March 24, 1951 – March 10, 2026
John Vellinga, born March 24, 1951, passed away peacefully at the age of 74 on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. He is now at rest in the loving care of God.
John was the beloved husband of Mary Theresa “Terri” Vellinga (née Thompson) for 53 years and a devoted father to his daughters, Christy Vellinga (Joe Cancilla) and Leslie Duncan (née Vellinga) (Catherine Bryant). He was a proud and loving grandfather to Hudson and Emmett Cancilla, and Abigail and Madison Duncan, who were a constant source of joy and pride in his life. John’s greatest joy was his family.
He was predeceased by his parents, John and Marguerite Vellinga, and by his twin brother, Frank Vellinga. John is survived and will be deeply missed by his brothers Ron Vellinga (Monica predeceased) and Vic Vellinga (Lori Aylwin). John was also predeceased by his parents-in-law, Mary and John Thompson. He will be fondly remembered by his sisters/brothers-in-law, including Patti Ann Paton (Trell Adams), Dennis Thompson (Darlene), Yvonne Fox (Steve), Darryl Thompson (Janet), Paul Thompson (Myka), and Casey Thompson (Kristi). John will be remembered with great affection by his many nieces and nephews, all of whom held a special place in his heart.
Born in Toronto, John made Barrie his home in 1972, building a life rooted in faith, family, and community involvement. A hardworking and dedicated professional, John was a home builder, taking great pride in his craftsmanship.
John was known for his great sense of humour, warm heart, and easy friendliness. He truly embraced life — whether travelling, golfing, boating, cruising, enjoying time in Florida, relaxing at the lake, or sharing meals and laughter with family and friends. He lived with gratitude and joy.
John will be remembered for his strong work ethic, generous spirit, love of life, and the countless smiles he brought to those around him. May he rest in eternal peace.
Visitation will be held at Adam’s Funeral Home in Barrie on Sunday, March 15, 2026, from 12pm to 2pm and 4pm to 6pm. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Mary’s Church (65 Amelia St., Barrie) on Monday, March 16, 2026, at 10am, with interment to follow at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery (201 Sunnidale Road., Barrie), then a luncheon at Michael & Marion’s (89 Bayfield Street, Barrie).
For those wishing to view the service from the comfort of home, you may do so by clicking the following link: St. Mary’s Parish – Barrie | Facebook
The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to Dr.Scheeres, Dr. Dibajnia, Nurse Erika, Dr. Stef, and the entire team at the RVH Hudson Regional Cancer Centre, as well as the nursing staff at Hospice Simcoe, for their compassionate care, dedication, and unwavering support throughout John’s journey.
Donations in John’s memory may be made to the Hudson Regional Cancer Centre through the RVH Foundation or to Hospice Simcoe.
Messages of condolence may be forwarded to the family through adamsfuneralhome.ca.
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