Obituaries

John Bebbington (1929-2025)

Entered into rest peacefully at the Ross Memorial Hospital on Monday August 4th 2025, in his 96th year. Predeceased by his wife, the late Sheila Bebbington (née McKechnie, 1926-2022), brother Leonard Bebbington, sister Nora O’Brien (née Bebbington), and parents John and Agnes Bebbington. A bachelor until he was almost 70, John married Sheila in 1999, following the death of her husband Allan P. McKechnie – both of whom John was acquainted with while growing up in Scotland. Through his marriage to Sheila, John was welcomed into the family by Sheila’s sons Jim McKechnie (Patty), John McKechnie (Adele), and Sandy McKechnie (Lee-Anne). He is fondly remembered for his kindness and generosity by eight step-grandchildren, Alexis (Kendel); Cameron (Agatha); Aoife; Andrew; Ian; Allan; Jenna (Travis); and Marnie (Colin), as well as four step-great-grandchildren: Colson, Briar, Jensen, and Skye. John was born on December 11th 1929 in Toronto, Ontario, and emigrated to Scotland at the age of four. As a teenager, he joined the Boys’ Brigade, where he learned to play the bagpipes – a pastime he maintained into his nineties. John immigrated to Canada in 1948, and went on to work in the banking sector before taking a job with the Toronto Transit Commission. He later spent 22 years working in the Department of Human Resources for the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, retiring in 1986. Following the death of his mother, Agnes, in 1994, John relocated to Lindsay. In the late 1990s, he joined the Lindsay Pipes & Drums, playing with the band for 14 years and travelling to Juno Beach with them in 2003. Talented with his hands and possessed with a quick wit, John was always ready to impart wisdom and insight to those he knew. The family is especially thankful for the care and compassion shown by the physicians and nurses at the Ross Memorial Hospital during John’s most recent stay. The funeral service will take place at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 40 William Street North, Lindsay on Saturday September 13, 2025 at 11:00 a.m.