Obituary of Michael Hugh Harold Bedford-Jones

THE RIGHT REVEREND MICHAEL HUGH HAROLD

BEDFORD-JONES

From COVID-19 at Lakeridge Health (Oshawa, Ontario) on Sunday, April 18, 2021.  

Predeceased by his parents Canon Hugh M. Bedford-Jones and Gretchen F. (née Gray) Bedford-Jones and sister Dr. Mary Bedford-Jones (William Goodwin).  Beloved husband of Jeanne Yvonne (Bonnie) Bedford-Jones.  Cherished brother of Judith Bedford-Jones (Raymond Pfeiffer).    Loving uncle of John (Lyne Dupont) Goodwin, Jessica (Justin) Atherton and their children Hunter and Elsie, Catherine (Carl) Gjendem and their daughter Sophia.  Adored ‘Uncle Michael’ to Sarah (Peter) Bertelsen, Martha Hatt, David (Jennifer) Hatt, Victoria (Sean) Reid, Kate (Brett) Steele and their treasured children Grace, Emma, Gwen, Ben, Christopher, Matthew, Sydney, Andrew, Tyler, Michaela and Justin, and dear godfather of many.

Ordained deacon in 1967 and priest in 1968, Michael served as Assistant Curate and Senior Assistant to the Dean of St. James Cathedral, Incumbent of Epiphany, Scarborough, St. Aidan, Toronto, Regional Dean, Honorary Assistant of St. Martin in-the-Fields, Canon of St. James Cathedral, and Executive Assistant to the Bishop of Toronto. Transferring to the Diocese of Ontario in 1991, Michael took up appointment as Incumbent of St. George’s Cathedral, Kingston, and Dean of Ontario and Rector of Kingston. Elected Bishop Suffragan for Toronto in 1994, he served as Area Bishop, first in York-Scarborough and later in Trent-Durham. After retiring in 2008, Michael served a number of Interim Priest-in-Charge appointments including St. Jude, Wexford and St. Peter, Cobourg.  

Michael adored and was dedicated to his family, his friends and all of his treasured pets.  Trips with Bonnie to visit friends and to enjoy beautiful vistas and interesting experiences together in many parts of Canada and the world, crewing with friends for sailboat races on Lake Ontario, singing, playing and listening to music, and being an educator, mentor and caring pastor to so many people were some of the great joys in Michael’s richly textured life.   Michael was devoted also to his beloved Mudlunta Island where, throughout his entire life, he delighted in spending precious times at the family summer cottage, participating in fun island family gatherings and travelling in boats wending his way amongst the beautiful 1000 Islands on the St. Lawrence River. 

Michael will be sadly missed by his family and friends across Canada and the United States and by many colleagues throughout the world. 

A special thank-you to the critical care staff at Lakeridge Health (Oshawa) for their outstanding clinical and compassionate care.

Donations to the Anglican Diocese of Toronto Foundation (https://www.toronto.anglican.ca), the Trinity College School Foundation (https://www.tcs.on.ca) or the Ontario Veterinary College Pet Trust  (https://ovc.uoguelph.ca) would be appreciated.    

Funeral Service by invitation only will be held on October 30th, 2021 at 11 am.  To view the service virtually, please follow the link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvFtLboA7Uk