FRANEY, MICHAEL (MIKE) July 1, 1930, to July 21, 2021 After a short illness, Michael peacefully passed away on July 21, 2021, at Michael Garron Hospital. He was predeceased by his first wife, Phoebe (1971) and his second wife, Gabrielle (2020). Mike was born on July 1, 1930, to Denis Franey and Mary Thompson, in Rathnew, County Wicklow, Ireland. He was one of six children.
Always a proud Irishman. In his early teens, Mike left Ireland and his family to work in England as part of the postwar reconstruction. On November 24, 1953, he then left Liverpool, England, and travelled to Canada by ship. After arriving in St. John, New Brunswick, he made his way to Toronto to work in the heavy construction industry. It is here he met his wife, Alfreda (Phoebe) Boone. Their home on Browning was an open door to anyone looking to start a new life in Toronto; as well as the Hub for family and friends from Bell Island, Newfoundland Together they raised their four children until her untimely death in 1971, at the young age of 40.
After many years working in the heavy construction industry as a proud member of LiUNA Local 183, Mike retired at the age of 55 to start a new venture in the east end of Toronto. He and a fellow Irishman opened a working man’s bar on the Danforth called “The Pride of Erin”. It was here he met Gabrielle Healy from Cork City, Ireland, whom he married and spent many happy years enjoying the cottage at Curtis Point, Rice Lake. From the day he arrived in Toronto, Mike was a diehard Montreal Canadiens fan and took great pleasure watching them beat the Toronto Maple Leafs. He also enjoyed watching NFL Football and was a loyal Tom Brady fan even when he left New England. When asked, he would demonstrate Tom’s unique passing style in slow motion, with great delight. Left to miss him are his children and their spouses: Michael (JoAnne), Joan (Brian Everingham), Sean (Theresa), Dennis (Connie), his loving grandchildren, Brandon, Tyler, Patrick (Andrea Belshaw), Catherine (James Spencer), Michael, Valerie and Kyle. His step-grandchildren, Jeff (Emmy), Zach (Jenna) and great-grandson, Zach Jr Everingham, and all his many nieces and nephews in Ireland, Newfoundland, Ontario and Alberta.
Visitation will be held at the Heritage Funeral Centre, 50 Overlea Boulevard, Toronto, on Friday, July 23rd, from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. The funeral service will be held in the funeral home chapel on Saturday, July 24th, at 11:00 a.m. Interment to follow at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery.
The funeral will also be available to view through live stream. Due to the current COVID-19 protocols, the funeral home kindly asks that all guests register to attend the services. Please see www.heritagefuneralcentre.ca to register, to receive the live stream link, and to post condolences. If desired, donations may be made to St. Clare Inn, 1300 Leslie Street, Toronto, Ontario M3C 2K9. For further details, you may call the funeral home at 416-423-1000.