Obituary for Michael "Mike" Fody
FODY, Michael “Mike” (July 22, 1935 – May 28, 2021) -
With heavy hearts, we the family wish to announce the peaceful passing of our much-loved husband, father, grandfather, and friend to many, Michael “Mike” Fody, on Friday, May 28th, 2021 at the Victoria Hospital, London, in his 86th year. Born in Ganna, Hungary, Mike will be remembered by many in the Tillsonburg, Courtland, Delhi and respective Langton communities for his various community contributions, unique sense of humour and of course for his many years in the automotive repair business. While apprenticing to become a licensed “Class A” mechanic, Mike was the co-proprietor of Fody’s Trucking from 1957 to 1959 before starting Fody Bros. garage with brother John from 1959 to 1968. Fody Bros. were open 24 hours a day 7 days a week to provide White Rose gasoline, towing and complete truck-car repair services. In 1967, they became the fifth Isuzu and Toyota dealer in Canada. In 1968, he proudly opened “Mike Fody Shell Service” and the current “Fody Automotive Plus”, located on Mall Road in Tillsonburg.
Mike was active in the community, coaching hockey, serving as a Director of the Delhi District German Home, served on the St. Ladislaus Cemetery Board, he was a charter member of the Knights of Columbus Council 11727, member of Sacred Heart R.C. Church Langton and a charter member of the Courtland Lions Club. He would drive and maintain the Courtland Lions coach bus for the Courtland Minor Soccer League teams and school fields trips.
Mike, above all else, cherished his wife of 60 years, Margaret (Spanics) Fody and was very proud of his sons Chris (Cheryl) Fody; Richard Fody, and of course his two special granddaughters Emma and Rachel. Mike is survived by brother John Fody, sister Elizabeth Fody, his sisters-in-law Mary Fody, Anna Kingler of Hungary and Helen Peacock, by nieces, nephews, cousins and countless good friends that he met through his life journey. Mike will truly be missed by those that knew him. Predeceased by his parents Michael Sr. (1986) and Rose (Gerwald) Fody (2001), by his brother Paul (1942), sister Theresa Fashing (1993), brother Joseph (2014), mother in-law Anna Spanics (1979), brothers-in-law Heber Delaney (1998), Louis Spanics (2009), Dick Peacock (2012), John Fashing (2019), sister-in-law Rose Delaney (2008) and nephews Brent Peacock (1978), Bob Delaney (2013) and Pat Peacock (2018).
Mike had many passions in life including his love of water and boating at Long Point, travelling to Cuba as much as possible and never turning down the opportunity to visit Las Vegas or sail away on a cruise ship vacation.
Until recently Mike spent most of his time at Fody Automotive answering phones, talking to customers and selling cars and parts. No matter how much pain he was in Mike was proud of his business and always looked forward to visiting with clients.
Mike never missed a chance to watch his granddaughters play basketball, deliver a school speech, attend their Christmas concerts, cheer them on at school award ceremonies or swim with them in the pool. Emma and Rachel were extremely fortunate to have such a special Grandpa!
In keeping with Mike’s expressed wishes, a Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, June 3rd, 2021, at 11 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church, 24 Albert Street Langton by Rev. Father Thomas Kuriacko. Regrettably, due to covid-related attendance restrictions, this will be a private family event at this time. Private interment will follow in St. Ladislaus Cemetery, Courtland. Visitation (by RSVP) will be held in the Maurice J. Verhoeve Funeral Homes- Burial and Cremation Services Inc. Chapel, 262 Broadway, Tillsonburg on Wednesday June 2nd from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Family and friends may RSVP for time slots by calling the funeral home between 9am to 4pm (519)842-4238. In accordance with government-imposed restrictions, all events are restricted to 10 at all times. Visitors are encouraged to remain in their vehicles until their time slot begins. All guests are required to wear a face covering and are asked to practice social distancing. Friends and relatives are invited to offer their support and care by posting photos, sharing heartfelt memories on Mike’s tribute page at www.verhoevefuneralhomes.com, and by contributing donations in memoriam by cheque only to “Knights of Columbus Council 11727, Langton” or to “Courtland Lions Club” (to provide guide dogs to Canadians with disabilities memo line “dog guides”) through the Maurice J. Verhoeve Funeral Homes, which has been entrusted with all funeral arrangements, with confidence.
