HELLYER, The Honorable Paul T. - (1923 – 2021), former Minister of National Defence and Deputy Prime Minister of Canada, died on August 8, 2021, succumbing to injuries sustained from a fall on June 19th.
He had celebrated his 98th birthday surrounded by his children and family two days before his passing.
Paul is survived by his second wife Sandra Hellyer, his three children Mary Elizabeth, Peter (Sass) and David (Kathy) and his five grandchildren Jordan (Isabel), Kaitlin, Joshua, Michael (Harriette) and Emily (Charles).
He will be missed by his six great-grandchildren, Aiden, Evelyn, Jacob, Augustus, Wyatt and Alice.
He was deeply loved by his stepdaughters Linda (Brian), Lori (Gene) and Wanda (Lusiana), as well as their children and grandchildren.
Always surrounded with large swaths of family and friends, Paul will be missed by his many nieces, nephews, cousins, godchildren, and extended family.
He was predeceased by his wife of 59 years Ellen Jean Hellyer, who died June 29, 2004.
Originally from Waterford, Ontario, Paul was first elected to Parliament in 1949 and was, at the time, the youngest person ever voted to serve as an MP.
Through successive elections, he would rise through the ranks of the Liberal party before choosing to sit as an Independent in the House of Commons in 1971.
He was the Queen's longest serving Privy Councillor at the time of his death.
A deeply religious man, Paul was a longtime parishioner of Metropolitan United Church in Toronto.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Help Lesotho (helplesotho.org) or the Community Meal Program at Metropolitan United Church (metunited.org/donate).
A Celebration of Life will be held at the Metropolitan United Church at 56 Queen St. E., Toronto, on Saturday, August 14th at 11:00 a.m. Attendance is limited and registration is required. The service will be livestreamed as well.
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