Condolence From Michelle O'Donoghue

Mon, 27 Mar 2017 07:20:26 EDT

It is with mixed feelings we write from Australia; We're profoundly sad not to be there with our beloved family at this challenging time...Uncle Billy & Toshie, Auntie Charlene and cousin Sean, Uncle Jeff, Lynne & Ron, Dougie & Pauline and many others who have played such significant roles in our memories of our time with our Grandfather and Father In Law, Charlie. Kelly, Dad (Lyall) and I each have unique memories of grandpa - known as "Jimmy" in our house ever since Kelly could not pronounce Grandpa as a youngster... As with many Whalen family memories...food & laughter feature highly in our "Jimmy's Greatest Hits" album...of course - there is also a sprinkle of christian hymns and humming, and the odd famous smell - Jimmy was truly a 5 senses kind of guy. Charlie and Winnie traveled to Australia to visit Willa and Lyall when Michelle was a few months old...one memory comes to mind from that trip: Lyall: "The girls (Willa and Winnie) wanted to go shopping in Woolongong (there was a KFC there) so Dad and I settled in to watch some TV. The Aussie Tony Mundine was to box a Cuban by the name of Rodreguiz or something like that. I'd told Dad that this Mundine was apparently a red-hot favourite. If he was to win the bout, he'd get a shot at the world title. So we watched it (in black and white of course). At the 40 second mark of the opening round, Mundine "hit his opponents fist with his jaw", collapsed and was counted out! Dad turned to me and said "This guy's pretty good huh?" He did a great line in irony. He was a lovely bloke and I'm sorry to see him go...........Lyall" Kelly recalls fondly the one and only time she ever went fishing was with Jimmy - he bundled her up in warm clothes, trudged down to the lake, fiddled around with the boat, dealt with all the messy bait and stuff....and pretty much as soon as they were ready to just sit and fish...Kelly needed to go to the bathroom and wanted to go home - poor Jimmy - we all know he went fishing to get away from everyone... Michelle: "Grandpa always seemed to be balancing his chequebook, filling in envelopes for the church, fixing a hotdog and yelling at Fox TV. I remember fondly the summer of 1980 - literally watching jimmy, Billy and Jeff build the gorgeous log cabin in Liberty - there seemed to be nothing he couldn't do (except stay awake beyond 5:30pm!) We will miss our American family patriach...he embraced the brash Aussie Willa chose to marry and made us all feel every bit a part of the family despite our distance, strange accents and terrible time zone. Rest Easy Jimmy....with Love Michelle and tribe, Kelly and Tribe and Lyall.

Condolence From Darcy Bacosa

Wed, 22 Mar 2017 16:07:24 EDT

With deepest condolences to the Whalen family, you are in our thoughts and prayers. Darcy Bacosa Dept of Veterans Affairs

Photo shared: Obit Pic 1 Whalen Charles.jpg

Mon, 20 Mar 2017 05:14:12 EDT

Book of Memories for Charles W. Whalen Sr.

Condolence From Michelle O'Donoghue

Condolence From Darcy Bacosa

Photo shared: Obit Pic 1 Whalen Charles.jpg