Friday, February 15, 2013

Richard Wojcik Funeral Director - Oswald Whitten Funeral Arrangements



OSWALD EDWARD WHITTEN
July 18, 1926 – January 28, 2013

            Peacefully, after a lengthy struggle with vascular dementia, Ozzie passed away at Deer Lodge Centre at the age of 86 years.
            Left to cherish Ozzie’s memory are his partner and best friend, Russ Thompson; sister Donna Magee of Melfort, SK; brother Wally Whitten of Boissevain, MB; sister in law Sylvia Whitten of High River, AB; brother in law Bill McMechan of Kelowna, BC; as well as nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents John and Debby (Smithson); sister Vera McMechan and brother Bob Whitten.
            Ozzie was born in Pipestone, MB and grew up on the family farm near Elgin, MB. He taught school briefly near Hartney, MB before being drafted into the army in 1944. After his discharge in 1945, Ozzie worked for the Canadian Bank of Commerce for ten years, at branches in SK, northwest ON and in Winnipeg. He grew tired of balancing people’s cheque books and cleaning out files however, and his earlier short stint as a teacher beckoned him back. In the late 1950’s he enrolled at United College (U. of W.) and obtained his degree. His high school teaching career began in Roland, MB and continued in Gladstone, MB for 27 years before his relocation to Charleswood in 1994.
            Ozzie loved language and taught French and English throughout his career. He continued his studies with courses at the Université de Laval in Quebec City and at the Université de Poitiers’ Language Institute in Tours, France. He also taught for a year in Lachute, Quebec at the height of the F.L.Q. Crisis in 1970.
            Another love of Ozzie’s life was drama and he produced many musicals and plays while in Gladstone. He even took drama classes at the Banff School of Fine Arts where one of his classmates was a young Michael J. Fox!
            And all this from a farm boy who did so poorly in school that he had to repeat part of his grade 12 in order to get his high school diploma!
            Perhaps Ozzie’s greatest passion was art. He loved to interpret the works of the Impressionists and his paintings are in private collections in many parts of the world.
            Travel was also a great part of Ozzie’s life and, with his partner, there were many trips to Mexico, the USA, New Zealand, the Caribbean and Europe, especially France and Portugal. Spending a month in Paris would be a highlight in anyone’s life.
            Ozzie loved to cook, loved a good party and loved good times with good friends. In short, he loved life and loved people!
            Our great thanks to all the staff and caregivers on T3 at Deer Lodge Centre. Their kindness and devotion was exemplary through Ozzie’s months of residency, and they became our friends.
            A reception celebrating Ozzie’s life will be held at Charleswood United Church, 4820 Roblin Boulevard on Thursday, March 7, 2013 at 2:00 p.m.
Richard Wojcik, Funeral Director of Wojcik’s Funeral Chapel & Crematorium, is in care of arrangements, 204 – 897 - 4665.

Ozzie, it’s been a pleasure and a privilege knowing you,
and a heck of a lot of fun!

Wojcik’s
FUNERAL CHAPEL & CREMATORIUM
2157 PORTAGE AVENUE
204 – 897 - 4665


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