Obituary of Gary Gregory Dennison
Gary Dennison passed away peacefully and surrounded by the love of his family and friends on Friday, January 20, 2023 at the Grand River Hospital. He is survived by his life partner, Irene Ann, his beloved son, Steven, his granddaughter, Cassidy, as well as his nieces Lisa (Geoff) and Corrine (Desi), his nephew, Calvin (Sheila) and his great niece, Jazmine. Gary will be missed by Monica, a close friend and unofficial family member. Gary will be also dearly missed by many incredible friends including: Marty, Cheryl, David, Willie, Cindy, Mara, Fia and many others.
Gary was predeceased by his parents, Nick and Christine, his brothers, George and Peter, his nephew, Paul, as well as his son, Gregory.
Gary’s Buddhist studies and Christian faith shaped his philosophy on how to live life well. Gary could be heard saying, “Life is good, and we suffer.” He lived his life to the fullest and believed in the importance of caring for others. To everyone who knows him, his generosity was legendary. No one left the home without taking something with them whether it be a piece of his wisdom, a packaged meal or a book.
Gary was a caring person who spent much of his life serving others not only as a psychotherapist but in many other ways. He completed his BA at the University of Waterloo, his MSW at Wilfrid Laurier University and his PHD certificate at Smith College. He proudly worked for 25 years as a Program Coordinator of several inpatient and outpatient psychiatry programs at the Grand River Hospital. In retirement, he continued to provide private practice psychotherapy services. He deeply cared about his many clients and, even though he didn’t have the chance, he would have loved to say good-bye to them.
Gary was very proud of his Greek culture and travelled to Greece many times as well as to many other countries around the world. He loved learning about the history and culture of each new destination. He was a foodie and loved to try new recipes, never following directions closely but always managing to create a gourmet meal. He made new friends easily and had a great sense of humour. If anyone had the secret to living a good quality of life, it was him.
Our family would like to thank the Grand River Hospital’s ED and the ICU staff who provided Gary with
the best care possible. A celebration of Gary’s life will be held with his family and closest friends
(To be determined). Condolences for the family and donations can be made to the Grand River Hospital, St. John’s Kitchen, the Salvation Army or the Mennonite Central Committee.