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In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
CUMMINGS, Kealey - 91, passed away peacefully December 9, 2017 at Windsor Park Manor in Ottawa, Ontario with family by his side. Kealey was born January 24, 1926 in Timmins, Ontario to Charles Gilbert and Ellen Sophia (Kealey) Cummings. Predeceased by his wife Lucille (Clusieau), daughter Ellen and his partner Frances Burns. Survived by his children Michael and Charlene. Proud grandfather to Daniel. Kealey was a WWII veteran who served in the Royal Canadian Navy from 1944 to 1946 aboard the HMCS OTTAWA II. Following his discharge, he worked as a diamond driller and gold miner before joining Ontario Hydro as a construction electrician and becoming Chief Union Steward in 1952. He was elected as Ontario Hydro Employees Union (OHEU)-which became the Power Workers Union (PWU)-first full-time president in 1957 and held that position for thirteen years. He is considered one of the founding fathers of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) which was formed in 1963 following the merger of the National Union of Public Service Employees (NUPSE) and the National Union of Public Employees (NUPE). He served as a General Vice-President of CUPE and was elected as CUPE National Secretary-Treasurer from 1975 - 1985. The last few years of his career were spent in London, England as Labour Counsellor to Great Britain and The Netherlands before returning to Canada. Retirement was spent in Ottawa with winters in Florida. Golfing was something he loved to do and to be able to golf all year was wonderful. Further survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Kealey will be fondly remembered by family and friends as a loving father, uncle and friend, strong union leader and proud veteran. Services will be private. A celebration of his life will be held in the spring in Ottawa with final interment in Timmins. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Stephen Lewis Foundation in Kealey's name would be greatly appreciated. (Ottawa Citizen 15 Dec 2017)
Ships served in: HMCS CARLETON - Enlisted 28 Jun 1944. Commenced Active Service 24 Jul 1944 HMCS DONNACONA - Served in DONNACONA 25 Jul 1944 - 10 Oct 1944 HMCS ANNAPOLIS - Served in ANNAPOLIS 11 Dec 1944 - 14 Dec 1944 as an OS, RCNVR while in training at HMCS CORNWALLIS HMCS OTTAWA - Served in OTTAWA -10 Jan 1945 - 01 Jun 1945 as an OS, RCNVR HMCS YORK - Served in YORK 21 Sep 1945 - 20 Feb 1946. Demobilized 20 Feb 1946
(KC01) Portrait of OS Kealey Cummings (KC02) OS Kealey Cummings (KC03-KC04) Certificate of Service - pages 1 & 2
(KC05) Declaration by Kealey Cummings that he was not induced to joined the Seaman Branch of the Naval Services against his wishes (KC06) OS K. Cummings volunteering for service against Japan (KC07) Instructions for ratings being discharged from HMCS YORK (KC08) Certificate of Discharge (KC09) Certificate of entitlement for the War Service Badge
(KC10) New Entry Training course photo 25 Jul - 10 Oct 1944 HMCS DONNACONA, Montreal
Kealey Cummings #1
This photo is also posted on the page for HMCS DONNACONA
(KC11-KC14) Postcards from HMCS CORNWALLIS These postcards were sold at the canteen at HMCS CORNWALLIS
The full collection of these postcards can be viewed on the page for HMCS CORNWALLIS
(KC15) HMCS OTTAWA H31
(KC16-KC18) Kealey Cummings attending the commissioning ceremony of HMCS OTTAWA 341 (4th of name) (KC19) RCN monument, Ottawa, Ontario (KC20) RCN Challenge Coin
Note: The Royal Canadian Navy Monument is a small memorial park located at Richmond Landing, next to the Ottawa River in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It commemorates the men and women who have served or are currently serving in the Royal Canadian Navy.
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