Obituary of JAMES ALEXANDER BRECHKA

JAMES ALEXANDER BRECHKA “The Happy Hugger” Peacefully on Good Friday morning, Jimmy skipped up to the pearly gates to join his special friend, Jesus. He will be greatly missed by the love of his life, his wife of 46 years, Monica, 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 & Terri) and sisters Lucille (Bruno), Betty (Curtis & Christi), Trish (Willie – Lisa & Brad), Maryanne (Peter – David & Michelle) and Marlene (René); Aunty Marjorie; many cousins and friends across Canada and the USA. Jimmy was predeceased by his parents Michael & 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 & Monica Mortemore - Boggy Creek, MB. Jimmy’s father was born in 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 Sanitorium 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 new graduate, he worked for the Society for Manitobans with Disabilities (SMD) in northwestern Manitoba and later joined the Winnipeg Home Care Program. He really enjoyed working with his clients, their families and his fellow case coordinators. 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 & Europe), cooking thousands of spinach balls & devilled 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 will be his brother Knights of Columbus. To celebrate Jimmy’s life, a Prayer Service was led by Fr. Leo Couture at Cropo Funeral Chapel on Friday evening. Fr. Janusz Maron, OFM, Cap. will preside at the Funeral Mass at St. Alphonsus Church, corner of Munroe Ave. & Brazier St. today at 10:00 am, Saturday, April 26th. Special thanks to Dr. John Mayba, Manitoba Clinic; Dr. J. Lipschitz, HSC; Dr. R. Wong & staff at CancerCare Manitoba, St. Boniface Hospital; the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority’s Palliative Care Team – doctors (Chantel, Jonathon & Nicole), nurses and pharmacists. Special thanks go to Ken Zink & 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, e-mails, flowers, food, hugs, masses, novenas and prayers. Br. 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.