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In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
O'GRADY, Joseph Michael (Joe) - 84, died March 27, 2010 at St. Joseph Villa after a courageous battle. He was born May 29, 1925 in Hamilton Ontario. Joe O'Grady was a decorated World War II veteran serving in the Royal Canadian Navy aboard the HMCS Cape Breton (K350) in the Atlantic. Joe O'Grady was a long time member of the Sea Cadets and Naval Veterans Association. He retired from the Canadian Immigration Department where he enjoyed working closely with a number of Federal, Provincial and Regional law enforcement departments. He was a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society Knights of Columbus, Wearing of the Green Committee and was a long time volunteer member of the St. Lawrence Credit Union. He is survived by his wife Mary (nee: Brady), daughters and sons, Rosemary and Frank Ajandi, Bernadette and Robert Saunoris, Kathleen and Curt Cooper, Anthony and Ruta (Vaitonis) O'Grady, Kevin and Tracy (Curtis) O'Grady and Veronica and Peter Payne; grandchildren, Rachel and Melanie of Calgary, Alberta, Ryan, Zachary, and Mitchell of Burlington, Sean, Taylor, Tara, Justine, Kristina, Matthew, Lauren of Hamilton and five great-grandchildren. Joe is also survived by his brother Martin and sister-in-law Lois (Mooney) of Mt. Hope; his cousin Roy O'Grady and many other cousins, nieces and nephews of the Walsh and O'Neil families. He was a husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, father-in-law, uncle, brother and friend. He was a wonderful, caring person who would do whatever he could at anytime to help someone. His ideals were rooted in the tradition of the Roman Catholic Church and the teachings of Jesus Christ. His pain and suffering is over. God has prepared a place for him beside his family and friends. He will be greatly missed by all. Friends may call P.X. Dermody Funeral Home, 7 East Avenue South in Hamilton on March 29 at 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., March 30 at 2 p.m to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. His Funeral Mass will be held Wednesday, March 31 at St. Lawrence Catholic Church, 475 Mary Street Hamilton at 11:00 a.m. Private family Interment at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. Memorials may be made to St. Lawrence Church Restoration Fund, St Vincent de Paul Society or the Good Shepherd.
Ships served in: HMCS STAR - Enlisted 13 Nov 1942 * Commenced Active Service 18 Mar 1943 as an Able Seaman, RCNVR HMCS CORNWALLIS - Drafted to CORNWALLIS 18 May 1943 HMCS ST CLAIR - Served in ST CLAIR 24-27 Jul 1943 for Seamanship Training while drafted to CORNWALLIS * Rated Acting Submarine Detector, RCNVR 18 Sep 1943 HMCS STADACONA - Drafted to STADACONA 24 Sep 1943 HMCS HOCHELAGA II - Drafted to HOCHELAGA II 18 Oct 1943 HMCS CAPE BRETON - Drafted to CAPE BRETON 26 Oct 1943. Commissioning crew * Rated Able Seaman, RCNVR 18 Mar 1944 HMCS CORNWALLIS - Drafted to CORNWALLIS 22 Dec 1944 * Rated Submarine Detector, RCNVR 17 Mar 1945 HMCS PEREGRINE - Drafted to PEREGRINE 21 Mar 1945 HMCS QU'APPELLE - Drafted to QU'APPELLE 27 Mar 1945 HMCS CORNWALLIS - Drafted to CORNWALLIS 08 Jun 1945 HMCS STAR - Drafted to STAR 18 Sep 1945 * Demobilized 18 Sep 1945
(left) Joseph (Joe) O'Grady likely onboard HMCS CAPE BRETON 1944 (right) Joseph (Joe) O'Grady at a Remembrance Day Ceremony, Hamilton, Ontario
Joseph Michael O’Grady of Hamilton, Ontario, enlisted in the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve at HMCS STAR on 13 November 1942. He completed New Entry Training at HMCS STAR and HMCS CORNWALLIS. After completion of New Entry Training he training as a Submarine Detector (SD) (sometimes referred to as an ASDIC Operator) - a role in which he operated the equipment used to detect German U-Boats. After qualifying as a Submarine Detector he was drafted to the frigate HMCS CAPE BRETON. CAPE BRETON took part in numerous Atlantic convoys as an escort as well as a convoy to Russia on the infamous Murmansk Run. On the return trip from Russia with Convoy RA.59, CAPE BRETON was involved in attacks on two U-boat. Due to sea ice in the area that interfered with the attacks, the attacks did not result in a successful hunt. The CAPE BRETON also took part in D-Day Operations as part Escort Group 6, where they, along with 5 other Escort Groups and 2 aircraft carriers, patrolled the entrance to the English Channel and Bay of Biscay to prevent U-boats from breaking through to the invasion fleet. In December 1944 Joe was drafted ashore to HMCS CORNWALLIS where he took an additional SD course and was then drafted to HMCS QU'APPELLE for the remainder of the war.
His campaign medals include the 1939–45 Star, the France and Germany Star with Clasp, the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Clasp, and the War Medal 1939–45. These honors place him in the heart of active combat zones and verify his presence during the liberation of Western Europe. Throughout his service, his character was consistently rated as “Very Good.”
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