Daniel Patrick Lunney was born on December 14, 1936 in his home on Metcalf St. in the North End of Saint John, NB to Cyril and Eva (Bourque) Lunney. The youngest son, "Danny Boy" as he was known to his brother and 7 sisters, grew up in the north end. His young life was deeply connected to St. Peter’s Church where, too short to be an altar boy, he first began singing in the choir, developing a lifelong passion for singing. It was also in the bowling alley in the basement of the church hall where he would meet "the love of his life" when his longtime friend, Louis Vaughan, played match maker, strategically putting a young Carol Biddiscombe on his bowling team. As the story goes, Dan told Carol if she bowled 110 he would have to take her to the movies. She did bowl that 110 game and he followed through on his promise. This began their great 60-year love story. They were married on June 4, 1966, recently celebrating their 57th anniversary, and soon began raising their own family in the north end until a work transfer took them to Riverview in 1983 where he continued to reside until his passing.
Dan loved his family more than anything. Until his last day he never let a moment pass without telling Carol that he loved her, and he would tell everyone he met that she was the love of his life. His children were his pride and joy. Cyril, Dan, Lisa and Kevin were blessed to have a dad who was always there for them for anything they needed anytime, day or night. When his children were young, Dan worked an evening shift from 4 to midnight, which allowed him time with his young children, teaching them to skate and ride bikes. He was often the chauffeur at school on rainy days where he would load the station wagon not only with his own children but with all the neighbourhood kids who needed a ride. As his children grew, he was the hockey coach, the ball coach, the catechism teacher, and the driver trainer. And as his children became young adults, he was the guy who would pick them up at a local establishment in the early hours of the morning ensuring they had a safe ride home. Simply put, Dan would do anything for his children. The same was true when his grandchildren came along and he earned the title of Grampy. Dylan, Gillian, Megan and Caroline brought great joy to his life. He loved having them come to visit and visiting them. And when Dylan’s daughter, Elsie was born in 2020, he had the incredible joy of becoming a great grandfather, or Bampy as she calls him. His happiest moments were when his whole family was together.
Like many North Enders, Dan spent his summers with his family in Chapel Grove, as a young boy through adulthood and then raising his own family there every summer. Some of our best family times were spent in the "Big House" with all of the extended family and the neighbours who were chosen family, laughing on the veranda, swimming at the beach, and playing ball in the field. As his family expanded, many great times were spent there on summer vacations. The stories are too many to share but will be recounted with laughter and tears for years to come.
Dan and Carol also loved to travel in their retirement. His first plane ride was at 69 on a trip to Disney. They had many wonderful bus trips with friends to New York City, the Magdelan Islands, Cape Cod, and Newfoundland. They enjoyed a cruise to Alaska and a trip with Lisa to England and Ireland, where on the streets of Dublin he stood next to a statue of Molly Malone and sang his best version of her namesake song. Dan loved life to the fullest wherever he went. When he had to go on dialysis in 2017 and travel was no longer possible, he still enjoyed social time with friends and family. He particularly looked forward to the Monday and Friday cribbage games he and Carol had with Nina and Doug Geldart.
Carol and Dan made marriage look easy, even though we are sure there were many difficult times. They had a model marriage and even spent their later years teaching marriage preparation classes for other young couples. This was just one of many of their community volunteering commitments. When Dan retired in his early 60s, he began volunteering at the Albert County Food Bank. He would pick up the groceries every Monday morning from the church and every Wednesday he would serve community members giving out food. At Christmas time he would help pack and deliver food boxes to families in need. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, a 3rd degree knight with Council 9270 in Riverview and a 4th degree knight with Assembly 618 in Moncton, supporting their many community initiatives. He never looked for recognition, but led by example doing what he could to help others. He was twice recognized for his volunteering , once alone and once with Carol, and each time, Carol had to trick him into attending the awards ceremony. He was far too humble to want such accolades.
His second love, after his family, was singing and performing. As a child he was a star of the Irish plays and tap danced with his sister, Mary Eva. He sang at all the weddings and funerals and joined many choirs over the years. In retirement, he returned to his theatrical career acting in local dinner theatres and fund-raising plays with friends from the Immaculate Heart of Mary parish and the wider Riverview community. Among his most treasured times were singing with the church choir and the Moncton Metrotones. He was known for a good rendition of Ave Maria, Oh Danny Boy, any number of Irish tunes, or his treasured rendition of You Raise Me Up. Although the years spent on dialysis made it harder for him to sing, he still joined the choir whenever he could and even in his final days, as his body was failing him, he was singing to his family and the nurses.
Dan is survived by his wife of 57 years and the love of his life, Carol (Biddiscombe), his son Cyril and his wife Lori, their children Dylan (Sydney), Gillian and Megan, and Dylan & Sydney’s daughter Elsie; his son Dan and his wife Eileen and their daughter, Caroline, all of Timberlea, NS; his daughter Lisa and her husband Anthony Borden, of Antigonish, NS; and his son Kevin who resided at home and was a great support and comfort as he endured dialysis over the last 6 years. He is also survived by one sister, Sister Hilda Lunney, Sister of Service, Toronto, ON, his sister-in-law Nancy (late Bernard) and brother-in-law Ken Gormley (late Edna) of Saint John. He was Uncle Danny to numerous nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews. He is also survived by many extended family and friends who were chosen family, in particular Mohaméd and Zouzan Dauod and their children Sabri, Dozkine, and Jamil, who lovingly claimed him as "Pop." He was pre-deceased by his parents, his siblings Marie McCann (Stephen), Clara Graham (Patrick), Gert Lunney, Edna Gormley (Ken), Bernard Lunney (Nancy), Patricia MacIntyre (Paul) and Mary Eva Saunders.
We would like to thank the staff of the dialysis units and nephrology floor of the Georges Dumont hospital who have given him the best care we could ever ask for and enjoyed his cheerful disposition and sense of humour.
In his last days, while watching the news he said to Lisa, "Do you suppose we could buy less for Christmas and give it to people in need?" Even in his final days he was caring about others. In lieu of flowers, please give what you can to help others, make a donation to a charity, help someone in need, perform an act of kindness, or find some other way to demonstrate the love and goodness he showed the world. He was the best husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather anyone could ever ask for and he humbly served the world in a spirit of Jesus.
Dan’s family will be receiving friends and relatives at Cobb’s Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 330 Whitepine Road, Riverview (869-2007) on Monday, July 10, 2023 from 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm. with parish prayers at 7:30. A service to celebrate his life will take place at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church on Tuesday, July 11, 2023 at 11:00 am with Father Charles Broderick presiding. Online condolences may be expressed at www.cobbsfuneralhome.ca