John Fedorchuk

John Fedorchuk
Aged 89, he died on January 28, 2014 in Etobicoke General Hospital, Toronto.
John was born in Chortkiv, Ukraine, on June 24, 1924, the third of four children and the last of his immediate family to pass away. His childhood was poor and difficult. He liked school and completed a post high school diploma while helping his family, including shovelling and delivering gravel by horse and cart. He served in WW11 with the Ukrainian Division.
After the war, he was fortunate to make his way to Germany, England and finally to Canada, arriving at Pier 21 in Halifax. He travelled by train to Sudbury where he had relatives and secured a job in the mine. He married Kathleen Yemchuk of Sudbury. In addition to working in the mines, John built homes. Finally, after 18 years he was able to leave the underground and realize a boyhood dream to pour beer and own a hotel. John and Kathleen took up ownership of the West Hotel in Thunder Bay in 1967.They ran the hotel for some 20 years. John continued to buy properties and to build homes in Thunder Bay.
John was a member of the Ukrainian Catholic Church and participated actively in Ukrainian cultural organizations. He loved to sing and was a choir member.
He was mostly self- educated and was an avid reader of Ukrainian and English newspapers. He kept well informed of world political events. He readily shared his ideas and discussed current events with his friends.
In 2000, John relocated to Toronto to a small apartment building he had purchased. Later he was joined there by his wife. Lastly, he lived in a retirement home in Mississauga.
John took a serious, responsible and moral approach to his life. He loved nature and Ukrainian cultural events. Together with Kathleen he was able to acquire sufficient wealth for himself and his family and he extended charity to his church and cultural organizations.
He provided a good role model for his children. He is survived by his wife Kathleen and four children; Mary (Bill), Bohdan, Lisa (Dave), and Darousia (Jeff);six grandchildren, Ava, Zack, Emory, Max, Nicholai, and Katie; three great grand- children, Connor, Mallory and Lydia.
There will be no visitation or funeral. A celebration of John’s life will be held at a later date. On-line condolences may be made by visiting www.wardfuneralhome.com