Jack HAGGARTY

HAGGARTY, John (Jack) Powell
The family of Jack Haggarty is saddened by his passing. Jack, the beloved husband of the late Rita (Hourihan) Haggarty, father, grampa, and great-grampa, uncle and friend, passed away unexpectedly at his home in Edmonton, Alberta on Saturday, May 19, 2012. Jack was born in Calgary on February 15, 1934, the eldest of eight children. His parents Willard and Rita (Powell) moved the family to Cluny, Alberta, when Willard took on the role of buyer for the Alberta Wheat Pool. It was in Cluny that Jack learned the importance of building strong connections in a community where sharing stories, teaching, learning, and hard-work provided a strong foundation for a successful life. Jack often spoke proudly of his Irish heritage and the many friendships made with members of the diverse community and with families of the Blackfoot Nation. In Jack's last year of high school, and following a summer at Camp Borden, he came down with polio and spent six months in the Alberta Red Cross Children's Hospital in Calgary. He then worked with his family administering the Cluny Post Office, before heading to the University of Alberta in Calgary to pursue a BEd. (Industrial Education) degree. He later earned his Masters of Education from the University of Alberta in Edmonton. While attending university, he qualified as a commissioned officer with the Armoured Corps and later spent fourteen years as an officer with the South Alberta Light Horse and later the King's Own Calgary Regiment. Jack was hired by the Calgary Separate School Board in September 1958, and spent a career spanning 35 years as a teacher and Industrial Arts Consultant. He was very active with the Alberta Teachers' Association both at the local and provincial levels. Jack felt very privileged to serve as a teacher, mentor, and advocate for students, families, teachers and colleagues. He was an active member of the Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, and a life-long Liberal whose passion for politics, history, and current events animated conversations from the kitchen table to the board room. Jack married Rita on August 19, 1959 and lived in Calgary until their move to Edmonton in December 2010. The family home was a busy place guided by a strong Catholic faith; it was a home where Rita managed the household and provided the necessary support so Jack could provide for his family. Jack's family and most especially his grandchildren and great-grandchild brought much joy and pride to Grampa Jack. Jack's family is most grateful to the engaged circle of friends and extended family who spoke regularly with Jack on the telephone. Jack will be deeply missed by his five children, Bernie (Brenda Stebner), Helen Anne (Bruce Stewart), John Powell Jr., Marion (David France) and Rita Jacqueline (Chris Lewis); and his grandchildren, Stephanie, Stacey, Jeffrey, Chelsea, Katie, Julie, Rachel, Shauna and Kyla, and his great-grandson, Joey; his brothers, Father Bob Haggarty, OMI, Ken (Maxine) Haggarty, Raymond (Elaine) Haggarty, Lorne (Sharen) Haggarty, Terry (Maureen) Haggarty, and his only sister, Maureen Anderson; his sisters-in-law Marie Kubinec, Theresa (Semon) Faber, Myra Hourihan, Helen (Colin) MacIsaac, Joan (Dave) Ferraro and Hazel Haggarty. He will also be deeply missed by a large family network of nieces, nephews, cousins, grandnieces and grandnephews, as well as the many friends he acquired throughout his seventy-eight years of life. Jack was predeceased by his wife Rita, infant daughter, Mary, his parents (Willard and Rita Haggarty), his in-laws (Walter and Marion Hourihan), his brother Don, and brothers-in-law, Jim Anderson, Joe Kubinec, Walter Hourihan, a nephew, Gordon Haggarty and an infant niece, Katherine Anderson. A Prayer Service will be held on Friday, June 1, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. The celebration of his life will be held the next day, Saturday, June 2, 2012, with Mass at 11:00 a.m. Both Services will be held at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 10827 - 24 Street S.W., Calgary, Alberta. He will join his late wife Rita at their final "home" on the prairies - their resting place will be St. Anne's cemetery, Trochu, Alberta. The Graveside Service will be held at 4:30 p.m. on June 2. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Canadian Diabetes Association or a charity of your choice. In addition, the family encourages you to reach out and connect with someone by phone. Arrangements are in the care of KNEEHILL FUNERAL SERVICES LTD, Three Hills. Telephone: 1-403-443-5111. Expressions of sympathy can be forwarded to the family via kneehillfuneralservices@hotmail.com">kneehillfuneralservices@hotmail.com">kneehillfuneralservices@hotmail.com">kneehillfuneralservices@hotmail.com.