ForeverMissed
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This memorial website was created in memory of our loved one, Joseph Koshelanyk, 88 years old, born on January 9, 1925, and passed away on March 25, 2013. We will remember him forever.
April 5, 2013
April 5, 2013
I know my tears today will just be honouring what he did so well.
He was born in Caliento January 9 1925. His parents offered unconditional love and example of living their faith. Love then came easy, then having a blended family of 12 siblings.  Although different names, no one ever knew the difference between mine, yours and OURS.
April 5, 2013
April 5, 2013
Joe was preceased by his Dad Joseph Koshelanyk, mother Helen,and stepdad Mike,brothers, Marko, Ostap,Walter, Bill,Mike and Paul and sister Anne

IN OUR HEARTS YOU WILL LIVE FOREVER
REST IN PEACE TILL WE MEET AGAIN
Vitchnaya Pamiyat Uncle Joe
April 5, 2013
April 5, 2013
Uncle Joe leaves to leave to mourn his son Robert and wife Marina
Brother Pete and sister in law Helen
Brother John
Sister Stella
Sister Marie and brother in law Kasmir
Sister in laws Diane and Anne, nieces, nephews,family
April 5, 2013
April 5, 2013
At the end of summer it was time to go back to Toronto. Joe would hide for a couple days before he had to leave. He had everyone sobbing when it came to leave. Even a tough guy like my Dad could not hold back the tears. Just like today, we remember good times, happy memories but most of all mourn who we have lost and say, Good bye.
April 5, 2013
April 5, 2013
As Uncle Joe ducked down in front of the screen I filled a glass of water and hucked it through the screen.....the wet cyotee never scared us again! We would laugh until we cried! Saturday nights was Zabava on the radio! Heels were kicked up and dances were done.
April 5, 2013
April 5, 2013
As you know on a farm there are coyotes. But our farm had a certain mischievous "cayotee that would crawl on his knees through the corn in the garden and howl when Auntie Bella and Mom were picking corn or howl through the screen window trying to scare us while making supper in the basement. One evening we decided to fix our cayotee from howling at us!
April 5, 2013
April 5, 2013
Our special times were summers on the farm when Uncle Joe, Auntie Bella and Robert would drive up from Toronto to spend their summers with us.  Once out of the car, he was "HOME" again. Joe spent summers trimming trees, tapping moles, getting sprayed by a skunk, hauling gain at harvest, and cleaning the garage for Dad. He had a mischievous sense of humour.
April 5, 2013
April 5, 2013
During this time he joined the Toronto Terminals Baseball League. Homeruns, the wins, and even losses! He knew the players, their plays and who was good or bad! He also met a lot of hockey players at the train station. Leagues usually travelled by train,clearing customs, baggage and tips! One of his favorite was Tim Horton( died in crash), usually gave a $2.00 tip. Famous Tim Horton chain
April 5, 2013
April 5, 2013
Uncle Joe loved to watch baseball and hockey in his living room in his "chair". He cheered his team on whatever they played. Robert bought a radio to the hospital and both of them listened to the hockey game before Joe died. Joe's first job in Toronto was for Roger's Dairy as a milk man. ( he enjoyed the ladies). The next job was for Via Rail for 42 years.
April 5, 2013
April 5, 2013
Uncle Joe went to find employment in Toronto at a young age with his new bride Bella Maxymovich. She remained his bride for 60 years. He worked for 42 years for Via Rail. Just about 25 years into their married life came their miracle baby ...Robert, who was light of their life.
April 5, 2013
April 5, 2013
I am so glad to see so many of you here today and Uncle Joe would have been so happy. They say after you meet a person, your life will not be the same. Uncle was a kind, loving, gentle person who had a caring heart which had a space for each and every one of us. Uncle Joe was very sentimental and would cry at the drop of a dime when happy or sad.
April 5, 2013
April 5, 2013
My name is Gail Horobec my Dad Paul and Joe were brothers.....now reunited in Heaven.
It is indeed and honor and privilege to deliver the eulogy for my Uncle and Godfather Joseph Koshelanyk who passed away March 25 after a short battle with pneumonia 4 days after the passing of his brother Marko, aged 88 in Toronto.
April 3, 2013
Alan and I were just sharing a memory of your Dad, Rob, remarking on how moving it was watching him at your wedding to Marina. We will never forget his smiles and the tears rolling down his face. And I believe the band sang a few songs just for him and he sang along so happily. May you hold memories like these in your heart forever. much love, Krista, Alan (bro and sis in law) xxx
April 2, 2013
April 2, 2013
Joe was a great 'second dad' for me growing up on Winnipeg Road. I remember him as being always kind and patient as Rob & I played hockey on the driveway or played music in the basment. R.I.P Joe.
April 2, 2013
April 2, 2013
Your enjoyment of life bordered on gusto, especially when it came to food. You cried unashamedly when you were moved and played the harmonica when you were happy. You loved your son with an unmatched ferocity. You never complained, even when things got truly bad at the end. You were loved and you will be missed. 
Your daughter-in-law, Marina.
April 1, 2013
April 1, 2013
Linda and myself will always remember the visits with your Dad. Always fun times with him. Joe always had a smile in his heart and embraced life with laughter and courage. While working in Toronto, and staying with your Dad, I experienced the gentleness of his soul and the kindness of his heart, those memories will always be eternal.
March 31, 2013
March 31, 2013
A very kind and gentle man was Mr. Koshelanyk. He always treated me with respect even back when I was a young punk making lots of noise with my guitar in his basement while rehearsing with Rob. You will be missed!
March 30, 2013
March 30, 2013
A great man who's love and kindness stretched across provinces to all his family and friends. A quiet sentimental man who said more with a grin, a chuckle, a twinkle in his eye or a squeeze of the hand than he did with words. His love for Bella and Rob was limitless. You are so loved and you will be so greatly missed. You can sing and dance again now. Peace and Joy are yours forever.
March 29, 2013
March 29, 2013
Dad, I am going to miss you, but I thank you for sharing one more very important moment with me. You were a kind, gentle, thoughtful man who was loved and well respected by everyone who's path you crossed. Thank you for making me the person I am today. I am proud to be your son. Love you with all my heart. R.I.P.
March 29, 2013
March 29, 2013
Joseph Koshelanyk passed away peacefully on Monday March 25th, 2013 at 9:58pm after a short bout with pneumonia. Born in Caliento, Manitoba, on January 9, 1925, Joe married his late wife Bella on November 8, 1947. They moved to Toronto in the late 40s, where Joe worked for Via Rail until his retirement in 1990 after 42 years.

