the news of Ed’s passing. I worked with Ed at Canada Post and always enjoyed his wit, intelligence and many stories about his adventures. My deepest sympathies to Ed’s family and friends.
Bill Michalopulos
Very sad and shocked to hear the sad news about Ed. Had the opportunity and pleasure to work closely with Ed at CPC and also when he was with Purolator. A highly intelligent and conscientious person who added so much to everything that we did. My deepest condolences to the family.
Bill
Sarah Donaldson
On behalf of the Donaldson family with fond memories of Stinson Ave days. We can still hear the bagpipes.
Lets keep in touch
With Love
Sarah
Yvon Lupien
I am very saddened by the news of Edward passing. To Mary, Margi, Monica, Kathleen and their families please accept my sincere condolences.
chris keyes
I was very sorry to hear about Ed’s passing. I knew Ed in high school and considered him a good friend. It’s too bad we only connect briefly a couple of times since then. Be assured of my prayers for his family during this tough time.
Tracy Shields
Monica, Michael, Thomas & Laura
I was shocked and saddened to hear about Ed’s passing. I have many fond memories of Ed, both from high school and from your place. Doug and I were talking about the time we all were bottling wine and Ed kept banging his head on your basement ceiling. Ed was not amused! Please accept our heart felt condolences.
Doug, Tracy, Brit & Brianna.
Patricia Skrypnyk (Selig)
I am very glad I was able to meet this friend of my Fathers many times over the years. My condolences to his family and friends.
Yves Renaud
Sorry to hear about Ed’s passing. We worked to gether at one point in procurement. We did some fly fishing together back then.
Rose Copwling
Deepest sympathies to Ed’s family and his close friends. Rest In Peace Ed
Erika Morton
To Mary, Margi, Monica, Kathleen and their families
my sincere condolence.
I feel great sadness.
Mary Beth McGowan
I was very surprised and saddened to hear of Ed’s passing from my brother Mark. My deepest sympathy to all of you, I have memories of connections to Ed (through Mark) and Margi and Mary from Our Lady of Peace and St. Pius. Thinking of all of you during this most difficult time.
Mary Beth McGowan
Simon Brown
Ed taught what it was to be a Canadian. I still have the picture of me, laden with bags as I stumbled along a portage, whilst Ed cheerfully chatted away carrying double my load. I swear he tried to balance a pack on my head. He changed my life for the better and I send my condolences to all his family.
Wayne Cooper
We had the same Aunt Nan. All the best to the family. Wayne Cooper
Keith Buck
Very sorry to hear this very sad news and condolences to Ed’s family. I last saw my cousin Ed in the late 1980s when he visited the UK and remember him as a witty and engaging character who I’m sure will be missed by all that were close to him.
John Monteith
On behalf of the Monteith’s our sincerest condolences on your loss.
I have many fond memories of time spent with the Woods family and the sound of the pipes echoing on Stinson.
May the memories of happy times with Ed help you through this difficult time.
Cathy de Grosbois
My deepest sympathy for Ed’s loss. I’m certain he’s in heaven, sharing stories and a laugh with Roly, Rita, Paul and Marie.
Jean Rooney
To Kathleen and all the family. We are so very sorry for the loss of Ed. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.
Mark Douglas
Our hearts go out to family and friends at this time of great sorrow and loss. Ed was the best friend anyone could have, ever honest and true to himself and everyone around him. He made his way through the world respectfully with wisdom and great humour and was always eager to meet life on its own terms. Ed taught me everything I know about winter camping and preparedness in general. I owe so much of who I am to him and we will miss him greatly,
Mark and Carol
Rae charters
So sad he does not need to suffer any more
Vern and Marilyn Ferguson
Dearest Mary, Margi, Monica, Kurny and extended family, we were so shocked to hear of Ed’s passing. We have many cherished memories of all the times we all shared so long ago. Very special memories! Missing you all, and holding you very deeply in our thoughts and hearts.
