Bernard Wayne Whittaker
July 4, 1942 - April 28, 2026
Funeral Details: A Celebration of Life to honour both Wayne and Pat Whittaker will be held at 1:00 p.m., on June 13, 2026, at Adams Funeral Home (445 St. Vincent St, Barrie, ON L4M 6T5).
Bernard Wayne Whittaker of Barrie, Ontario passed away on April 28, 2026, at the age of 83, after a brief, yet intense battle with cirrhosis.
Born on July 4, 1942, in Montreal, Quebec, Wayne was the third and ultimately middle son to Helen née McGuire and John Whittaker. He grew up on Montreal’s East Side, getting into no end of mischief as any child of six was wont to do with two working parents. He graduated high school from Cardinal Newman, then attended Holy Cross Preparatory Seminary, in Dunkirk, NY, with the intention of entering the priesthood. Not at all suited to the solitary life, he returned to Montreal and shortly thereafter, married Geraldine Patricia née Thompson, his wife of 55 years.
Wayne pursued a career in accounting, working for Northern Electric (Nortel) for ten years before joining Canadian Industries Limited (CIL). Over the span of nearly four decades his work moved him and his family around the globe, to as near as Toronto, Ontario, and as far as Johannesburg, South Africa. Wayne ultimately retired to Sandy Cove Acres, in Innisfil, Ontario, having ended his career as Vice President and General Manager of Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI), Canada.
Wayne’s passion outside of the office was music. He was an accomplished singer, performing regularly with church and community choirs, glee clubs, barbershop choruses, quartets, and frequent karaoke nights. He loved performing and did so well into his final years. His rendition of Nat King Cole’s “Unforgettable” was just that.
Wayne was predeceased by his wife, Patricia, and brothers, John, Norman, Colin, and Lorne. He will be lovingly remembered by his only child, Melissa (Kirk), his grandchildren, Evelyn and Madelaine, and sister, Betty (Colleen), along with innumerable family and friends. As for the Montreal Canadiens, they have yet one more angel on their side. Go Habs Go!
A Celebration of Life to honour both Wayne and Pat Whittaker will be held at 1:00 p.m., on June 13, 2026, at Adams Funeral Home (445 St. Vincent St, Barrie, ON L4M 6T5).
In lieu of flowers, Memorial Donations may be made in Wayne’s name to Matthews House Hospice (131 Wellington St E., Alliston, ON).
Peaceful Transition Simcoe
Rolland Morier
Posted on: Thursday, May 14, 2026I would like to offer my condolences to Melissa and family for the loss of both of her parents Wayne and Pat. I worked with Wayne in the 1980’s and early 1990’s and in many ways he was a career mentor for me. I visited Wayne, Pat & Melissa at their house in Dearborn Michigan when I worked for a brief time in 1980 for Wayne at US-based C-I-L Chemicals Inc. as a rookie budget analyst. In 1988, Wayne persuaded me to return to Montreal to join the ICI Forest Products Control team after a stint at C-I-L headquarters. We became neighbours in Pointe-Claire and I regularly carpooled with Wayne & Pat to downtown Montreal (Pat was working for Sunlife at that time). Wayne & Pat were always very supportive and gracious with a terrific sense of humour. I will retain fond memories of them.
Richard Biernat
Posted on: Wednesday, May 27, 2026Extending my deepest sympathies to the entire Whittaker Family on the passing of Wayne with whom I worked at CIL (Forest Products) Montreal in the early 80’s and I will always warmly remember Wayne standing tall decision making at work and as an “Unforgettable” leader of the Montreal West island Barbershop Harmony Choir where we shared so many good times.