SUCKLING, Friar David G. - OFM Conv. - Was born on Toronto, Ontario, on May 3, 1932 and passed away on Sunday, March 31, 2019.
He was the son of the late Geoffrey and Margaret (née Kirk) Suckling.
In addition to his Franciscan family, he leaves his brother Stuart Suckling (Mary Gail) & their children, Brad (Meredith), Heather (Shawn), & Derek, Ron (Sandy) & their children Shawn (Jodi), Keven & Brian.
Beloved father to Chris Suckling (Hermie), Sarah Cornfield (Alan), Donald MacDonald (Zoe), Molly Srebot (Mike), Michelle Newman (Bruce) & predeceased by his daughter Vivienne Brown.
Loving Grandfather of Stephanie (David), Nadia (Sam), Danielle (Adam), David, Kyle (Steph), Miles, Piers, Rowan, Berit, Conor, Tamsin, Tallis, Jason (Sharon), Tammy, Jamie, Katie, Emily, Rebecca, Tiffany (George), & Miranda (Jeff).
He will be greatly missed by his great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.
Friar David served in the Army Reserve from 1960-1961. In 1994, Friar David decided to join the Franciscan community at age 58 after having lived a full life with his wife Margaret Mary Suckling who died in 1990. Together they raised a family on their family farm. Having lived as a Secular Franciscan the notion to further this call became an important factor in the second half of his life.
He made his Profession of Temporary Vows on August 13, 1995 and his Profession of Solemn Vows on September 20, 1998. During his years as a Franciscan, he resided in both the Friary of St. Anthony and later in the St, Bonaventure Friary in Toronto ministering from the parish of the Franciscan Church of St. Bonaventure and serving a pastoral presence at the Catholic School of St. Bonaventure. Friar David also served as a Member of the Board of the Messenger of St Anthony, the Tobias House: Caring in the Spirit of St. Francis Board, the Board of Retired Religious of the Archdiocese of Toronto at Houses of Providence, and the Board of the Friends of Saint Francis: St. Clare Inn.
Visitation will take place at the The Franciscan Church of St. Bonaventure, 1300 Leslie Street, Toronto on April 4, 2019 from 1 to 7 PM. A Franciscan Wake Service will be held at 7 PM. On Friday, April 5, 2019 further visitation will take place from 10 AM to 10:45 AM and a Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 AM at the The Franciscan Church of St. Bonaventure, Interment will be in Toronto.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Friar David’s memory will be used for the education of our young friar and the care of our senior friars. Cheques may be made out to “Franciscan Friars” and dropped off in the Parish Ministry Centre, mailed to Franciscan Friars, 1300 Leslie Street, Toronto, Ontario M3C 2K9, or the Collection Basket.
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