Michael Angus MacNeil passed away peacefully on the morning of February 14, 2009 in the loving arms of  his wife Genevieve, and surrounded by family.  He was 85 years old.  He is predeceased by his twin sister, Dora, brother Alex, sister Mary, father Neil, and mother Catherine.  He will be fondly remembered by his wife, Genie, sister Theresa (Chuck), and children Robert (Maureen), Deborah (Kelly), Donald (Linette), and Patrick, along with grandchildren Kerry, Dana, David, Shannon, James, Ewan and Arianna, and many cousins.

Dad served his country and community wearing many hats throughout his life.  He served with the Canadian Navy and U.S. Navy as a young man and when his time was done his creative and entrepreneurial spirits took hold.  He studied to be a hairdresser at the Vidal Sassoon Academy and while working in London, England coiffured the hair for some members of the extended Royal family during the coronation year of 1953.  He authored several articles on hairdressing practices and during his subsequent practice in downtown Toronto, coiffured the hair of wives of several leaders of famous Canadian businesses.

However, it was the summer of 1955 that truly changed his life when he met his one true love, Genie.  They were engaged shortly after and married in August of 1956 in Vancouver.  In 1959, they moved from Toronto to Richmond, BC where they resided for nearly fifty years, attending St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church. Dad opened his own salon "Michael's House of Flare" on south Granville Street in Vancouver and operated his business for over twenty years.

Dad was always a family man and openly proud of the accomplishments of his four children and seven grandchildren. He was also very proud of his Scottish heritage and would wear his MacNeil tartan kilt on many formal occasions.

Dad was not just a leader in his profession but also in his faith.  He served as an usher and lector at St. Joseph's for many years. As a young man, he became a Knight in the Knights of Columbus and with his gifts of passion and leadership he eventually became a Grand Knight and a District Deputy. In his retirement, he took his service to the Knights and the Church to a new level, by becoming a Fourth Degree Knight and being elected to the BC and Yukon State Council, rising to State Deputy in the early 1990s. He also chaired the Father McGivney Guild and was the founding Faithful Navigator of Pope John Paul I Fourth Degree Assembly. He always gave selflessly to the causes of the Knights through to his final days and it is through this work that he leaves one of his greatest legacies.

Our sincere thanks to all the doctors, nurses and care workers who provided comfort and care for Dad in his final weeks.

Prayers will be said at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church, 4451 Williams Rd, Richmond on February 19, 2009 at 7:30pm with a mass of Catholic Burial at the Church on February 20, 2009 at 10:00am, Father Arthur Gouthro celebrant.  Internment to follow at the Gardens of Gethsemani, 15800 - 32nd Avenue, Surrey.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Dad’s name will be gratefully acknowledged to one of the charities of your choice, the Canadian Diabetes Association, the Canadian Cancer Society, or one of the many Knights of Columbus Charities through their Charities Foundation.

We will always love and remember you Dad.  God Bless.

God is with me, I want nothing on the earth.  Saint Pierre Toussaint, 1776-1863