It is with tremendous sorrow that we announce the sudden passing of Glenn Bryne MacNeil in Ottawa. Ontario.
Shortly after his birth, Glenn’s father left for war service in World War II and they did not reunite until war’s end in 1945, a sacrifice of service Glenn made to his country then and that he would repeat many times again throughout his life. Upon graduation from high school he served with the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals of the Canadian Army and saw service in Ottawa, West Germany and with the United Nations Emergency Force in the Middle East. Following his military service, he served with External Affairs in Saigon during the Viet Nam War and subsequently with DFAIT in Ottawa until his retirement from the Civil Service.
Although a bachelor, Glenn was very close to his siblings’ children and like an additional parent was instrumental in shaping their character. He was a very kind and spiritual man and could always be relied upon to assist family and friends; particularly in the most difficult of times. His generosity and commitment attested to his selflessness, humble lifestyle and shunning of blatant materialism. He picked up the best practices of cultures he encountered during his world travels and incorporated them into his own life to the benefit of himself and us all.
He is predeceased by his father Michael James MacNeil of Glace Bay NS, his mother Elizabeth (Bryne) of Catalina NL, his sisters Yvonne, Shirley MacInnis and Elizabeth Burke and his brother Earle. Left to mourn are his nieces Yvonne Beresford, Betty Harkins, Yvonne MacNeil and nephews James and Kevin MacInnnis, Manning and Allan Beresford, Donald, Glenn and Brian MacNeil as well as all his loving grand and great grand nieces and nephews and his very close friends Debby Taylor and Margaret Morris.
His passing has broken our hearts but we take strength from the fine example he set for us and all he taught us about leading a good and spiritual life.
There will not be a service for Glenn and his ashes will be interred alongside his sister Elizabeth in Sudbury, Ontario.
Dearest Glenn: The world has lost a precious soul with your passing. I will always cherish the fun times when Betty and I visited you in Ottawa. Rest in peace dear friend.