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April 5, 2013
April 5, 2013
I know my tears today will just be honouring what he did so well.
He was born in Caliento January 9 1925. His parents offered unconditional love and example of living their faith. Love then came easy, then having a blended family of 12 siblings.  Although different names, no one ever knew the difference between mine, yours and OURS.
April 5, 2013
April 5, 2013
Joe was preceased by his Dad Joseph Koshelanyk, mother Helen,and stepdad Mike,brothers, Marko, Ostap,Walter, Bill,Mike and Paul and sister Anne

IN OUR HEARTS YOU WILL LIVE FOREVER
REST IN PEACE TILL WE MEET AGAIN
Vitchnaya Pamiyat Uncle Joe
Recent stories

My Neighbour Joe

March 31, 2013

     Unfortunately, I met Joe later in his life, when I moved across the street in 2007. It didn't take long though until Joe, Bella and I became fast friends. Bella well into her eighties, was always out in her garden, and I went over frequently to learn tricks and tips from a master gardener. I'll never forget her laughing and telling me how Joe tried to help her with the gardening but would always pull out the plants instead of the weeds, so she was happier gardening without his assistance. My first memory of Joe was being incredibly struck by his brilliant blue eyes--they were like tiny lighening flashes when he smiled, yet so warm, striking, and soft. I remember thinking with those remarkable eyes this man had to be incredibly handsome when Bella fell for him--because even in his eighties he was still a looker!
     Bella was definitely the more rambuncious one, while Joe had a quiet, comforting serenity about him that you so enjoyed being around. After Bella passed away, Joe I know was lost without her. She was his everything, best friend, nurse, cook, caretaker, she worried about him so much after his stroke and tried her best to give him the best quality of life possible. After Bella passed things were never quite the same for Joe, although he carried on so valiently. 
    There used to be a large spruce tree in front of their house--it was quite big and I'm sure Bella being such an avid gardener loved that tree. Right after she passed Joe had the tree cut down. I couldn't help laughing thinking Bella would go nuts Joe, if she knew you had cut this down, But Joe never one to rock the boat had probably patiently waited years to eliminate that tree. Now he could finally look out his front window and really see the street--probably something he has wanted to do for years. He also had sod put down in Bella's vegetable garden, an unthinkable act while she was still alive, but maybe he had always wanted a completely green back yard too! 
       After Bella passed, I used to drive him to the bank on Fridays, so he could buy that winning lottery ticket. Once I asked, Joe what will you do with all that money if you win it? "Don't you worry, I'll look after you,."  he said. And I know he meant every word. When Bella passed many of the neighbors would bring Joe food since we knew Bella did most of the cooking, especially Leeanor next door, who was an amazing support to Joe. I asked him once if he had any allergies, or if there was any food he didn't like. "I'll eat anything," he said. "There isn't any food I don't like." And that was one of Joe's most endearing qualities. He was so appreciative of everything--never ever complained. He would always promply return my plastic food containers, usually the next day, clean and washed, often with a few candies to say thank you. He was the sweetest man.
   There were times when I would look out my window, it would be the middle of a snowstorm, and Joe in his late eighties would be outside shovelling the entire driveway himself. Up to the very end, no one else did that job for him--regardless of how much snow we had--he was a real trooper. 
   I look across the street now with incredible sadness because I have lost two treasured friends so close together. Part of me knows that Joe and Bella are together again and that they are incredibly happy--so happy in fact that Bella probably didn't even yell at him for cutting down that tree or eliminating her  vegetable garden! For me that house at 38 Winnipeg street will always be Bella's and Joe's--their lives, their memories are so etched in its history. Bella told me that when they came from Winnipeg and saw that there was a Winnipeg Street in Etobicoke that's where Joe decided he wanted to buy his first house and they never left it. You will never be forgotten Joe. Every time I look across the street I will think of you with the greatest sadness, but with such wonderful memories of those magical blue eyes I fell in love with the first time we met. I will always love you. Your neighbour and friend across the street,
Marina.Quattrocchi xxxooo
   

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