Funeral Program for the Hon. David Onley
January 26, 2023
Office of the Premier
State Funeral for the Honourable
David Charles Onley C.M. O.Ont
June 12, 1950 – January 14, 2023
Photo
Monday, January 30, 11 a.m.
Yorkminster Park Baptist Church
1585 Yonge St.
Toronto, Ontario
Presiding Clergy
Rev. Dr. J. Peter Holmes, Minister of the Congregation
Rev. Paula Willis, Minister of Pastoral Care and Discipleship
Rev John R. Torrance, Minister of Pastoral Care, Emeritus
Musicians
William C. Maddox, Organist and Director of Music
Sharon L. Beckstead, Associate Musician
The Choir of Yorkminster Park Baptist Church
Honorary Pallbearers
Jonathan Onley
Robert Onley
Michael Onley
Richard Onley
Gordon Onley
Elaine Mason
Elizabeth Wiseman
Jim Wiseman
Order of Worship* indicates places in the service where you are invited to rise as you are able.
A bell will toll for fifteen minutes prior to the service
Preludes – Adagio Frank Bridge
Played by Sharon L. Beckstead
Nimrod (Enigma Variations) Edward Elgar, arr. W.H. Harris
Largo (Xerxes) George Frederick Handel, arr. D. Wolff
Land Acknowledgement & Welcome The Rev. Dr. J. Peter Holmes
*Processional Hymn – Praise, my soul, the King of Heaven (Praise, my soul)
Praise, my soul, the King of heaven,to his feet thy tribute bring; ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven, who like me his praise should sing? Alleluia, alleluia, praise the everlasting King. Praise him for his grace and favour to our fathers in distress; praise him still the same for ever, slow to chide, and swift to bless: Alleluia, alleluia, glorious in his faithfulness.
Father-like, he tends and spares us, well our feeble frame he knows; in his hands he gently bears us, rescues us from all our foes: Alleluia, alleluia, widely as his mercy flows. Frail as summer’s flower we flourish; blows the wind and it is gone; but, while mortals rise and perish, God endures unchanging on: Alleluia, alleluia, praise the high eternal One. Angels, help us to adore him; ye behold him face to face; sun and moon, bow down before him, dwellers all in time and space: Alleluia, alleluia, praise with us the God of grace.
*National Anthem O Canada
O Canada! Our home and native land! True patriot love in all of us command. With glowing hearts we see thee rise, The True North strong and free! From far and wide, O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. God keep our land glorious and free! O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
*Opening Sentences The Rev. Paula Willis
Introit – Sanctus Franz Schubert
Holy, Holy, Holy, God almighty Lord, Holy, Holy, Holy, everywhere adored. He without beginning, He th’eternal One reigns and rules for ever, all things ‘neath the sun. Power and love and wonder circling round His throne, praise Him, Holy, Holy, Lord of life alone.
Invocation The Rev. Paula Willis
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever and ever.
Tributes
The Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell
Lieutenant Governor of Ontario
The Honourable Doug Ford
Premier of Ontario
Family Tributes
Jonathan Onley
Robert Onley
Michael Onley
Scripture
Psalm 23 Unison
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Isaiah 40: 3-5, 28-31
Maayan Ziv
A voice cries out:
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord;
make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain. Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
and all flesh shall see it together,
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint
and strengthens the powerless. Even youths will faint and be weary,
and the young will fall exhausted, but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.
John 14:1-3, 18-19, 27
Anthony Hylton
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.
“I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the
world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Solo – I know that my Redeemer liveth (Messiah) George Frederick Handel
Jessica Willingham, soprano
Prayer of Thanksgiving
The Rev. John R. Torrance
Anthem – Give us the wings of faith Ernest Bullock
Give us the wings of faith to rise within the veil, and see the Saints above, how great their joys, how bright their glories be. We asked them whence their victory came; they, with one united breath ascribe the conquest to the Lamb, their triumph to His death. They mark’d the footsteps that He trod, His zeal inspired their breast; and following their incarnate God, they reached the promised rest.
Homily
The Rev. Dr. J. Peter Holmes
Solo – No More Night Walt Harrah
Ruth Ann Onley (pre-recorded)
Piper – Highland Cathedral
Pipe Major (Sgt) A.D. Brown
48th Highlanders of Canada
The insignia bearer comes forward and presents the medals to the family.
The military pallbearers present the flag to Mrs. Onley
*The Last Post
*Silence
*Reveille
Sergeant Major (WO) V. L. Wickett, CD
Governor General’s Horse Guards
*Royal Anthem – God save the King
God save our gracious King, long live our noble King, God save the King. Send him victorious, happy and glorious, long to reign over us: God save the King.
*Benediction
The Rev. Dr. J. Peter Holmes
*Recessional Hymn – Mine eyes have seen the glory (Battle Hymn)
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord
He is trampling down the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning from his terrible swift sword:
His Truth is marching on.
