Neil O'BRIEN

O'BRIEN, Neil, On June 25, 2005 following a brief illness, Neil O'Brien, husband to Anna (Nan) for 53 years, passed away peacefully in his 78th year. Survived by five sons and one daughter. Terry (Vancouver), Michael (Aurora), Gerald (Nashville), Ma ureen (Toronto), Wayne & Chris (Los Angeles). Brother to Norma Kretz. Grandfather to Corinne, Makayla, Murphy, Jamin, Jessica, Aislin, Adrienne, and Kevin. Great-grandfather to Brodie and Taylor. Father-in-law to Chris Sherwood. Predeceased by his pa rents, Fred and Corinne and brother John. Neil was an employee of General Motors for 37 years. Neil was an internationally known budgerigar fancier for over 50 years. Past President of the National Budgerigar Society of Canada and founder and preside nt of the St. Catharines Budgerigar Society for more than 20 years. Neil was also a very accomplished fiddler and a founding member of the Niagara Old Tyme Fiddlers' Association. He released several recordings and played throughout Canada Scotland an d Ireland and on radio & television. The O'Brien family would like to thank the staffs of the Hamilton General/McMaster Unit, the St. Catharines General and the Hotel Dieu Hospitals. Donations can be made in Neil's memory to Sick Kids Foundation/Onco logy and the Heart & Stroke Association. A memorial gathering is scheduled for Thursday, June 30 at 12;00 noon followed by an Irish Wake at 1:00 to be held at the C.A.W. Hall at 124 Bunting Road in St. Catharines. - 6/28/2005 - ID6523887