Catherine O'Hara's John Candy Eulogy

The lovely, talented Catherine O'Hara delivers her emotional eulogy at John Candy's Memorial Service on March 18, 1994 at St. Basil's Church in Toronto.
My John Candy story is discovering him in the 1984 movie "Splash", and then 4 years later learning he got his start on Second City Television, thanks to reruns aired on Nick at Nite. I would love to have met him on the sets of Planes, Trains & Automobiles and/or Canadian Bacon, had I known both movies were filmed in Buffalo, where I lived in the 1980s and 1990s.
It would have been so worth driving 2 hours to have attended this phenomenal event. Alas, I wasn't aware of such until the CBC special TO JOHN WITH LOVE showed a clip of Catherine's eulogy.
Kudos to David Kohl, for uploading the complete memorial service, which can be found here: • John Candy's Memorial ...

[@johnboutet7560]

I watched this live. I cried like a baby that night and here I am doing the same, 30 years later. What beautiful words. She adored him...as we all did. Has anyone that was ever put on this planet been more respected and loved than John? I can't think of anyone. Miss you John.

[@sralyn]

Big hugs

[@micelle4143]

I was crushed when he passed away, I remember it like it was yesterday 😢 I loved his career in its entirety ❤

[@Wildrover82]

Everyone loved John Candy. Seemed like a lovely guy. Sadly missed. Lovely eulogy from Catherine.❤️

[@goofusmaximus1482]

And now today on March 4th, 2024 its now 30 years since he left us. And we still mss him dearly!

[@sralyn]

Yup. And now it's Catherine's big 7-0. My heart breaks for her, as John died right on her 40th birthday.

[@womblediehard123]

30 years since this comedy legend passed. John Candy will never be forgotten because of his movie catalogue. My children love his movies so go figure he is going to live forever through his greatness of movie making.

[@brendankobliuk7679]

We should all have a friend who could speak so eloquently when we leave this Earth, although, if you were as good of a human being as John Candy was, it makes finding those words a little bit easier.

[@davidpietarila699]

A class act speaking eloquently about a class act.

[@Belluser-we1uc5cb2l]

Crying watching this while watching his movie "It seem like a good idea" 1975. 🙏 Rip.

[@clarkwright7525]

What a beautiful human being she is.

[@sralyn]

Outside and inside. ❤

[@badeugenecops4741]

It was beautiful, just beautiful.

[@user-cv2nr9jy4z]

I love John. Brings people spirits up. We miss John . . . . a lot.

[@gerryst-aubin5877]

Found this on April 2, 2024, the day we learned that Joe Flaherty passed away. Continue to rest in peace John and welcome Joe home when he arrives. Heaven is in for some great laughs when this comedic duo are reunited.

[@sralyn]

💔 🥀 He was, is, and always will be the love of my life in Second City fandom. Deep down I think I loved him more than Harold Ramis.

[@Hermacles]

Thank you for posting this. I've been thinking about John Candy today for some reason. I think I needed some joy and John is the cure. RIP John Candy

[@user-hm5zb1qn6g]

"Or maybe you're here at St. Basil's tonight because you were friends with John at school. And when he became famous you got all shy about calling him, little knowing you were in his thoughts, but he was too shy to call you."

[@AMDbAmber-Mad-Database]

Well, it was some birthday for Miss O'Hara!

[@fivehead6675]

A terrible birthday

[@MichaelMiller-ny3rr]

Wonderfully done Catherine! John is proud of you for it. 🙏❤️🙏❤️🙏❤️🙏❤️🙏

[@garywilder6643]

Catherine O'Hara is so cool. Thank you for the upload, Sra. This is amazing. Feeling it.

[@aarsonbet]

God Bless you for posting this! I remember watching John’s memorial mass live from St. Basil’s Church on CHCH on a Friday in March 1994. I’ve searched for this service, and Catherine’s wonderful eulogy, everywhere over the years, and yours is the first time I’ve seen it posted. Thank you, and God Bless John Candy!

[@sralyn]

Aww, you're precious.

[@hectorlopez1069]

She's a Canadian from Toronto, just like john candy. They were friends in real life.

[@phillipgonzales4617]

This made me cry but it made me laugh more. Thank you Ms. O’Hare

[@ImActuallyDanBell]

Catherine is lovely, RIP John Candy

[@eaglesflyhigh5015]

I’m always looking for John Candy movies, my favorite is “COOL RUNNINGS” & HOME ALONE, Uncle Buck.

[@hectorlopez1069]

Both Catherine and John did the final scene where he helps her with a ride to Chicago in Home Alone.

[@uhfnutbar1]

Thank you john says it all

[@yvesgenereux3994]

Great Canadian girl …

[@alukuhito]

Am I just imagining things? I know he was buried in L.A., but it seems to me that there was also some sort of procession on the 401 in Toronto and the highway was temporarily closed. I was living in Toronto at the time and it was a huge loss for Canada.

[@msdixieblues]

Thank you for this footage. Is the entire funeral online?

[@sralyn]

Yup. The link is on the video description, courtesy of David Kohl.

[@TrueNovice]

Was this on the networks in Canada? I don't remember coverage in the USA except on the news. Thirty years ago, it's almost unbelievable how time flies.

[@sralyn]

It was on CHCH, which at the time Buffalo didn't have on cable.

[@honeypie784]

😢

[@RaffaelCalaori]

😢💔🙏🏻

[@jrnumex9286]

"i didn't think it was mt place to tell the ole fat F to ease up on the chow....."

[@muppetmike69]

It’s heartbreaking that he died so young 😢😢 he was hilarious loved all his films and in that van on Home Alone the story of him leaving a child at a funeral home was pure class and I was crying with laughter 😂 John Candy you were an amazing human being you are missed 😢

[@sralyn]

That's what this poem I wrote soon after is all about: He was a wonderful man, a generous man, a hilarious man with a zest for life, and a brilliant career yet his future on earth was swept away too soon He has earned a place in heaven for all his hardships and all of his work yet he made the most with his friends and family but all of his happiness and all of his joy were swept away too soon We must now forget the past and we must get on with life and its ups, downs, and sidewayses yet we must always remember this genuine person since memories are all we now have because his great life was swept away too soon