Joseph SLOMIANY

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SLOMIANY: Joseph Walter (Joe). March 19, 1933 – October 16, 2016. On October 24, 2016, we celebrated the life of our dear dad, father-in-law, papa, uncle and friend, “Joe Slo”, in the style he would haveliked, with polka music and laughter at Memories Chapel, gracefully celebrated by officiant Lydia Glawson. We then gatheredwith family and friends at his beloved Sokol Hall for a reception. A private family interment at the Brandon Cemetery will take place later this month. Joe passed away peacefully on October 16, 2016, having spent justover one day in the Brandon hospital. His loving heart had finallygiven out. While in declining health in recent months, his mindremained sharp to the end. He has been reunited with beloved wife ofalmost 57 years, Helen, whom he missed so much since her passing in2013. He and Helen were soul mates, connected by shared values, culture and their political activism. Always a fun couple, married in Winnipeg on June 9, 1956, Joe and Helen enjoyed dancing, bowling,get-togethers, gardening, and travelling together and later with their children. Joe and Helen were devoted to each other. Joe was Helen's rock, never more so when they were devastated by the death of their infant son Lenny in 1971. Joe's strong resolve to get through the grief helped all the family. He was a good provider, a loving husband who kept Helen laughing, and a devoted father and grandfather for whom nothing was too much of an effort when it came to his children and grandchildren. His kids were his joy and his priority. Mostly a quiet, content man, the outgoing side of Joe's personality was never more evident as when he served as master of ceremonies for various eventsor when being given the honour of delivering toasts at the weddings ofnieces, nephews and the children of his many life long friends. Joe was a true friend, generous with his time, money and hospitality. He worked tirelessly for his church, the Sokol, thecauses he believed in, and his community.Joe is survived by his loving and grateful children, Wanda (Michaelangello), Wally (Jenny), his cherished grandchildren Benjamin, Jeremy and Claire, his special nieces and nephews and their growing families of whom he was very proud, and many goodfriends old and new.Joe was proud and blessed to have his three beautiful, healthygrandchildren grace his life for these past thirteen years. Children ofall ages were special to Joe and he enjoyed playing practical jokes on them and with them; he really was a big kid at heart. Joe loved nature, and animals, especially his cairn terriers Skitter and Koko. Joe was predeceased by his dear wife Helen and precious infant son Leonard Joseph (Lenny). Close family members also predeceasedhim: parents Walter and Anelia Slomiany; infant sister Helena, sisterand brother in law Sophie and Stan Wasowicz, parents in lawLeonard and Mary Biczak and in-laws Jean Faires, Mary and LudwikKozlowski, and Karen Faires. Joe's father, Walter had come to Canada from Poland in the late1920’s to seek a better life for the family and was joined a few yearslater by Joe's mom Nellie and older sister Sophie. The family, havingendured the sad loss of infant Helena, welcomed the arrival of Joe, who was born in Brandon on March 19, 1933. Joe was a kind and devoted son and brother, maintaining his strong family ties until theend. Joe was a life-long resident of Brandon, proud of his Polish heritageand north end roots, and happy to have lived on the same east end street for almost 60 years, in the houses he helped build. Joe attended David Livingstone School and Brandon Collegiate Institute and manyof his school mates remained friends throughout his life. Joe's musical talents were apparent early; he treasured the accordionhis parents got for him from Italy, keeping it his whole life. It hasbeen the soundtrack for many a party. Joe also sang in the choir formany years at St. Joseph's Polish National Catholic Church; he lovedall kinds of music and enjoyed his record collection and attending concerts. Joe was very creative and developed his sign making craft while stillin school. He could build or repair almost anything, and in his younger days, he had a variety of jobs which fit his outgoing personality, shoe salesman, soft drink delivery driver, car salesman,and custodian. In the 1960s, building on his sign making experience, he began work in the print shop of Brandon University where forgedhis interest in progressive politics and found in Len Evans not only a mentor but life long friend. Joe worked with Len as his executiveassistant in the early 1970s and thrived in the political environment, interacting with many people from all walks of life, with the goal of making the world a better place. Joe returned to his sign painting career at CFB Shilo until his retirement in 1996. He enjoyed the workenvironment there, with people he cherished as friends, and who madeit fun for Joe. He took great pride in the work he created there, andserved as shop steward and local vice-president for the Union of National Defence Employees. Joe enjoyed twenty years of a relatively healthy and very full retirement, for which the family is so thankful, and he dedicated a lotof those years to the Polish Gymnastic Association “Sokol”. Joe had a long association with the Sokol and was a stalwart volunteer dating back to his days as the secretary of the organization through to the years he first served as president, from 1970-1975. He, along with Helen, were always active with the organization and he again served as president from 1984-1988. Joe was largely responsible for shepherding into fruition the Sokol Manor and Sokol SupportiveHousing Complex. In 1991, he began what was to be a continuous runas President until his passing. And that was appropriate, as the Sokol was a great part of Joe’s and his whole family’s life. Joe was proudthat the organization continues to thrive past its centennial year celebrated in 2013. The friendships forged at the Sokol, the goodtimes there, and the enjoyment he took in working with staff, volunteers and the public enriched his life tremendously. Joe worked tirelessly for his community through his long involvement with the New Democratic Party. He and Helen were honoured by the NDP for their work, receiving the Pioneer and Lucille Ono awards. He found inspiration for his approach to life in the words of one of the founders of the CCF, J.S. Woodsworth, who wrote, in part, “What we desire for ourselves, we wish for all. To this end, may we take ourshare in the world's work and the world's struggles.” Joe lived as he believed. You made us proud Pops! Thank you for everything you did to make our family happy, and this world a better place. We love you! “Wieczne odpoczywanie racz jej dac Panie.”Rest in Peace.Expressions of sympathy may be made at www.memorieschapel.com

As published in Brandon Sun on Nov 05, 2016