Brent Alexander Coney

1951 - 2000  (48 years)

• Name	Brent Alexander Coney
  Born	9 Dec 1951	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1, 2]
  Gender	Male
  Interesting	life story
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-51690
  Died	22 Oct 2000	Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  	Cause: cancer
  Buried	Parkview Cemetery, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  Person ID	I51690	Generations
  Last Modified	25 Apr 2024

  
  

  Father	Dr. Edward A. "Ted" Coney,   b. 11 Nov 1918, , North Dakota ,   d. 24 Apr 2011, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 92 years)
  Mother	Wilma Ruth Duncan,   b. 7 Sep 1923, Moose Jaw, , Saskatchewan, Canada ,   d. 28 Dec 1986  (Age 63 years)
  Family ID	F41138	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Photos

  Brent Coney

  
  

• Notes

  Coney, Brent. A. - Peacefully, at home in Waterloo, on Sunday evening, Oct. 22, 2000, age 48 years. Dear son of Dr. E. A. "Ted" Coney of Waterloo. Predeceased by his beloved mother, Wilma, in 1986. Loving brother of Daryl and his wife Agnes and their son, Alexander of Toronto. He is also fondly remembered by his aunts, uncles, cousins and many, many friends. Brent was one of Waterloo's greatest promoters. For over 30 years, he regularly attended all council meetings in Waterloo and took a great interest in all of council decisions. Following most council meetings, Brent would write letters to various members of council, city staff and friends in which he shared his thoughts and included previous dates and actions of council on related issues. He had an excellent memory for dates and events. Many times he would politely correct people with the proper date of a specific event or who was mayor or councillor at a certain time. Brent was a former employee of Waterloo Glove and most recently worked at Central Meat Market. At both places of employment, Brent was an outstanding ambassador of goodwill for the business. He was a faithful member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Waterloo. Brent will be remembered for his unconditional friendship to everyone, his enthusiasm for political history and his incredible memory for dates, times and events. Brent's family will receive friends at the Edward R. Good Funeral Home, 171 King St. S. in Waterloo, from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. on Wednesday. The funeral service will be held at St. John's Lutheran Church, 22 Willow St. in Waterloo, on Thursday, Oct. 26, 2000 at 11 a.m. with Rev. Joe Habibullah officiating. Interment to follow in Parkview Cemetery, Waterloo. Donations to the Canadian Cancer Society or St. John's Lutheran Church would be appreciated as expressions of sympathy. Following the committal service at the cemetery, friends and relatives are invited to the Reception Room of the funeral home for refreshments and a time to visit with the family. The Record, 23 October, 2000 ______________________ "An extraordinary life" by Barbara Aggerholm, Record Staff Brent Coney was different...in so many wonderful ways There are times when Brent Coney can hardly bear to walk home from school. Thank goodness for the kind lady who invites him into her house until the bullies disappear. His parents can't help but wonder what the future will hold for Brent. Little do they know that one day, decades later, Brent will have so many friends that they fill a city church. Little do they know his buddies will include Waterloo's mayor, a fire chief, a member of Parliament and owners of jewelry stores and fine restaurants. If Waterloo Glove was Brent's proving ground [where he worked for 13 years], Central Meat Market is where he shines. He's the store's good will ambassador, the guy who seems to know everyone and everything. If you're lucky, you'll get one of Brent's newsletters, a hobby that goes back as far as his fascination for politics. Typewritten in capital letters with creative spelling, they're full of news he gleans from conversations in the back room at Frank's Jewellers, from telephone calls to councillors and from hours spent at Waterloo Public Library. Brent spends a lot of time with his friend Fire Chief Max Hussey, who takes him along on his business calls. One day, when Hussey is all decked out in his gold-trimmed fire chief's uniform, he takes a walk with Brent in Uptown Waterloo. To his amusement and pleasure, he hears people ask: "Who's that with Brent Coney?" ...Brent's esophagus had been removed in a bid to fight the cancer that had invaded his body. But now the insidious disease is back. The friends talk together. What would Brent like most in the world? Kitchener-Waterloo MP Andrew Telegdi arranges a lunch for Brent with the prime minister. But Brent is too sick [for the trip]. His friends at Waterloo City Hall have another idea. Why not make Brent "Mayor for a day?" Monday, June 12 is one of the best days of Brent's life. As mayor, he chooses what he wants to do most: tour the site of the proposed Millennium Recreation Park, then put on a firefighter's helmet and bunker gear and ride a fire truck as it races to a call, sirens screaming. Brent tries his hand at operating a forklift truck. Then he proudly climbs into a street sweeper for the ride of his life across town to Waterloo City Hall. When he arrives he's walking three feet off the ground. Café Bon Choix owner Bassam Chalhoub surprises him with desserts and treats waiting in the lobby. "He's honest, he's pure, and he doesn't tell a lie," Chalhoub says. "He is what you see." Brent grins from ear to ear the whole day. That evening, he sits in the mayor's chair where he is photographed, surrounded by the councillors. It's a photograph that later keeps him company in the living room of his Waterloo home where Ted [his father] sets up a hospital bed so Brent can receive a steady stream of friends. On Oct. 22, at 10 p.m. Brent Alexander Coney dies in his bed. It's at the funeral that Ted gets a glimpse of Brent's significance to the fire chief and the firefighter; the restauranteur and the cashier. Hundreds of people pack St. John's Lutheran Church for his funeral. The day before, they line up for more than two hours to say good-bye at the Good funeral home, where Brent had spend so many hours chatting with one of the owners, his good friend Jim Erb. The funeral procession passes Waterloo City Hall, where the flag flies half staff in Brent's honour. Privately, a mother brings her two young children to look at the flag and talk about Brent Coney's beautiful life. If they grow up "even half of the integrity, commitment, dedication, purpose and positive attitude that their friend Brent... had towards life and people, then I will be a most pleased and proud mom," Laurie Lessard tells her children. "Brent would like this (story) you know," Hussey say. "You might even get a phone call from him." Excerpts from the two full pages of The Record, Saturday, December 2, 2000 Perspectives, pg H1

  
  

• Sources

  [S490] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - The Record (1994-March 2008), Obituary of Brent A. Coney - 23 October, 2000. [S568] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo City - Parkview CC#4513 Internet Link. Coney/ Edward A./ 1918- / Wilma R./ 1923-1986/ Brent/ 1951- / in loving memory

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 9 Dec 1951 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - Cause: cancer - 22 Oct 2000 - Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Buried - - Parkview Cemetery, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth