Obituary of The Rev'd Canon Wally Corey

1 Corinthians 15:57

Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

It is with grateful hearts to God for the life and love of The Reverend Canon William Wallace Gideon (Wally) Corey, that the family announces his passing on January 11, 2025.

Wally was born on March 28, 1937 to Bill and Ethel (Thorne) Corey of Salisbury, NB.  He was trained and commissioned as an officer in the Anglican Church Army (now Threshold Ministries) in 1957 and later studied at Wycliffe College in Toronto.  He was ordained as deacon in the Anglican Church of Canada in 1971 and priested in 1974.

Wally led a joyful life filled with genuine love for people.  His gentle, kindly sense of humour and quick wit led to lots of laughter.  That was mixed with his genuine compassion and his signature favourite expression “Bless Your Heart!”

For all his 67 years of ministry, Wally’s greatest desire was that all would follow Jesus and would know the great love Jesus has for them, living in thankfulness and Praise to God.

Wally began his ministry leading several small congregations in the Diocese of Brandon, MB.  He then became a church worker at Saint John’s “Stone” Church.  Next, he took on the directorship of The Compass, a social outreach organization in Hamilton, ON, followed by becoming the director of Beverly Lodge, a halfway house in Toronto.

He returned to the Diocese of Fredericton, NB and over the years was rector of The Parish of Greenwich and Petersville, The Parish of Cambridge and Waterborough, the churches of St. Mary’s in Dalhousie, St. James (Broad St.) in Saint John, Trinity in Sussex, St. George’s, Moncton and St. Andrew’s Sunny Brea and St. Mary and St. Bartholomew’s in Saint John.

In addition to parish work, Wally appreciated serving as a Canadian Armed Forces Army Chaplain with the Reserve Force (Ret’d Major) while in Saint John, Sussex and Moncton.

During his retirement, he had the privilege of filling in as interim pastor for many congregations in the Saint John vicinity.

Wally was predeceased by his parents and stepmother, Hazel (Justason, Holt) Corey of Pocologan; his first wife, Nancy (Weaver) Corey; sisters, Bessie (the late Norman) O’Brien and Marie Corey and brother-in-law, Douglas Weaver.

He is survived by his wife, Lynne (Bussey) Corey; daughter, Val Brooker (Sam House); sons, Jonathan (Jessica Porter) and Andrew (Lisa Turner); grandchildren, William, Maya, Ella and Eli; sister, Maxine Corey; sisters-in-law, Sue Daley and Jean (John) Smyth, several nieces and nephews and other loved ones.

The family wish to thank Dr. Brianne Castonguay and the Extra Mural team for many years of excellent care.  We also thank the caregivers of Senior Watch (Bob, Rukundo and Jasmin), the staff of the Saint John Regional Hospital (3DS and 4CN) and Bobby’s Hospice for their compassionate care during Wally’s final days.

Resting at St. Mary and St. Bartholomew’s Church (646 Westmorland Road, Saint John) where visitation will take place on Tuesday, January 14, 2025 from 1:00 - 3:00 PM and 6:00 - 8:00 PM and where the funeral service will be held on Wednesday, January 15, 2025 at 11:00 AM.  For those unable to attend, the service will be livestreamed and can be viewed by visiting smsbchurch.com youtube.  Interment will take place in Fernhill Cemetery.

Donations may be made to Threshold Ministries, St. Mary and St. Bartholomew’s Church, SMSB Mission Centre, Bobby’s Hospice or the charity of the donor’s choice.