Obituary of Joseph McGovern

MCGOVERN, Joseph Leonard, the eldest son of the late William and Katherine (MacInnis) McGovern and the last surviving member of his immediate family. Joe was born on July 1, 1922 in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada. He moved to Saint John, New Brunswick, in 1935 where he lived until 1951 when he moved to New Milford, CT, to play ice hockey. He moved to Pasadena, CA, in 1953 and began his career at Southern California Gas Company. In 1957, Joe started a minor hockey program that continues to this day. Joe retired in 1984 and in 1989 moved to Zephyrhills, FL. It was here that he continued to enjoy another of his many passions, tennis. He made many friends through his involvement in the tennis association as well as in the community. He had a real talent for seeing a need and quietly filling in his special, humble way. Following a stroke in early 2009, he had resided at Zephyr Haven Health and Rehab. Besides his parents, Joe was predeceased by his sister, Mary (Armand) Oullette, William (Murtle), Malcolm (Doreen), Bernard (Vera) and nephews, Wayne and Patrick McGovern and Brian Oullette. Joe is survived by many cousins, nieces and nephews as well as special friends, Emma Loughran and Cork Friery. A Memorial mass was held at St. Joseph Catholic Church, in Zephyrhills, Florida. Resting at Castle Funeral Home “Fallsview Chapel”, 309 Lancaster Avenue, Saint John West (634-1701) visitation will be held on Wednesday, August 08, 2012 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Thursday, August 09, 2012 at 12:00 p.m. from St. Rose of Lima Church. Interment to follow at Holy Cross Cemetery. There will be a reception at the Fallsview Family Reception Center, following the interment. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Bobby’s Hospice, Dufferin Row. Online condolences may be made at www.castlefh.com.