Obituary of Michael Moon

Moon, Michael George Michael passed away suddenly on July 23rd 2013 at Soldiers Memorial Hospital, Orillia, Ontario in his 67th year. Beloved partner of Rexford Leonard, of Severn Falls, Ontario and brother of Roberta Lefevre. Predeceased by his parents Robert and Violet Moon of Sharbot Lake, Ontario, He also leaves behind many cousins, and will particularly be remembered fondly by his cousin Sandi Brown (nee Gibbs) of Northbrook Ontario, and by the many friends and care-givers who came to know his indomitable spirit and the twinkle in his pale blue eyes… Michael was a hopeful, kind and gentle soul…a man of peace and integrity with a love for nature, art, music and literature and with deep spiritual and religious interests and aspirations. Often passionately committed to those things that mattered to him, he had a strong need to love and be loved, and to laugh and bring a smile to others. When the complications of MS brought an end to his physical ability to talk and joke, laugh and smile, it was the light in his eyes that so often continued to show us his interest in life and his resolve and to inspire those that were near him. Born Michael McDonald in Kingston Ontario, Michael was adopted by the Moon's and raised in Godfrey and Belleville Ontario. Michael attended Piccadilly Public School and Sydenham High School before moving to Kingston in 1964 where he worked at the Kingston General Hospital and Rideaucrest Nursing Home. In the mid-1970s he relocated to Ottawa and worked at various positions including for a time as a messenger with the Foreign Investment Review Agency for which duties frequently included visits to Parliament Hill and the Offices of the Privy Council, a fact Michael was particularly proud of. The effects of MS (as yet undiagnosed) soon began to affect his work abilities, and he eventually had to give up working full-time, though he remained active with volunteer work for the elderly in particular, and with artistic, musical and literary pursuits. A natural artist and crafts person from an early age, Michael undertook some formal art training in both Kingston and Ottawa and became an avid photographer as well. His love of music, both religious and otherwise, and organ music in particular, lead to his studying organ for a time in Ottawa, as well as performing at times on the Melodica as a busker on the Sparks Street Mall! He also developed his love of poetry through the poetry reading series Tree, and Haiku Canada and had some of his work published in anthologies. In 1989 he sent the Queen a copy of his poem "HOPE" which was inspired by her 1988 Christmas Message to the Commonwealth, and he always treasured the letter of thanks that he received from the Queen via one of her ladies in waiting. (His fascination and love for the Queen was lifelong and even in the years of his declining health he always showed great interest and respect for articles, programs and photographs of the Queen…) He also became involved with the Peace Vigil on Parliament Hill in the mid-1980s and committed to weekly bearing witness to the importance of peace as one of the highest ideals to which human beings can aspire. Baptized and confirmed in the United Church, despite family discord and self-doubt, at various times in his life he attended church services regularly and sought guidance, comfort and solace in following a spiritual path among fellow believers… Michael met his life-long partner Rexford in Ottawa in 1977 and in 1993 they moved to Toronto together despite - or in part in answer to - Michael's increasing health concerns. Finally diagnosed with MS in 1996, he soon began to lose strength and the ability to undertake the creative pursuits that he so loved, but continued to make several trips with Rexford, including trips to Newfoundland, and to Gaspe even though he was forced to use a wheelchair by that time. (Michael's resolve and stubbornness in the face of his MS was shown in particular by his refusal to use a wheel chair until he was too weak to walk to the elevator from his apartment. He declined a wheelchair as long as he could make it downstairs to the lobby - even though he might be too weak to actually go anywhere from there!) By Jan 2002, his condition had deteriorated to the point that he could no longer remain at home and he became a complex continuing care patient at Toronto Grace Hospital where he remained for over 11 years. Despite his declining health, visits to emergency and acute care hospitals over the years, and impaired cognitive function, he had a strong will to carry on and continued to find an interest in things around him, including newspapers, magazines, listening to music and watching favourite TV and videos - in particular travelogues, musical programs and classic movies. In the last months of his life, with Rexford now retired and planning to relocate in the Georgian Bay area, it seemed that including Michael in one more "adventure" despite his failing health would be appropriate and worth attempting. He moved to the Complex Continuing Care Ward of Soldiers Memorial Hospital in Orillia on July 17th just 6 days before his passing away suddenly. (He had appeared to be responding - yet again - to treatment of recurring chest and bladder infection.) While it may be impossible to really know whether it contributed to or hastened his passing, this one last move, with Rexford, to the quiet of rural north Ontario had a certain sense of appropriateness, a tranquility and a coming full circle that Michael would likely have appreciated and understood. ….His journey completed… "Thou thy worldly task hast done, Home art gone, and ta'en thy wages…" "…Now cracks a noble heart. Good night sweet prince: And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest…"