February 14, 1944 – March 7, 2022
Growing up in Barrie, my Dad, Jon Matthew Hennebry, discovered a love for the trumpet as a young boy. Luckily for all of us, this love carried on and he played in numerous bands – in London, in Mississauga, and finally when he moved back to Barrie in 1985, he joined the Barrie Concert Band, and shortly thereafter, the Skyliners Big Band. For the last 35 years he has been a fixture among the musical community in Barrie. When he wasn’t playing the trumpet, he was playing golf with his good friends, sailing with his daughter (Jenna) and grandson (Eli), talking about history with his son-in-law (Jalil), debating world politics and religion with his close friends by the lake, running the bases at the park near his childhood home, traveling with family and friends, or enjoying his home with the love of his life (Sheryl).
On Monday, March 7th, at 7:00pm, Jon died at home surrounded by love, after a fierce but too brief fight against cancer. We have lost him, but his strength of character and emotional depth, intense curiosity and provocative humour will resonate with all of us for years to come, and live on in his beloved 10 year old grandson, Eli. As a close musical friend said, “he was one of the few people I have known with the capacity to live “full out.” His sister, Lora, said, “he had more life in him than anyone.” His presence filled the room, as his niece once said. And, he certainly filled our hearts.
Jon, beloved husband of Sheryl Hennebry, father of Jenna Hennebry, father-in-law to Jalil Assoud, and special Grandpa to Eli Hennebry-Assoud, is deeply loved, and he will be missed by his many friends, bandmates, golf buddies, former schoolmates, neighbours, friends and family in Barrie and across Canada, in the US, Denmark, Spain and Morocco.
Please share your comments or photos in the space provided below. You can also feel free to send photos or messages directly to us, at [email protected]. We would like to compile them and display some at a musical tribute to Jon on May 21st at the SouthShore Centre. Further details will be shared on this page shortly.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre or Skyliners Youth Big Band. Please note the Skyliners Youth Big Band is a non-profit organization and tax receipts will not be issued. When making the donation please include "youth program" in the memo.
Online condolences may be made through adamsfuneralhome.ca.