It is with heavy hearts that we share the peaceful passing of Milton at home on August 16th, 2023. Milton enjoyed a life of good health for most of his 96 years and will be forever loved and missed by his devoted wife, Joyce (Plumley) and four children Barry (Irene), Barbara Rosenstein (Gerald), Valerie, and Timothy, and greatly missed by grandchildren Gwendolyn, Sandra, Aaron, Connor, and Elliott, and sister Lynn McKenna. Milton was predeceased by his parents Vincent and Lillian (Ford), and sisters Claire Gerbac and Maureen Kelly.

Milton was born on July 25, 1927, in Montreal where his childhood world revolved around home, school, church, and his adventures as a Boy Scout and Air Cadet. At the age 15, that sense of adventure and his Catholic faith called him to the New Jersey-based order of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart (BSH) where he would spend the next 12 years in a life of devotion and community as Brother Clarence. A graduate of Fordham University, he was a gifted and devoted teacher and taught in BSH middle schools in New Jersey, New York, and Louisiana.

At 27, Milton's heart called him home to Canada in search of a new life. He met Joyce while working as Choir Director at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Montreal where they would later marry in 1957. For the next 66 years, Milton and Joyce would share a life of love and partnership, and together build the beautiful family that was his constant source of pride, joy, and love. He revelled in his role as father to his young children, and later grandfather to his five grandchildren. A favourite playmate to them all, he was legendary for the original songs, stories, and games that will live forever in our hearts.

Milton's lifelong career in Human Resources (HR) began at Northern Electric (Northern Telecom, Nortel) in Montreal, and would eventually take his family to Belleville and then Toronto where he contributed as a highly-respected HR executive for Brascan, Citadel Insurance, and Manulife Canada. Retirement allowed Milton more time for faith-based pursuits, and he and Joyce were both active volunteers in St. Andrew's Catholic Church in Oakville. Milton was also committed to his work with the Knights of Columbus where he was celebrated as a Fourth Degree Knight.

Milton and Joyce shared a love of adventure and curiosity about the world and would spend more than two decades together exploring destinations on every continent where their travels took them on icebreakers in Antarctica, safaris in Africa, and months-long adventures in places as far-reaching as the Middle East, China, and Australia. At age 80, a very fit Milton climbed to the top of Machu Pichu. Their epic adventures will be forever memorialized in the countless photo albums Milton meticulously curated.

Milton was a loyal and faithful friend and was saddened in recent years by the passing of so many of his beloved peers. An avid reader and consumer of world news, Milton was the family Trivial Pursuit champion. A natural handyman, he was always painting, mowing, or tinkering with something. His lifelong love of family pets included his beloved dog Darby who passed away just last year.

It was only in his final few years that Milton's body began to slow, though his mind remained sharp to the end. Knowing his time was near, he often expressed his love for his Sweet Jo and all his family, and we believe his heart and soul were at peace when he passed quietly into his promised eternal life with our Lord.

The family wishes to extend heartfelt gratitude to the caring and professional team at Acclaim Health for supporting Milton to face his final months with dignity and at home in the loving embrace of his family.

Visitation will take place at Kopriva Taylor Community Funeral Home at 64 Lakeshore Road West in Oakville on Tuesday, August 22nd from 2 to 4 pm, and 7 to 9 pm. A funeral mass will be held at St. Andrew's Catholic Church at 47 Reynolds Street in Oakville on Wednesday, August 23rd at 10:30 am, followed by a reception in the Parish Hall. A private family interment will follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Milton's memory to the Oakville & Milton Humane Society would be appreciated.

To view the livestream click the link: Funeral Mass of the late Milton Duffey