It is with great sadness but with fond memories of Gerry Pascal that PAJU informs our members and friends who knew him, of his passing on May 25, 2026, two days before his 93rd birthday.
Gerry was among the first members of PAJU and attended the PAJU vigils held each Friday on a constant basis for many years up to his bout with Parkinson’s disease. Everyone who knew Gerry recognized in him a man of great integrity, soft-spoken, amiable and a beacon for social justice. We remember him arriving at our vigils on his bicycle to greetings of ‘Hi Gerry! Glad you’re here!’ We will miss him but he will remain in our hearts and memories!
Below, the obituary of an amazing man, Gerry Pascal, as appeared in the Montreal Gazette.
Palestinian and Jewish Unity
Gerald Ronald Pascal (Gerry) Obituary
Gerry Pascal died peacefully at home on 25 May 2026, two days before his 93rd birthday. He is survived by his dear sisters Judith “Judy” Spencely (Rick) and Heather “Toddie” Henderson (Chris), their children and grandchildren, and many loving friends.
Gerry lived an astonishing life; fully and humbly devoted to peace, beauty, and the Earth.
Born Jerry Pasieka in 1933 in Winnipeg, he was raised by nuns in a “home for foundlings,” and then fostered out. In one family, he was set to work as a farm-hand. This began his life-long passion for gardening and defence of the earth. Gerry’s life was defined by turning difficult experience into learning and loving. His love for the nuns who raised him and his commitment to Catholicism never wavered.
Gerry changed his name to Gerald Pascal in his 20s. Graduating with a Bachelor of Arts from St. Paul’s College (University of Manitoba), he moved to Ontario in the 1950s to enter seminary but soon decided the priesthood was not for him. Moving to Montreal, he quickly got involved in the social justice movements of the 1960s. Gerry’s thinking and engagement were shaped by his early Jesuit training, the Catholic Workers’ Movement, liberation theology, and his extensive travels and reading. Among his inspirations were Tony Walsh, Dorothy Day, Gandhi, and Martin Luther King. Nonviolence was his guiding principle. He strove to fully live out his principles and devoted his life to making the world a more peaceful, beautiful and just place.
Only Gerry could have recounted all the contributions he made to social justice. Here are just a few examples. From 1970 to 1980, Gerry directed the Benedict Labre House, a community for homeless men, steering it towards social justice and cooperation. Through the Benedict Labre House, he helped found Chez Doris for women and a city-wide support network, RAPSIM. Under his leadership, Benedict Labre House supported the National Farm Workers Association’ grape boycott to improve the labour conditions of migrant farmworkers in California. During this time, Gerry was the editor of Unity, a journal inspired by The Catholic Worker newspaper. In the 1980s, he threw himself into the anti-nuclear, disarmament and peace movements, joining Project Ploughshares Montreal and organizing and participating in major peace marches, such as one from Panama to Mexico City (1985-86) against the American-backed Contras.
His travels for peace took him to Chiapas (on an international human rights mission), Haiti, India, Ireland, and many other places. Gerry was involved in countless indigenous solidarity efforts: against low-level military flights over Innu lands, the Wampum Centre, Amitié Lubicon-Quebec and much more. Gerry was at the Centre de ressources sur la non-violence for three decades, coordinating the Native Solidarity Committee, managing the library and archives, writing articles, and keeping the Centre running. Gerry supported the Palestinian cause through his writing and participation in Palestinian and Jewish Unity (PAJU)’s weekly pickets against Israeli apartheid. He also supported Abdelkader Belaouni’s three-year resistance to deportation in church sanctuary.
An enthusiastic environmentalist, Gerry travelled the city by bicycle until his late 80s. Living in voluntary poverty, he practised (and preached!) zero waste and consumption, was an avid recycler and composter, and beautifully restored broken objects and clothing he found on the streets. What he couldn’t use he gave away or sold, along with seedlings he grew, and donated the proceeds to the Centre de ressources sur la non-violence and other groups. Gerry co-founded a community garden in Verdun, where he kept a plot for decades, right up to his 90th year. He also maintained a garden at his church for several years, growing fresh vegetables for the priests. He canned what he couldn’t use or give away, baked his own bread, and his meat pies will forever be remembered.
In March 2006, when he was 72, Gerry found his family. Traced by his sister Judy, he connected with half-sisters he never knew he had, his nieces and nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews, and extended family. He learned that his mother, who he had seen for the last time when he was five, had lived to 95. Visiting every Christmas and warmly welcomed on all special occasions, he found a true home in his beloved family.
In 2020, Gerry was diagnosed with Parkinsons. Citing his early life experience, he was adamant that he did not want to be institutionalized. With the support of friends, neighbours, family, the Verdun CLSC, and daily accompaniment by migrant care-givers, he was able to remain in his home, right to the end.
Despite its difficulties, Gerry loved life! He loved travelling, exchanging ideas, reading, learning and writing, growing flowers and vegetables, adopting cats and doves, making and restoring furniture, art and clothing, meeting people, and creating community. Everyone who met Gerry will remember his warm, delighted smile. He died peacefully, in his own home; his breath and heart gradually, gracefully conceding to mortality. As he wished, Gerry will be buried in Alberta, with his mother, Anne Pasieka Murray.
A funeral will be held at St. Willibrord’s Church, 351 Willibrord St., Verdun on Saturday, 13 June 2026 at 11am, followed by a reception at Gerry’s home, 452 2nd Avenue, Verdun from 12:30 to 5pm.
In Gerry’s last years, he was cared for by migrant caregivers. With compassion and patience, they gave, far above and beyond, to ensure that Gerry’s wishes to stay in his home were respected. They are now out of work. If you wish to make a donation in memory of Gerry, please consider giving to them. Email donations to gerrycaregivers@gmail.com.
Published on June 1, 2026 in the Montreal Gazette
Events
Funeral service
Saturday, June 13, 2026
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Reception
Saturday, June 13, 2026
12:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Verdun
