Obituary of Anthony Furlong

Furlong, Anthony (Tony) ~ It is with sadness that our family announces the passing of a Canadian hero. Anthony (Tony) Furlong passed away on Wednesday, August 21, 2013 at the age of 90. Tony served with the 6th Hussars in the Canadian Armoured Corps in World War II from 1941 to 1945. Our father was born on a farm near Drayton in 1923, was orphaned at the age of 11 and spent several years at the Hamilton orphanage prior to working as a hired hand on several farms in the Drayton area near the end of the Great Depression. Upon the outbreak of WWII, he volunteered to protect our country and the innocent in Europe from the ravages of war. He served in Italy, Belgium, Holland and Germany during his time overseas. His primary role was driving tanks. He also volunteered to participate in the war in the Pacific but the dropping of the Atomic Bomb in Japan put an end to the conflict and he returned home safe. In 1960, he met our mother Betty (Elizabeth) and in 1961 he married her and assumed the role of father to Jane Graff (Allan) of Elmira, Kathy Miller of Waterloo, Peggy Sheardown (Mike) of Elmira and Michael Rumig (Lori) of Kitchener. Over the next few years, the family welcomed two new members: Jerry Furlong (Ruby) of Wellesley and Christine Furlong of Elmira. He worked on the farm and at Uniroyal Chemical until retiring to Elmira in 1988. He was predeceased by his brothers Joe (Peggy) and Dan Furlong and his sister Veronica Borth (Hilbert). He is survived by his brother Leo Furlong (Elaine) of Kitchener and sister-in-law Marcella Furlong of Elmira. He will be missed by 13 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren and by several nieces and nephews. Tony was a 66 year veteran with the Elmira Legion Branch No. 469. The family will receive their relatives and friends at the Dreisinger Funeral Home, Elmira on Friday, August 23rd from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. The Legion service will be held at the funeral home on Friday at 6:45 p.m. and parish prayers will be offered at 8:45 p.m. The mass to celebrate Tony’s life will be held at St. Teresa of Avila R.C. Church, Elmira on Saturday, August 24th at 11 a.m. with Father Ray Reitzel C.R. officiating. In Tony’s memory, donations to the Poppy Fund would be appreciated as expressions of sympathy. Service Summary Visitation: Friday, August 23, 2013 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at the funeral home ~ Legion Service: Friday at 6:45 p.m. at the funeral home ~ Parish Prayers: Friday at 8:45 p.m. at the funeral home ~ Funeral Mass: At St. Teresa of Avila R.C. Church (19 Flamingo Dr., Elmira) on Saturday, August 24, 2013 at 11 a.m. ~ Donations: Poppy Fund - Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 469 (11 First St. E., Elmira, ON N3B 2Z5)