Alex passed away peacefully in his sleep on Friday morning, October 27, 2023.
Alex was the oldest of 7 children, born in the village of Sitnica (in Brest Oblast) Poland. At age 14, the family farm was seized by the Soviets and the family was forcefully sent to Vologda, Siberia. Brest Oblast then became part of the USSR, which is present day Belarus. From 1942 – 1951, Alex lived in Uzbekistan, Tehran (Iran), Haifa (Palestine) where he attended the Young Polish Army School, followed by England where he completed his Polish high school diploma.
The family, together again at last in England, immigrated to Vancouver in 1951. Alex was a longtime MacMillan Bloedel employee working at the Fraser River plywood mill. He was a very good carpenter and cherished his Fleming Street home he helped build in 1965.
Dad was a fixture in his neighbourhood. Due to his restless leg syndrome, he was constantly walking up and down the streets for kilometres, many times a day and night to help relieve his symptoms. Dad enjoyed interacting with others on his walks. This Fleming Street Patriarch was adamant that he would only leave Fleming Street when St. Peter tapped him on the shoulder to say it’s time to go to heaven’s gate. He got his wish.
Alex is survived by 4 children: Linda, Susie (Ralph), David and Dianne (Lory), 6 grandchildren, 1 niece and 2 nephews. Alex was predeceased by his parents Pavel and Anastasia, sister Anna and brother Elias.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, November 24, 2023 at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 1573 E. 18th Avenue at 2 p.m.