Obituary for Joseph Philip Shaheen
Joseph (Joe) Philip Shaheen passed away at the age of 81 on Saturday, October 26, 2019 surrounded by his loving family at his home in Burlington, Ontario. Beloved and devoted husband to Ellen (nee Doyle) for 60 years, father and hero to Joanne (pre-deceased August 31, 2018), Deborah, Heather, Paul and daughter in law Denise (nee Jackson). Cherished grandfather and champion to Jamie, Cody, Luke, Jessie, Samantha, Jordan, Cole, Joseph, and great-grandfather to Aiden. Youngest brother to Tom, Ike, Lou, Mary, Peter, Alice, Stella, Martha, and uncle to many much-loved nephews and nieces in Nova Scotia, where he spent his first 21 years.
Just days after graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce from St. Francis Xavier University, Joe and Ellen married and flew west to Brockville, Ontario after Joe accepted a job offer in the accounting department at DuPont Canada. It wasn’t long before this charismatic rising star was head hunted by Merck Pharmaceuticals and Joe began his career in sales and executive management. This brought a move to Ottawa, where Joe and Ellen would spend the next 12 years raising their family, and where Joe would lay the foundation for a highly celebrated 35 year career in the pharmaceutical industry. His positions leading and training teams throughout North America would take the family to Quebec and Ontario, where they made dear and lifelong friendships. Joe was passionate about training and development, in and outside of corporate life, and his sarcastic and ‘punny’ sense of humor would make his many speeches unique and memorable. Any conversation with Joe left you feeling better about yourself and feeling stronger and more capable than you’d thought possible – most often without you knowing why!
As devoted as Joe was to his career, he was even more devoted to his family. It didn’t matter if he was on stage presenting to hundreds or sitting in a boardroom in Europe – the directive was, if Ellen or his kids called, put them through. This dedication to his family made the decision to retire at the peak of his career an easy one – at age 58, Joe left Merck to enjoy time with his family in Burlington. Joe would enlist his entrepreneurial spirit to work alongside his son Paul for the next 20 years at Burlington Krown Rust Control. At Krown, he enjoyed working on developing the business behind the scenes, while often seeking out conversations and ways to lighten the time for waiting customers.
Joe was an avid sports fan and enjoyed watching any good game, but he especially loved his hockey team, the Montreal Canadiens. Joe and Ellen also spent more hours than we can count cheering from the stands at local rinks, soccer fields, ball diamonds, and from the audience at dance recitals and graduations, always present to celebrate their children and grandchildren’s individual successes and milestones.
Joe was a competitor – he and Paul formed the Krown Rust Control bowling team in 1989 and would hit the lanes weekly for 30 years at Roseland bowl. He enlisted family and friends to participate in countless games of ladder ball and lawn darts at the family cottage in Rondeau Provincial Park. He hoisted the winning trophy multiple times at the annual horseshoe tournament, the Bigshoot Classic – and with a grin, would display it on the kitchen table through the next family dinner. He always had a trip to the casino planned with Ellen, Marg and Carl, and Denise made certain he got there whenever he felt up to it over the past year.
Joseph will be deeply missed by many family and friends but will live on in our hearts forever.
Friends may visit at Smith's Funeral Home (1167 Guelph Line, Burlington) on Wednesday, November 6, 2019 from 3-5 P.M. and 7-9 P.M. Mass will be celebrated at St. Paul The Apostle Roman Catholic Church (2265 Headon Road, Burlington) at 10:30 am on Thursday, November 7, 2019.
Just days after graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce from St. Francis Xavier University, Joe and Ellen married and flew west to Brockville, Ontario after Joe accepted a job offer in the accounting department at DuPont Canada. It wasn’t long before this charismatic rising star was head hunted by Merck Pharmaceuticals and Joe began his career in sales and executive management. This brought a move to Ottawa, where Joe and Ellen would spend the next 12 years raising their family, and where Joe would lay the foundation for a highly celebrated 35 year career in the pharmaceutical industry. His positions leading and training teams throughout North America would take the family to Quebec and Ontario, where they made dear and lifelong friendships. Joe was passionate about training and development, in and outside of corporate life, and his sarcastic and ‘punny’ sense of humor would make his many speeches unique and memorable. Any conversation with Joe left you feeling better about yourself and feeling stronger and more capable than you’d thought possible – most often without you knowing why!
As devoted as Joe was to his career, he was even more devoted to his family. It didn’t matter if he was on stage presenting to hundreds or sitting in a boardroom in Europe – the directive was, if Ellen or his kids called, put them through. This dedication to his family made the decision to retire at the peak of his career an easy one – at age 58, Joe left Merck to enjoy time with his family in Burlington. Joe would enlist his entrepreneurial spirit to work alongside his son Paul for the next 20 years at Burlington Krown Rust Control. At Krown, he enjoyed working on developing the business behind the scenes, while often seeking out conversations and ways to lighten the time for waiting customers.
Joe was an avid sports fan and enjoyed watching any good game, but he especially loved his hockey team, the Montreal Canadiens. Joe and Ellen also spent more hours than we can count cheering from the stands at local rinks, soccer fields, ball diamonds, and from the audience at dance recitals and graduations, always present to celebrate their children and grandchildren’s individual successes and milestones.
Joe was a competitor – he and Paul formed the Krown Rust Control bowling team in 1989 and would hit the lanes weekly for 30 years at Roseland bowl. He enlisted family and friends to participate in countless games of ladder ball and lawn darts at the family cottage in Rondeau Provincial Park. He hoisted the winning trophy multiple times at the annual horseshoe tournament, the Bigshoot Classic – and with a grin, would display it on the kitchen table through the next family dinner. He always had a trip to the casino planned with Ellen, Marg and Carl, and Denise made certain he got there whenever he felt up to it over the past year.
Joseph will be deeply missed by many family and friends but will live on in our hearts forever.
Friends may visit at Smith's Funeral Home (1167 Guelph Line, Burlington) on Wednesday, November 6, 2019 from 3-5 P.M. and 7-9 P.M. Mass will be celebrated at St. Paul The Apostle Roman Catholic Church (2265 Headon Road, Burlington) at 10:30 am on Thursday, November 7, 2019.