Joseph (Joe) Leo Fahie

Joe Fahie was a man who loved a spirited discussion about politics, current events, and the emotional entanglements of “O Danny Boy”. From a hardscrabble upbringing in a family of sixteen in Tuft’s Cove, Nova Scotia (and early retirement from formal education in grade ten), he joined the RCAF and rose through the ranks to retire as a Major and Chief Operations Officer of NORAD. His second career as an air defence consultant took him and his wife Johanna around the world, with stops throughout the continental U.S. and on to Egypt, Iceland, Hawaii, South Korea, Alaska and Saudi Arabia. Along the way, Joe and Johanna found the time to raise five children, who went on to produce sixteen grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. Family was the most important touchstone in Joe’s life, and he was blessed to celebrate sixty-seven years of marriage with his best friend Johanna.

In the early hours of April 12^th Joe departed us at the seasoned age of 89. He is survived by Johanna and his brother David Fahie (Teresa), as well as children Ron (Suzanne), Susan, Lorraine, Rob, and Chris (Tracey). He is predeceased by six brothers, six sisters, sons-in-law Rocco and Mike and daughter-in-law Brenda, as well as his beloved four-legged companion Kelsey.

Joe’s extended family would like to thank the various health care professionals who helped him throughout his battles with cancer and Alzheimer’s, and especially the palliative care staff at the Ottawa Civic Hospital. A funeral mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday June 20, 2022 at Holy Redeemer R.C. Church in Kanata, followed by a reception at Park Ridge Place, 7305 Campeau Drive, Kanata. A private interment for the family will be held at the military section of Beechwood Cemetery the following day.