Obituary of Fr. Charles John Goakery

The Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, the Redemptorists in Canada, regret to announce the passing of their brother, Father Charles J. “Bud” Goakery, C.Ss.R., on August 19, 2020, at Victoria Hospital in London ON. “Father Charlie,” the eldest son of Charles and Genevieve Goakery, was born in Saint John NB on June 11, 1931. He is predeceased by his late parents and two younger brothers, Robert and Bernard, and survived by his younger sister, Suzanne (“Suzy") Verreau of Edmonton, his late brothers’ children, several cousins and a host of good friends and loving parishioners across Canada. Father Charlie’s path to priesthood was not a typical one. At fifty, he was still at home caring for his aging parents and working as a bricklayer and stone mason. Only in 1982, after his father’s death, did he begin his Theological Studies. In 1984 he formally entered the Redemptorists and, on September 17, 1988, he was ordained a priest at St. Peter’s Church in Saint John NB. In the following years, he served in St. Teresa's Parish (St. John's NL), St. Peter's Parish (Saint John NB), St. Lawrence's Parish (St Lawrence NL) and several other outport parishes throughout Newfoundland. When he retired from active ministry, he moved to London ON to work and live at St. Patrick’s Parish with fellow Redemptorist, Father David Furlonger. As his medical and physical needs became more burdensome, he moved to Queens Village where he lived happily until his admission to Victoria Hospital where he died on August 19. As a result of the present pandemic, there will be no visitation, but a funeral mass will be celebrated for Father Charlie at St. Patrick’s Church in London on Monday, August 31 at 11:00 a.m. His remains will then be taken to Toronto for a service with his brother Redemptorists and, from there, to Alberta for a final service and burial in the Redemptorist plot in Edmonton. Father Charlie was highly-principled, intelligent and hardworking: an accomplished musician, talented artist and gifted preacher sought out by the laity and priests for his down-to-earth advice and gentle wisdom. His jokes, stories and impish grin will be remembered and missed by all who knew him. May God grant him eternal rest. Due to COVID-19 restrictions as per the Bereavement Authority of Ontario, the number of people allowed at services is limited. Those wishing to attend the August 31 Mass in London must email donohue@donohuefuneralhome.ca to register for admission to the church.