Glory, glory, Hallelujah! Glory, glory, Hallelujah!
Glory, glory, Hallelujah! His Truth is marching on.
He hath sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat,
He is sifting out the hearts of men before his Judgement seat;
O be swift, my soul, to answer him; be jubilant, my feet;
Our God is marching on!
Glory, glory, Hallelujah! Glory, glory, Hallelujah!
Glory, glory, Hallelujah! His Truth is marching on.
In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
with a glory in his bosom that transfigures you and me;
as He died to make men holy, let us live to make men free;
while God is marching on!
Glory, glory, Hallelujah! Glory, glory, Hallelujah!
Glory, glory, Hallelujah! His Truth is marching on.
He is coming in the glory of the morning on the wave;
He is wisdom to the mighty, he is succour to the brave;
so the world shall be his footstool, and the soul of time his slave;
Our God is marching on!
Glory, glory, Hallelujah! Glory, glory, Hallelujah!
Glory, glory, Hallelujah! His Truth is marching on.
Postlude – Toccata in F (Symphony V) Charles-Marie Widor
The Memorial Bells will peal for ten minutes following the Postlude
A private service of Interment will take place at
Mt. Pleasant Cemetery immediately following the service.
Indigenous Land Acknowledgment
In the prayerful hope of true reconciliation and healing, we acknowledge the land we are meeting on has been the site of human activity for over 15,000 years. This land is the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island and we are grateful to live, work, and worship on this land.
David Charles Onley C.M. O.Ont. (1950-2023)
It is with profound sadness, but with rejoicing hope, that the family of David Charles Onley, C.M., O.Ont, announce his sudden passing at Sunnybrook Hospital on Saturday, January 14, 2023, at the age of 72.
After a brief illness, David passed peacefully surrounded by his wife Ruth Ann and three sons, and entered his Eternal Home to meet his Lord and Saviour.
David is survived by his loving wife, Ruth Ann, and will be remembered by their three sons, Jonathan (Andrea), Robert (Natasha), and Michael (Stephanie), and their grandchildren – Isabelle, Isaac, Charles, Harrison, Claire and Maxwell, and by his siblings, Elaine (Allan), Richard (Sallie), Elizabeth (Jim) and Gordon (Tracy). David is predeceased by his dear granddaughter Sarah, and parents Gwen and Charles.
Born in Midland, Ontario, David contracted polio at the age of 3, resulting in partial paralysis of his limbs, and years of childhood surgeries. David’s family moved to Scarborough in order to find the necessary expert medical care required to treat his battle with polio.
Using leg braces and a cane, David studied political science at the University of Toronto Scarborough (B.A., 1975), choosing the campus because it was accessible. At UTSC, he served as student council president and started the first campus radio station.
David met his future wife Ruth Ann at Yorkminster Park Baptist Church in Toronto, marrying in 1982. Throughout his life, David met each obstacle and barrier with courage and determination. Ruth Ann was by his side at every step, supporting, encouraging, and bearing his weight when he could no longer. Whether attending his boys’ hockey and baseball games, traveling, or going to the CNE, the life he and Ruth Ann built together for their family was a testament to their faith in God and love for one another in spite of all challenges.
David’s career began with many closed doors, as businesses were wary of hiring someone with a physical disability. Never one to give up, he forged his own path with the writing of his book, Shuttle: A Shattering Novel of Disaster in Space, in 1981, launching David into a 25 year career in radio and television.
In 2007, David was appointed as the 28th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, serving as the Queen’s representative until 2014, and was the first with a visible disability. He established accessibility as the overarching theme of his mandate, which he defined as “that which enables people to achieve their full potential.” In 2019, he led the Ontario government’s review of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disability Act (AODA), making strong recommendations towards an accessible Ontario.
In 2014, David joined the University of Toronto Scarborough as a Senior Lecturer, teaching the history of the Vice Regal Office and the politics of disability. He found much joy in seeing the inclusivity and social consciousness of the young adults he taught, and continued teaching and advocating until his death.
An avid lover of technology and with an endlessly curious mind, David was thrilled with the introduction of the smartphone. He was always quick to look up a new fact, share an article, and delve into a topic he found interesting, especially if it related to his beloved Toronto Maple Leafs or the Avro Arrow. Where his body had limitations, his mind soared, further reflected in the motto on his official coat of arms, Per Ardua Ad Alta, which translates, “Through Adversity to the Heights”.
David’s quick wit, dry sense of humour, and deep faith in God will be missed by his family and friends. In his last hours, he held fast to his faith, joyfully cried out Amen, and knew he was going home to be with Jesus.
David’s memorial page can be found at http://morleybedford.ca/ where condolences can be made and live stream details found.
Donations in David’s honour can be made online at:
engage.utoronto.ca/DavidOnley and https://www.armsofjesus.org/
Psalm 32:8 “The LORD says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.”