Obituary of Mr. Israel Newell

NEWELL, Israel James Philip, ODT (Order of the Diocese of Toronto), on Saturday, December 14, 2019. Israel, dear husband of Lenore, and loving father of Benjamin and Peter, Heidi (Dan Pitt) and Anne MacKay. Dear stepson of Barbara Newell, and dear stepbrother of Byron Dorey and Chris Dorey. Dear uncle of Danielle, Kathryn (Alex), Jack, Martha (Harold), Meredith (Jordan), Michael, Maureen (Mathias), Kathleen (Julian) and Danny; and dear great-uncle of Holden, Emmeline, Noah, Kataleya, Rebecca, Elizabeth, and Wallace. Israel will be lovingly remembered by other family and many friends. Resting at the OGDEN FUNERAL HOME, 4164 Sheppard Avenue East (between Kennedy and Midland), Toronto. Visitation is from 5-8 p.m. Thursday 19 December. The Funeral Service will be held at Little Trinity Anglican Church, 425 King St. East on Saturday 21 December at 1 p.m. followed by a reception. Burial at a later date at The Anglican Cemetery in Woodstock, Ontario. If desired, donations may be made to Little Trinity Anglican Church in Toronto Ontario.

When he was younger there was not much support for those with disabilities. Most buildings were inaccessible. Given the severe level of Israel’s disabilities he managed to accomplish a great deal in life. He graduated from the University of Toronto with an Honours B.Sc. in Mathematics and Computer Science and eventually worked as a Systems Analyst at the Toronto District School Board. He loved his work and viewed it as a way to contribute to the community. Israel viewed it as quite an accomplishment that he was able to live completely independently for 14 years until he married Lenore in 1984. It was such a joy to his heart to have 2 sons, and then later on to accept 2 daughters into the family.

Israel was actively involved in the life of Little Trinity Anglican Church for 46 years after he returned to faith while living at Rochdale College.

Volunteering was an outworking of Israel’s faith. He served as a Lay Delegate to Synod for a total of 12 years in the Anglican Diocese of Toronto. He felt both humbled and honoured to be a Lay Delegate to General Synod in 2016. Israel served on the Social Justice and Advocacy Committee with the Diocese for 16 years.

For someone who as of 1959 could no longer walk, Israel accomplished much more than many people with his level of disability. If Israel was still with us, he would say “to God be the Glory.”