James BRECHKA

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

BRECHKA: James Alexander Brechka, “The Happy Hugger”. October 5, 1938-April 18, 2014. Peacefully on Good Friday morning, Jimmy skipped up to the pearly gates to be with his special friend, Jesus, after a short, courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Jimmy welcomed everyone with open arms. His hugs were warm and enveloping. He loved wearing his multi-coloured Hawaiian shirts. Jimmy will be greatly missed by the love of his life, Monica, his wife of 46 years, and his daughter Kim, son-in-law Denis and beautiful grandchildren Patrice and Paul-James Sibilleau. He also will be missed by his brother Bill (Audrey - Danny and Terri) and sisters Lucille (Bruno), Betty (Curtis and Christi), Trish (Willie - Lisa and Brad), Mary Anne (Peter - David and Michelle), Marlene (René); Aunty Marjorie; many cousins and friends across Canada and USA. Jimmy was predeceased by his parents Michael and Mary (Bachinski); brother Johnny; uncles Joe, Walter, Mike, Frank, Tom, and John; aunts Pauline B., Anne and Pauline M.; niece Rhea; cousins Nancy and Susan; and his in-laws Jim and Monica Mortemore, Boggy Creek, MB. Jimmy was proud of his Ukrainian and Polish heritage. His father was born at Nowasilka, Ukraine and his maternal grandparents were born in Poland. As a child, he attended Ukrainian language classes and volunteered as an altar server where he loved to ring the bells. Born in Brandon, Jimmy attended David Livingstone, Earl Oxford and Brandon Collegiate. He worked at the Sanitarium Board of Manitoba in Brandon and Winnipeg (Rehabilitation Hospital). He attended the University of Manitoba and achieved his dream of attaining his Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Social Work degrees. As a social worker, he enjoyed working with his clients, their families, and fellow case coordinators within the Home Care Program. He served his church community with unconditional love; asking himself “What would Jesus do?” and then doing it. Everything he did was done with a “joie de vivre” - his extended family, profession, Nathanael program, ARISE group, bowling, golfing, camping, fishing, reading, visiting Folklorama, travelling (across Canada, USA, Hawaii and Europe), cooking thousands of spinach balls and deviled eggs to give away at CWL, K. of C. and church events. He had a passion for history and firmly believed in life-long learning. Jimmy was a proud member of East Kildonan Council #4107, Knights of Columbus, and wore his loudest Hawaiian shirts to attract attention while selling tickets at local stores and Kildonan Place. He was a staunch supporter of the Catholic Women’s League of Canada - St. Al’s Council, Diocesan Councils of St. Boniface, Winnipeg and Keewatin-The Pas, as well as, the National Council. He received a Certificate of Merit and pin from the St. Boniface Diocesan Council. Gido, Patrice and Paul-James witnessed Monica/Baba receiving her Life Membership at the National Convention in Edmonton and giving her first oral report as Manitoba Provincial President at the National Convention in Regina. Pallbearers were his brother Knights of Columbus. Truth be told, Jimmy wanted everyone attending the Prayers and Funeral to consider themselves Honourary Pallbearers. To celebrate Jimmy’s life, Prayer Service was led by Fr. Leo Couture at Cropo Funeral Chapel, 1442 Main Street, Winnipeg, on Friday, April 25 and Fr. Janusz Maron, OFM, Cap. presided at the Funeral Mass at St. Alphonsus Church, corner of Munroe Ave., & Brazier St. at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 26. Special thanks to Dr. John Mayba, Manitoba Clinic; Dr. J. Lipschitz, HSC; Dr. R. Wong and staff at CancerCare Manitoba, St. Boniface Hospital; the Winnipeg Regional Health Authorities Palliative Care Team - doctors, (Chantel, Jonathon and Nicole), nurses and pharmacists. Special thanks go to Ken Zink and Colleen Barton at Ebbeling Pharmacy; staff at Tache Pharmacy; regular nurse, Ola; and nurse Ann, who was present to Jimmy and I when he left us. Thank you everyone for the calls, cards, emails, flowers, food, Masses, Novenas and Prayers. Fr. Janusz and Fr. Leo, thank you, for preparing Jimmy for the journey home. Flowers are gratefully declined. If you wish, donations in Jimmy’s memory, can be made to St. Alphonsus Church; St. Alphonsus School; Bishop Velychkovsky Martyr’s Shrine, 250 Jefferson Ave., Winnipeg, R2V 0M6; or Pancreatic Cancer Canada, 30 Concourse Gate, Unit 27, Ottawa, Ontario, K2E 7V7.“Toodles” and, until we meet again. “May God hold you in the palm of His hand”

As published in Brandon Sun on Apr 26, 2014