Charles Jeremiah (C.J.) O’Reilly, late of Chilliwack, B.C. passed away April 22, 2005 at the age of 86 years. He was born April 13, 1919 in Sudbury, Ontario.
Service of Remembrance will be held at the Chapel of Henderson’s Funeral Home on Friday, April 29, 2005 at 1:00 p.m. Rev. Doug Ireland officiating. Cremation, Valley Crematorium, Chilliwack.
Charlie is survived by his loving wife of 61 years Bette; 2 sons Michael (Twyla) of Burnaby, B.C. and David (Susan) and grandson Jake of Grande Cache, Alberta; 3 sisters June Fletcher of Copper Cliff, Ontario; Beverly Grenon of Sudbury, Ontario; Marion Wheelton of Whitehorse, Yukon and many nieces, nephews and relatives.
Charlie grew up in Northern Ontario where he was well known as an exceptional athlete, particularly as a Junior A hockey player.
He served as an officer on a minesweeper in the Royal Canadian Navy during WWII, participating in the D-Day Invasion as well as seeing action in the North Atlantic.
Charlie went on to a long and distinguished career as a Construction Superintendent, working on many mega-projects across Canada, including the Syncrude Tar Sands Plant at Fort McMurray, Alberta.
Should family and friends so desire, donations in his memory may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of B.C.