John A. Graham

With great sadness, the family announces the passing of John A. Graham on September 30, 2026, at the Ruddy-Shenkman Hospice in Kanata, Ontario. John was 82 years young.

Born on September 9, 1944, John was raised in Lakefield, Ontario by loving parents, George and Leona. His very first job was wrapping butter with his sisters, Ruth and Barbara on the family’s dairy farm. He attended Lakefield District High School before continuing his education first at Ryerson Polytechnical Institute and then finally at Carleton University, where he earned his chemistry degree.  It was while he was attending Ryerson that John met his first wife, Kathleen Cleary.

In September 1967, John began his career in the federal government with the Canadian Centre for Mineral and Energy Technology (CANMET) laboratories on Booth Street, where he worked for more than 35 years, until his retirement in 2003. John had many great memories of his years there and particularly enjoyed retelling the story of the 1996 CANMET laboratory explosion.

John and Kathleen married in June 1968 and settled in Ottawa where they raised their two children, Christopher and Jennifer. As a devoted father, John spent many summers at the Graham family cottage teaching his children to swim, fish, and appreciate the outdoors. John’s children have fond memories of camping and canoeing in the Algonquins, hiking and cross-country skiing in the Gatineau’s. Through these shared experiences, John passed along not only his knowledge and interests, but also his curiosity, confidence, and sense of adventure.

In 1984, while sailing at the RA Sailing Club and mingling at Brunch Bunch gatherings, John met his second wife, Suzanne Schnob.   John and Suzanne married in March 1988 with his children and their close friends, Patricia and Pierre Desbiens, by their sides.

John and Suzanne were warmly welcomed into Suzanne’s family by her late parents, André Schnob and Hélène Brazeau, and by her siblings, Normand Schnob (Lina); Denis Schnob; and Louise Schnob.  They built a new life together filled with family, friendships, adventure, and treasured memories.

Besides their Pleasant Park home, John and Suzanne’s favourite place was at their cottage on Big Cedar Lake. It was a special gathering place where they spent much of their summers surrounded by family and longtime friends.

Another of John and Suzanne’s shared passion was travel. Together, they enjoyed many memorable journeys by land, train and sea.  Following Suzanne’s passing in 2022, John continued to travel, cruising to Alaska, the Caribbean, Panama, and along the Atlantic.

Throughout his life, John was an enthusiastic gardener, carpenter, sailor, curler, and golfer. Whether in his garden, in his workshop, on the water, at the curling rink, or on the golf course, he valued the simple pleasures these activities brought him.

John’s friendships were an enduring source of happiness throughout his life. Through his marriage to Kathleen, John developed lifelong friendships with her siblings Margaret (Gerry McNabb), Pauline (the late Randolph “the Doo” Derry), Mike (Carole), Peter (Joan), and as well with close family friends Gordon and Susan Bihun. These friendships, along with many others through his marriage to Suzanne, remained an important and cherished part of his life.  Gerry, Gord and Pierre will fondly remember their “Boys ROMEO Lunches” (Retired Old Men Eating Out) and their “Boys Literary Weekend” trips up to their cottages. From Big Cedar, Bob and Pam Holodinsky, will miss having cocktails on their dock or the early morning coffee cruises.  These outings became treasured traditions that reflected the laughter, camaraderie, and lifelong bonds John shared with his closest friends.

Above all, John was a beloved and deeply involved father and grandfather. He was always mentoring, fixing things, and lending a hand. John expressed his love through his actions and through his generous support of the people he cared about.

He took immense pride in his grandsons, Tyler and Alexander, and attended many of their school and sporting events over the years.  He enjoyed spending time with them on the golf course, and especially up at Big Cedar Lake. For John, providing these opportunities to his grandsons was another way of sharing his interests, encouraging them in their pursuits, and showing how deeply he loved them.

Tyler and Alex are eternally grateful for the love and generosity their “Grandpa and Grandmère” showed them, which continued on by John right up until his death.  Their continued support led the boys to discover and enjoy experiences that have become an important part of their lives. John had said that having the boys around him enriched his life, especially after losing Suzanne.

John will be lovingly remembered and sorely missed by his son, Christopher Graham (Christina), and Christina’s daughter, Charlotte; by his daughter, Jennifer Wawak (Brandon); and by his grandsons, Tyler and Alexander Wawak.

He will be fondly remembered by his nieces and nephews: Dan Stock (Joanne); Brian Stock (Judy); Susan Stock; Cyndy Manol (Steve); John Turney (Wendy); Bill Turney (Nicole); and Greg Turney (Jennifer). John will also be remembered with affection by Kathleen’s extended family on their mother’s side.

John will be deeply missed by his extended family and that of Suzanne and Kathleen, by longtime friends, neighbours both at home and at the cottage, golf and curling companions, former colleagues, travelling companions, and the many others whose lives he touched.

John was predeceased by his beloved wife, Suzanne Schnob; and Kathleen Juby (née Cleary), the mother of his children; his parents, George and Leona (née Kingdon) Graham; along with his sisters, Ruth Stock and Barbara Bell; and brothers-in-law, Gerry Stock, and Barbara’s husbands, Arnold Turney and Lloyd Bell.

John leaves behind a lifetime of lessons taught, opportunities given, journeys taken, friendships nurtured, and memories shared. His devotion to his family, his generosity, his sense of adventure, and his steady presence will be remembered with gratitude and love by all who knew him.

The family extends its sincere gratitude to the staff and volunteers of the Ruddy-Shenkman Hospice for the kindness, dignity, and compassionate care they provided to John during his final days.

Celebration of Life

A celebration of John’s life will be held outside on Saturday, October 17, 2026, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the family residence. Family and friends are invited to gather, share memories, and celebrate a life well lived.

Memorial Tributes

In lieu of flowers, donations in John’s memory may be made to Hospice Care Ottawa or the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada.

Alternatively, those who are eligible are encouraged to give blood through Canadian Blood Services in John’s honour.