Obituary of George Denys

Peacefully, at Chatham-Kent Hospice on Saturday, June 15, 2024, George (Joris) Alois Denys passed away at the age of 87.  Beloved husband of 60 years of Julia (Ouellette) Denys.  Born March 25, 1937 in Belgium, son of the late Maria (Verduyn) and Oscar Denys, and stepson of the late Rachel (Verduyn) Denys. 

Loving father of Stephen (Anne) Denys, Janet (Paul) Ainslie, and David Denys. Loving grandfather of Anna, Craig (Emma), and Maggie Denys, as well as James, Kathleen, and Thomas Ainslie.  George was the second eldest of 12 children that included: Leona (late William) Strybosch, Laurent, Father Jozef Denys, Annie (late Antoon) Aarts, Rudi (late Margaret), Sabena (Paul), Johan (Sanda), Gabriel (Nel), Theresa, and Regina. Pre-deceased by his brother Wilfred (Aline). Also survived by Julia’s family including sisters Mary Frances (late Lawrence) Kehoe and Elizabeth (late Jerome) Kohel and brother Tony (Shirley) Ouellette. Pre-deceased by sisters Rosemary (Patrick) Zimmer, Jeanne (Jack) Harding, Winnifred (Peter) Gillier, and Amelia. He will also be sadly missed by many nieces and nephews, and friends in the community he met and shared time with throughout his life. 

Words alone cannot express how much he was loved and will be missed. George always put his family first. He was a friend, mentor and sounding board for his children and grandchildren throughout their lives. He was a lifelong farmer at first in Parkhill and then in the former Raleigh and Chatham Townships and was a skilled craftsman and fabricator either working with steel or wood. He was a man of integrity and empathy. He was self-educated and well respected by his peers for his involvement, level of preparedness and common sense for the issues at hand on Boards in the vegetable and grain industries and during his years as a Township Councilor, Deputy Reeve, and last Reeve of the former Raleigh Township. For his efforts in forming some of the first crop insurance programs, grower education events and other initiatives he was inducted into the Kent Agriculture Hall of Fame. 

Friends and relatives are invited to visit Hinnegan-Peseski Funeral Home, 156 William St. S. Chatham (519-352-5120) on Thursday, June 20, 2024, from 2-4 PM and 6-8 PM.  A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, June 21, 2024 at 10 AM in St. Joseph’s Church. 

Burial will be in St. Anthony’s Cemetery.

Donations to Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre (formerly London Health Sciences-Victoria Campus Oncology Unit), Chatham-Kent Health Alliance Oncology Unit or the Chatham-Kent Hospice Foundation would be appreciated.

The family would like to extend heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Phua, family physician Dr. Chawla and all medical professionals between London and Chatham who shared their wisdom, skills and kindness with George through his journey with cancer. A special thank you as well to Mary Beth Cadotte and to all the home care team at VON for their loving, supportive care. Finally we are appreciative of the care and empathy shown at the Chatham-Kent Hospice in his final hours. Thank you.