Obituary for Kevin Joseph Connors
Kevin Joseph Connors
May 23, 1955 - May 26, 2022
If there’s a sale on tarps or tapes in heaven, our Kev will be first in line.
If there’s a variety show, he’ll skip to the stage, and he’ll likely sing his unofficial theme song:
“I'm a janitor, that's what I am, I'm going to do the best I can. With a broom in one hand, in the other there’s an old dust pan .. a janitor, that's what I am …”
Our worlds have been upended.
The man with a joke for every occasion, a song to get your feet tapping, or an impressive three-dart score that would inevitably elicit a deafening “somebody stop me,” has left us.
Kev died at 8:59 p.m. on Thursday, May 26th.
Not from the cancer that tormented him in his well-earned retirement for more than a decade, but an unexpected stroke.
He had just turned 67. Gone too soon, and we’re heartbroken.
And true to form, Kev brought humor into even his darkest moment, quipping that, “I’ve fallen, and I can’t get up,” as he was being helped off the floor.
So who was Kev Connors?
To many, he was the long-serving custodian at Avoca Collegiate in Badger, known for his high standards with a broom or cleaning rag, and a soft heart who would discreetly spend the little money he had to buy recess for a child in need.
Kev used to be self-conscious about his occupation, and his lack of a high school education.
But that changed after he walked into Avoca one day and learned that a high school equivalency test for adults was being offered that evening. On a whim, and without any preparation, Kev wrote the test. He passed.
“I used to say, ‘we have a roof over our heads, we have food on the table, we have each other. That’s all that matters,” says Barbara, his wife of 48 years.
But work is what paid the bills.
For Kev, his life revolved around his family, and he unselfishly provided the best he could for Barbara, and his two daughters, Tammy and Trina. Tammy remembers, on Christmas mornings, Kev would rouse his daughters with chants of “Santa was here, Santa was here.” Even after they moved away from home, his early morning calls and excited chants on that special holiday continued.
When Trina needed a keyboard so she could practice her music at home, Kev traded in his 10-speed bicycle - his primary mode of transport at the time - on a used organ.
“There was no greater love than what he had for his kids,” says Trina.
And when his grandson came along, Kev felt his life was complete.
And what better way to show his love for young Kyle than through song, with lyrics that might leave you gagging:
“Kyle Durdle done his poop down his leg and in his boot; kicked it all over the kitchen floor and shoved it through the door.”
Kev had spirit, and he was creative. When word went out for a theme song for Badger’s 1991 come home year, Kev had the answer, and his song was a hit in the community and on local radio that summer.
His garden was meticulous, and any snow that came his way in the winter was quickly dealt with. His reward afterward? A glass of whiskey or a Canadian Light beer.
His appetite was also legendary, and he’s one of the few people to have actually gained weight while enduring chemotherapy treatment for cancer.
Kev kept it simple. His unofficial uniform was a black t-shirt and blue jeans.
He was also a long-suffering Toronto Maple Leafs fan who endured yet another hockey heartbreak in this year's playoffs. As a Leafs fan, it’s obvious that loyalty was one of his trademarks.
When asked about her best day with Kev, Barbara replied: “The day we were married.”
A lifetime of good deeds, laughter and love will lift his family and friends as they pay tribute to Kevin Joseph Connors on Monday, May 30, with a 2 p.m. funeral service at Sacred Heart Church in Badger.
Leaving to mourn his loving wife of 48 years Barbara, daughters Tammy (Shawn), Trina (Jeff) cherished grandson Kyle, his fur buddy Tye, brothers, sisters. nieces, nephews, and a large circle of friends.
Go Leafs Go
May 23, 1955 - May 26, 2022
If there’s a sale on tarps or tapes in heaven, our Kev will be first in line.
If there’s a variety show, he’ll skip to the stage, and he’ll likely sing his unofficial theme song:
“I'm a janitor, that's what I am, I'm going to do the best I can. With a broom in one hand, in the other there’s an old dust pan .. a janitor, that's what I am …”
Our worlds have been upended.
The man with a joke for every occasion, a song to get your feet tapping, or an impressive three-dart score that would inevitably elicit a deafening “somebody stop me,” has left us.
Kev died at 8:59 p.m. on Thursday, May 26th.
Not from the cancer that tormented him in his well-earned retirement for more than a decade, but an unexpected stroke.
He had just turned 67. Gone too soon, and we’re heartbroken.
And true to form, Kev brought humor into even his darkest moment, quipping that, “I’ve fallen, and I can’t get up,” as he was being helped off the floor.
So who was Kev Connors?
To many, he was the long-serving custodian at Avoca Collegiate in Badger, known for his high standards with a broom or cleaning rag, and a soft heart who would discreetly spend the little money he had to buy recess for a child in need.
Kev used to be self-conscious about his occupation, and his lack of a high school education.
But that changed after he walked into Avoca one day and learned that a high school equivalency test for adults was being offered that evening. On a whim, and without any preparation, Kev wrote the test. He passed.
“I used to say, ‘we have a roof over our heads, we have food on the table, we have each other. That’s all that matters,” says Barbara, his wife of 48 years.
But work is what paid the bills.
For Kev, his life revolved around his family, and he unselfishly provided the best he could for Barbara, and his two daughters, Tammy and Trina. Tammy remembers, on Christmas mornings, Kev would rouse his daughters with chants of “Santa was here, Santa was here.” Even after they moved away from home, his early morning calls and excited chants on that special holiday continued.
When Trina needed a keyboard so she could practice her music at home, Kev traded in his 10-speed bicycle - his primary mode of transport at the time - on a used organ.
“There was no greater love than what he had for his kids,” says Trina.
And when his grandson came along, Kev felt his life was complete.
And what better way to show his love for young Kyle than through song, with lyrics that might leave you gagging:
“Kyle Durdle done his poop down his leg and in his boot; kicked it all over the kitchen floor and shoved it through the door.”
Kev had spirit, and he was creative. When word went out for a theme song for Badger’s 1991 come home year, Kev had the answer, and his song was a hit in the community and on local radio that summer.
His garden was meticulous, and any snow that came his way in the winter was quickly dealt with. His reward afterward? A glass of whiskey or a Canadian Light beer.
His appetite was also legendary, and he’s one of the few people to have actually gained weight while enduring chemotherapy treatment for cancer.
Kev kept it simple. His unofficial uniform was a black t-shirt and blue jeans.
He was also a long-suffering Toronto Maple Leafs fan who endured yet another hockey heartbreak in this year's playoffs. As a Leafs fan, it’s obvious that loyalty was one of his trademarks.
When asked about her best day with Kev, Barbara replied: “The day we were married.”
A lifetime of good deeds, laughter and love will lift his family and friends as they pay tribute to Kevin Joseph Connors on Monday, May 30, with a 2 p.m. funeral service at Sacred Heart Church in Badger.
Leaving to mourn his loving wife of 48 years Barbara, daughters Tammy (Shawn), Trina (Jeff) cherished grandson Kyle, his fur buddy Tye, brothers, sisters. nieces, nephews, and a large circle of friends.
Go Leafs Go