Father Ted Gillen
Photo
Ted's obituary
GILLEN, Henry Edward (Ted)
October 14, 1925 - Sept. 13, 2023
Henry Edward (Ted) Gillen was the ultimate gentleman. He was soft-spoken, and did not waste
words. Ted listened while others spoke. He was considerate, even when others were not. Ted
knew how to mend fences; how to calm waters others agitated. He knew what mattered.
Family came first for Ted, and he gave his everything he could.
Ted Gillen slipped away peacefully at Sunnybrook Veteran’s Centre on Sept. 13, 2023 — five
months and 24 days after his beloved wife Rita. It was the longest Ted had ever spent without
Rita, in their 73 year marriage.
The only son of Daniel and Frances Gillen (nee McMonagle), Ted was born at Portrush,
Northern Ireland on Oct. 14, 1925. He was only five when his father died, but Ted remained
proud of Daniel Gillen throughout his life. Before WW1, Dan Gillen had been Ireland’s leading
ventriloquist, performing under the stage name Dan Derry. It was well-known amongst the
Gillen clan that Sgt. Dan had taken his ventriloquist doll to the battlefields of France and raised
it from the trenches. The doll lost its head, but British machine-gunners were able to locate the
enemy sniper, and the doll was buried with military honours.
Ted was 10, when his mother moved him and his five sisters to England. Frances Gillen kept a
roof over their heads by taking in boarders. A favorite story of Ted’s involved him going into a
restaurant, as a child, with only enough pennies for a small plate of peas. Ted made himself a
bowl of soup with the table vinegar and peas. Needless to say, he never enjoyed vinegar again.
Ted finished school in England and worked as a car salesman before joining the Royal British
Air Force. He was training to become a pilot when WW11 thankfully ended. Looking for new
adventures, Ted emigrated to Canada in 1949, paying passage for his mother and sisters to
join him in Toronto, soon afterward. He met Rita Lilian Gillen at the 700 Club for British
newcomers. Rita was 23 and the most beautiful woman Ted had ever known. They married six
months later, on June 24th, 1950, and welcomed four healthy children over the next decade.
Post-war Canada was ripe for the picking and Ted was sharp and motivated. He obtained his
real estate license in 1953 and quickly excelled at flipping properties. Rita had also come from
humble beginnings, and Ted was determined to give her the lifestyle of her dreams. Ted
showered Rita with expensive jewelry, exquisite furs, clothes and elegant cars. He took her to
the opera, the symphony and fancy balls. Together, they became fabulous dancers, mastering
the Tango, the Fox Trot, the Charleston and many other steps. Ted bought himself a billiard
table — he was already an ace ping-pong player — and Rita went to the hairdresser twice a
week. Rita adored throwing parties, and Ted helped make them a success. Naturally quieter
and less social than his bride, Ted became the star of the Gillen parties. Ted had taught himself
to play the piano and accordion by ear, and his rousing ragtime performances persuaded even
the shyest guests to kick up their heels. Even at 90 years plus, no Gillen occasion was
compete until everyone had gathered around Ted at the piano, to sing carols or old standards.
Ted also vowed his four children would have everything he and Rita never had. Hence, Kevin,
Laurel (Lolly) Shelley and Patrick all attended the best private schools. Family Christmases
were spent on Caribbean Cruises; weekends at the country home. Horses, go-karts, dogs.
Ted’s kids wanted for nothing. Ted became a passionate boater and the family enjoyed summer
holidays on different power boats Ted bought over the years, including the Lady Rita. Together,
the family cruised up the St. Lawrence to Montreal for Expo ’67. Years later, Ted and Rita
happily puttered around Lake Ontario on their own with Laidback.
Yet, even with all his success, Ted never forgot his humble beginnings. He re-upholstered
furniture and wallpapered Gillen homes. He would fix anything rather than chuck it. China cups,
transistor radios, clocks, dishwashers, washing machines. Rita had also grown up with wartime rationing, and she made lists of all the broken items for Ted. It was similar with food;
nothing was thrown out. Rita was a fine cook, but Ted became the expert at transforming
yesterday’s leftovers into today’s new snack. Rita had no interest in breakfast so Ted also
became the weekend breakfast king. Fluffed egg, fabulous omelettes, bacon and egg strata,
homemade muffins, Ted did them all. After retirement — in fact, well into his eighties — Ted
made breakfast for himself and Rita every single morning. An adult child sleeping over would
be awakened with a cup of coffee and an invite to the breakfast table.
Ted spent his final few years at Sunnybrook Veteran’s centre, playing his electric piano. He was
often accompanied by one or more of his children or his long-time caregiver Jocelyn. The years
had taken their toll, and Ted’s memory had faded. However, the memories Ted gave every
person who ever knew him never will.
Remembered always by his son Kevin Gillen and daughter-in-law Dori Gillen, daughters Laurel
(Lolly) and Shelley Gillen, son Patrick Gillen and daughter-in-law Wendy Chan; brother-in-law
Raymond (Ray) Floyd and sister-in-law Linda Floyd; grandchildren Daniel (Irene) Gillen, Kaitlin
(Ian) Crew, Brianna Gillen, Rylan (Elena) and Brooks (Samantha) Harvey; great-grandchildren
Olivia and Alex Gillen and Leon Harvey, and many great nephews and nieces. Also mourned
by his long-time caregiver and dear friend, Jocelyn Alayon.
Ted was pre-deceased by his sister and brother-in-law Marion and Leslie Palias, his sister and
brother-in-law, Vera and Sydney Kirrage, his sister and brother-in-law, Rosalind and Michael
Polimeni, his sister and brother-in-law, Sylvia and Gordon Dixon, and his sister and brother-inlaw, Edith and Michael Fenner.
Special thanks to all the wonderful staff at Sunnybrook Veterans Centre, who helped make
“Teddy Bear’s” final years so comfortable.
In lieu of flowers, Ted’s family welcomes donations to Sunnybrook Veterans Comfort Fund.
As per their wishes, Ted and Rita’s family will scatter their ashes together in Lake Ontario.
Send to someone
Want to stay updated?
Send flowers
Send flowers
Share this memorial website
Share with others