Love always,
Lyn and Vern Ferguson
Mark McGowan
Dear Mary, Margie, Monica & Kurney, my heartfelt condolences and prayers upon the passing of Ed. He and I were friends for many years, from Our Lady of Peace CS, St. Pius X, and Ottawa U. My memories are flooded with our adventures, camping, cycling, trains on the wondrous layout in your basement on Stinson Ave, the Woods bus service in the VW camper, creating military dioramas, and Ed in full highland regalia playing the pipes (at one particular ATC at Pius in 1978 when he brought the house down with “Mull of Kintyre). I last saw Ed around 1989 at which time he was leaving geology, but not before regaling me with his tales of Africa. A wonderful soul and faithful friend, I am saddened our paths did not cross more frequently. May he rest in peace and may you all be assured of my prayers.
Debbie Clark
So sorry to hear the news of my cousin Ed. Last saw him in the 80s when he came to England to see his Auntie Betty and Uncle Bill and the rest of our family. Have a lovely photo of his visit back then. This has come at a difficult time for you all but my thoughts are with you Debbie xxx
Joe O'Meara
My condolences to your family. I knew Ed through the piping and pipe band community in Ottawa. Also my mother and Rita were close friends for many years.
Roland Boudreau
To Ed’s family please accept my sincere condolences.
To Ed, I will miss you my friend, as well as our skates with your niece and nephew on the canal and sharing a brew at the Lieutenant’s Pump. We had some great conversations. Your good heart and generosity wil be missed by all.
Roberto Straccini
Very sad to hear this news. My sincere condolences to Ed’s family.
We attended the same high school, then worked together at Canada Post. He was a great boss & friend. Had some memorable fishing trips together. Can still remember him wearing his kilt and playing the bag pipes. Thank-you for your friendship Ed.
Ruth Buckland
I worked with Ed and I am saddened by the news. Although its hard to understand just why these things must be. Take comfort in the memories of his life – and Ed lived big.
Claudia Glazier and Paul Glazier
Words can’t express how saddened we are to hear of the passing of Ed. We had the absolute pleasure to serve Ed through the years and new him to be a kind and truly lovely man. He spoke so openly and honestly and shared his stories with us. We are so sad to hear of his passing. Ed and his entire family are in our thoughts and prayers. Please accept our deepest sympathies.
Paul Glazier and Claudia Glazier
Sandra
May your smile live on. You have been taken too soon. I am still walking . My sypthamies go out to your family at this this time.
Kirk Hansen
I am very late learning about the passing of my dear friend Ed.
The last time I met with him, he had come to Ottawa to settle some affairs before returning to Mississauga. It was a warm and sunny fall day and we had a chance to walk downtown before he headed to the train station to return home. It was good to see Ed and see him on the mend.
We had a long talk about the challenges and struggles that Ed was dealing with. While I was concerned for him, I felt that he had the strength and determination to face his demons and get back on level. I was planning on connecting with him in the new year.
Well, the new year became the time of the pandemic and so much fell by the wayside. To lose Ed in the midst of this calamity only adds to what was a horrible year.
As we approach the anniversary of his passing I can only offer my prayers for him to find his peace in a place full of deep forests, calm lakes and long paths to travel.
I will see you when I see you again.
Love Kirk
Tim Duffey
I lived beside Ed for almost 10 years in Oakville Ontario. He was an absolutely excellent neighbor, but moreover he was my friend. He was always ready to help. He would garden four and five and six neighbours lawns front and back. Ed also had every imaginable tool that you might require. One afternoon he oiled my daughters bicycle chain in a special little contraption he had and then he pumped up the tires and balanced her handlebars. We had many philosophical chats, Ed and I. He was a very well educated man and I lent him a of couple books on 20th century leaders that we then discussed.
He had a very calm demeanour and was an excellent and articulate storyteller.
He was very well respected here in this neighbourhood and will be greatly and sorely missed. He shared a meal or two with myself and my daughter and my parents and we all just found him to be so likeable and approachable and calm, yet insightful and thought-provoking.
He had many stories that we were fascinated by of his excursions bicycling through Australia and his time playing bagpipes and his fabulous canoe.
I only recently learned that he had passed away, but I have been missing Ed since he left here.
There’s a big flowering bush that is in the backyard of the middle of our two joining properties called, A Rose of Sharon. Each year he would help me prune it and fertilize it and take the best care of it.
When it blooms this season you may be sure I will sit out back and recall our times and conversations together, Ed. You were the best of us all.
Until we chat again,
Your friend,
Tim