John Michael Wright

It is with great sadness that the family announces the passing of John Michael Wright on March 26, 2026. He passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, after a brief illness at the Ottawa General Hospital. John had recently celebrated his 90th birthday, the magical age he wanted to reach. He will be dearly missed by his loving wife of 64 years, Christine Wright (nee Arbon), and by his four children: Jane, John (Elaine), Ruth (Brian), and David. He will also be fondly remembered by his four grandchildren, John Brandon, Justine, Matthew, and Abigail. John is predeceased by his parents, John and Marjorie Wright, and his sister, Jennifer Hooley.

John was born in 1935 in Chaddesden, Derbyshire, England. A true Brit to the core, he always spoke the “Queen’s English” with great pride, ensuring every word was perfectly enunciated. Every Christmas, he also made sure to give a toast to the Queen.

In his youth, he was an avid Boy Scout leader, an interest imparted to him through his parents. He pursued a career as a Chartered Accountant (England and Wales), leading him to his first professional employment in Northern Rhodesia (Zambia), Africa, where he lived for two years, taking his new bride along for the adventure.

In 1970, John accepted an accounting position with the Canadian Federal Government in the Department of National Revenue (Canada Revenue Agency). This meant having to make the difficult decision to relocate his family to Canada, first to Newfoundland, and then to Ottawa, where he settled his family and established deep ties in the community. John enjoyed a rewarding career with the Canada Revenue Agency, retired after 25 years of dedicated public service.

John was a dedicated and active member of the Anglican Diocese and Gideons–ShareWord Global. He also served his community in many ways, including as a trustee with the Ottawa School Board and as a member of the board of directors for both the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Carlington Community Resource Centre.

John was fascinated by the history of the Great War, spending many hours learning about it, and discussing its impact on the world. He was a passionate gardener, taking pride in growing a variety of different types of fruits and vegetables. He enjoyed watching Hogan’s Heroes, British comedies, and of course, James Bond movies. He liked playing golf, which seemed to always result in his score being calculated in a “very creative way”. He also loved sharing his wisdom and strong opinions on politics and religion, leading to many dynamic family discussions at the dinner table. Family dinners will not be the same without him.

The family wishes to extend a special thank you to Joycelyn, Ayden, and Angela for their care, compassion, and support for John over the past few years. They would also like to thank the staff at the Ottawa General Hospital, 5th Floor Acute Monitoring Unit, for their exceptional care and kindness.

Family and friends are invited to attend a Funeral Service celebrating John’s life at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, 20 Young Road, Kanata, on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. A gathering will follow in the church’s reception hall from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., and all are invited to join the family, even if unable to attend the service.

For those unable to attend the service in person, a live stream and recording will be available at: https://stpaulshk.org/watch/.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to Gideons–ShareWord Global would be appreciated.