Denis Allan Bernard Byrnes

Our family is heartbroken to announce the passing of Denis Byrnes, on Saturday, January 4th, 2025 at Woodingford Lodge-Woodstock in his 85th year.  He is survived by his loving wife Isabella (nee Munroe), his beloved daughter Kelly & son-in-law Trace McCandless & the two grandsons he adored, Brendan & Shane.

Denis was the 11th of 13 children of the late Allan & Florida (nee O’Bumsawin) Byrnes of Dowling ON. He was predeceased by all his siblings: Edward (Fernande), Arthur (Berniece), Bernadette, Carmel (John Levesque), Francis (Nelson Lewis), Katherine (Aime Brosseau), Bernadine (Andrew Levesque), Monica (Lucien Brabant), Patrick (Noella), Michael (Marilyn), James (Jeannine) & Ronald. He is survived by many loving nieces & nephews & friends.

He was the son-in-law of Robert & Margaret Munroe (both predeceased) & brother-in-law to Eleanor Munroe (predeceased), Donald (Karen) Munroe & Barbara Munroe.

Denis grew up on the family homestead/farm on Morgan Road in Dowling & it was there at his Uncle Jim’s homestead on Morgan Road in Dowling where he met Isabella, a young teacher from Woodstock who came to the area to teach & was boarding at his Uncle Jim’s home for the year. It was love at first sight for Denis & his Uncle Jim pulled him aside that day & told him he was going to marry that girl one day! Denis moved to Woodstock that following year to continue dating Isabella as she returned to Teachers College & they married in 1963 & settled down to start their life together. They welcomed a daughter Kelly & build a wonderful life together in Woodstock. Denis led an active life & was the ultimate fan of sports. He played hockey for many years as a forward, played baseball for various teams & loved his Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Yankees & Buffalo Bills. He had a knack for sales & worked for various employers through the years: a milkman for Silverwoods, food truck sales for Heslop Caterers, top salesman for Firestone Tires before he worked at Teledyne Metal Fabricators for 25 years & finished his work life at St. Gobain. Denis & Isabella had a love for travel & over the years they visited 5 continents & many countries & made friends from these travels that they remained in contact.

Denis was a good man who lived by his convictions & his faith. He valued family & God & was known to be generous & kind to everyone he met. He made frequent trips to the Sudbury area to visit family & volunteering was how he made a difference in the world. He coached the Woodstock Blind Bowling Team for almost 30 years & was active with the Southwestern Ontario League & Ontario Blind Bowlers Association, he was a former Lion’s Club member & actively participated in various fundraising events. He gave in smaller ways daily, whenever he saw a need to help someone, he stepped up immediately: buying food for someone in need, cutting grass for the neighbor who was struggling, visiting someone lonely. He came from humble beginnings but created a good life & now is with our Lord.

There will be a visitation at Brock & Visser, 845 Devonshire Ave, Woodstock, ON on Thursday, January 9th from 6-8 pm & a mass at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 1420 Devonshire Ave, Woodstock ON on Friday, January 10th at 11 am. A reception at Holy Trinity will be held immediately after the service. Donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Society in Denis’ memory & to honour him please do random acts of kindness.