Michael "Mike" Sloan

SLOAN - Mike

Mike Sloan, 50, of London, Ontario, has passed away from complications of anaplastic thyroid cancer. Mike would joke that he declined treatment and fought no "courageous battle" with cancer. He leaves behind many friends, especially his cat Chub, but countless others through social media. Special thanks to Cheryl Miller, the Smith family, Mariam Hamou, Craig Needles, Don & Florence Brady, and Travis Dolynny of London.

Extra special thanks to Theresa Henry of Lindsay, Dan Moore of Peterborough and Al Jackson of Lakefield for their decades of friendship.

Mike insisted that his death not be viewed as sad, but as a natural progression of life itself. Friends and acquaintances are invited to attend a funeral at O'Neil Funeral Home in London on Thursday, January 23rd at 1 p.m. with visitation from 11 a.m. until time of the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations to Mike's legacy fund at Youth Opportunities Unlimited are greatly appreciated.https://www.gofundme.com/f/mike-sloan039s-legacy-building-340-project .

Online condolences and guest book at www.oneilfuneralhome.ca

The above notice is copied exactly as written by Mike himself (with an empty space left for time and dates to be filled in) and shared with his thousands of followers on his Twitter page. We (at O'Neil Funeral Home) are adding the following:

We were also blessed to have known Mike and to have, at the end, hugged his beloved Chub with his message of love (as his last words/request was "tell Chub I love him"). Until he realized what a large following of caring friends he had, he wanted no funeral services, "no fuss made"; he changed his mind during his last weeks with us and consented to a "small service for whoever might want to come".

Mike's "small service" will take place in our chapel at 1:00 p.m. and will be officiated by Roger Caranci. Friends will have the opportunity to say a few words or leave a few written words or signatures on Mike's casket before we leave for Woodland Cemetery. Come Spring, Mike's cremated remains will be scattered around "his Rock" in Lakefield Cemetery - the same rock he'd already had put in place and with his date of death carved into it: "2019". His friends and followers will remember him joking about that date. He stayed with us a bit longer, no doubt due in large part to the incredible outpouring of love that filled his daily Twitter feed. From his self-described humble beginnings and difficult, often lonely years - he left a large footprint on this earth.