William Roderick "Rod" DONLEVY

William Roderick (Rod) Donlevy Q.C.
March 3, 1949 – December 25, 2014
It is with great sadness that the Donlevy family announces the passing of our husband, father and brother Rod. After a heroic battle with cancer, Rod was taken to the Lord on Christmas Day. He passed surrounded by his family and friends.
Leaving to mourn Rod is his wife Lorna Donlevy, his children Jamie, Kelly, Andrew (Jen) and Brett, grandchildren Amelia, Riley, Isabel, Heidi, Eithen, Charlotte, Kade, step children Carrie Roblin, Mark Roblin (Vanessa), Blair Roblin, Kim Roblin, his brothers Urban (Patti), Kent, Joe and sister Mary (Doug Konkin) and many nieces, nephews, cousins, uncles and aunts in the extended Donlevy family across Canada and the United States.
Rod was predeceased by his parents Urban and Helen Donlevy, brother Father Paul Donlevy and his sister-in-law Claire Donlevy.
Rod's life was shaped by his profession, his family, his talent and his faith. All of which provided the palette for him to perform his life long calling of service to others.
Rod was born in Saskatoon on March 3, 1949 and attended St. Paul's high school and Holy Cross High school. He entered Law School in 1969 graduating with a Bachelor of Law in 1972.
Rod was called to the Bar in 1974 and was appointed Queen's Counsel in 2007. He began his practice as a partner in the Henderson, Donlevy & Campbell Law firm and established Donlevy and Company in 1985. His firm was merged with McKercher LLP in 2006 and Rod remained a partner at McKercher until he died.
In his 40 years in practice Rod provided service to his clients on commercial and personal matters with reach to the national stage as he represented the Grey Nuns and over 50 Catholic organizations for the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement. He was a respected barrister and solicitor all of his professional life and was always available to his clients big or small. He was passionate in his service whether the matter was the purchase of a company or the purchase of a home. Rod's relationship with his clients was much deeper than simply "the lawyer" and many life long friendships came from this facet of his life.
An active and valued participant in many non-profit organizations, Rod served as Vice Chair of the Catholic Health Ministry of Saskatchewan and Chair and Director of St. Paul's (Grey Nuns) Hospital. He was a national director of the Canadian Trotting Association and Vice President of the Canadian Special Olympic Games in Saskatoon.
Rod shaped his life around his children and family and was always there to organize an event, pick up a child, provide advice, make you laugh or comfort you when you needed a shoulder to cry on. How he found time for this remains a mystery to us all but he drew on a wellspring of energy and caring that simply had no end. First with his hand up in everything Rod was there with unfailing good nature, patience, creativity and humor and an enormous drive.
Any description of Rod must include his love of music and how he shared his talents with others. Rod was a choirmaster and leader of sacred music in whatever parish he attended. He led choirs at St. Joseph's, St. Francis as well as St. Paul's Cathedral. He was very generous with his talent and was a regular pro bono performer at funeral homes in Saskatoon where he sang at over 400 funerals over the years. Many events were blessed by the presence of Rod's wife Lorna, a gifted professional musician. These performances became much more than the sum of its parts as, together, Rod and Lorna created music that truly moved the soul.
Rod's faith was strong. Through life's adversity and to the end he remained steadfast in confidence and hope in the Lord and whether it was serving with Catholic organizations in health care, managing sacred music, leading fund raising drives or helping clients with complicated family or estate matters, Rod was perfectly comfortable with how Christ walked with him and knew in his soul that our Lord would provide.
In many ways Rod was bigger than life – always involved, always committed, always making a difference.
He walks with the Lord.
The family wishes to thank the very special people that helped Rod in his journey and at his passing. - Dr. Ahmed and the caregivers at the Saskatoon Cancer Clinic. Dr. Moser and Dr. Ed Nykiforuk. We also wish to thank Rod's and our special friend Sonja Kortje who was of such comfort to Rod in his last days as well as Shaun Turner who supported Rod professionally for almost a decade.
Prayers for Rod will be held on Monday December 29 at 7:00pm at St. Paul's Co Cathedral, 720 Spadina Cres. Saskatoon. The funeral liturgy will be celebrated on Tuesday December 30 at 10:00 AM at St. Anne's Catholic Church, 217 Lenore Dr. Saskatoon. In lieu of flowers the family would appreciate donations to St. Paul's Hospital Foundation, 1702 - 20th Street West, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7M 0Z9. Condolences may be emailed to mail@saskatoonfuneralhome.com Arrangements are entrusted to Lyle Burkell at SASKATOON FUNERAL HOME (306) 244-5577.