With heavy hearts, we the family wish to announce the peaceful passing of our much-loved husband, father, grandfather, and friend to many, Michael “Mike” Fody, on Friday, May 28th, 2021 at the Victoria Hospital, London, in his 86th year. Born in Ganna, Hungary, Mike will be remembered by many in the Tillsonburg, Courtland, Delhi and respective Langton communities for his various community contributions, unique sense of humour and of course for his many years in the automotive repair business. While apprenticing to become a licensed “Class A” mechanic, Mike was the co-proprietor of Fody’s Trucking from 1957 to 1959 before starting Fody Bros. garage with brother John from 1959 to 1968. Fody Bros. were open 24 hours a day 7 days a week to provide White Rose gasoline, towing and complete truck-car repair services. In 1967, they became the fifth Isuzu and Toyota dealer in Canada. In 1968, he proudly opened “Mike Fody Shell Service” and the current “Fody Automotive Plus”, located on Mall Road in Tillsonburg.
Mike was active in the community, coaching hockey, serving as a Director of the Delhi District German Home, served on the St. Ladislaus Cemetery Board, he was a charter member of the Knights of Columbus Council 11727, member of Sacred Heart R.C. Church Langton and a charter member of the Courtland Lions Club. He would drive and maintain the Courtland Lions coach bus for the Courtland Minor Soccer League teams and school fields trips.
Mike, above all else, cherished his wife of 60 years, Margaret (Spanics) Fody and was very proud of his sons Chris (Cheryl) Fody; Richard Fody, and of course his two special granddaughters Emma and Rachel. Mike is survived by brother John Fody, sister Elizabeth Fody, his sisters-in-law Mary Fody, Anna Kingler of Hungary and Helen Peacock, by nieces, nephews, cousins and countless good friends that he met through his life journey. Mike will truly be missed by those that knew him. Predeceased by his parents Michael Sr. (1986) and Rose (Gerwald) Fody (2001), by his brother Paul (1942), sister Theresa Fashing (1993), brother Joseph (2014), mother in-law Anna Spanics (1979), brothers-in-law Heber Delaney (1998), Louis Spanics (2009), Dick Peacock (2012), John Fashing (2019), sister-in-law Rose Delaney (2008) and nephews Brent Peacock (1978), Bob Delaney (2013) and Pat Peacock (2018).
Mike had many passions in life including his love of water and boating at Long Point, travelling to Cuba as much as possible and never turning down the opportunity to visit Las Vegas or sail away on a cruise ship vacation.
Until recently Mike spent most of his time at Fody Automotive answering phones, talking to customers and selling cars and parts. No matter how much pain he was in Mike was proud of his business and always looked forward to visiting with clients.
Mike never missed a chance to watch his granddaughters play basketball, deliver a school speech, attend their Christmas concerts, cheer them on at school award ceremonies or swim with them in the pool. Emma and Rachel were extremely fortunate to have such a special Grandpa!
In keeping with Mike’s expressed wishes, a Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, June 3rd, 2021, at 11 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church, 24 Albert Street Langton by Rev. Father Thomas Kuriacko. Regrettably, due to covid-related attendance restrictions, this will be a private family event at this time. Private interment will follow in St. Ladislaus Cemetery, Courtland. Visitation (by RSVP) will be held in the Maurice J. Verhoeve Funeral Homes- Burial and Cremation Services Inc. Chapel, 262 Broadway, Tillsonburg on Wednesday June 2nd from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Family and friends may RSVP for time slots by calling the funeral home between 9am to 4pm (519)842-4238. In accordance with government-imposed restrictions, all events are restricted to 10 at all times. Visitors are encouraged to remain in their vehicles until their time slot begins. All guests are required to wear a face covering and are asked to practice social distancing. Friends and relatives are invited to offer their support and care by posting photos, sharing heartfelt memories on Mike’s tribute page at www.verhoevefuneralhomes.com, and by contributing donations in memoriam by cheque only to “Knights of Columbus Council 11727, Langton” or to “Courtland Lions Club” (to provide guide dogs to Canadians with disabilities memo line “dog guides”) through the Maurice J. Verhoeve Funeral Homes, which has been entrusted with all funeral arrangements, with confidence.