Obituary for
George Frederick
We are heartbroken to announce the passing of
George Gustantine Frederick. Predeceased by his
son Joseph, brother Ray, mother Annie (Koltalo),
and father Constantine Gustantine, George is
survived by his wife Marion (nee Beatty) of 63
years, sister Christine (Bert), brother Robert (Doris),
children Pam, Chris (Megan) and Toni-Lynn (Jamie),
and grandchildren Jennifer, Erin, Adam, Lori, Sam,
and Nicholas.
Delivered by his grandmother and the neighbor in
the front room of the family homestead near Anola,
Manitoba, on October 21, 1926, George was raised
next to the railroad tracks in the border town of
Fort Frances, Ontario.
In September 1943, at 16 years of age, George and
three friends hopped a freight train to Winnipeg in
order to join in the Royal Canadian Navy. After being
turned away, the boys came across a Merchant
Navy recruiting office, and all of them signed up.
George, however, was the only one to follow
through. In April 1944, he took a passenger train to
St. Margaret’s Sea Training School in Hubbards,
Nova Scotia. Four weeks later, he set sail in a
convoy across the hostile Atlantic Ocean.
After the war, George trained as a watchmaker in
Winnipeg. He relocated to Edmonton where he
met Marion on a blind date. The couple married in
1955, and settled in North Vancouver in 1965 where
they raised their four children. For over 50 years,
he worked as a timelock inspector, repairing the
timelocks on bank vaults and safes throughout
Western Canada.
Detailed, determined, honest, and hardworking,
George took his civic duty seriously. He is a founding
member of the Ridgeway Ratepayers Association,
past member of the Knights of Columbus, former
Membership Chairman of the Canadian Merchant
Navy Veterans Association, and recently retired
Service Officer of 17 years for Branch 118 of the
Royal Canadian Legion.
Inventor of both “the finger” and the “comeback,”
George loved his family, a good laugh, a great story,
and a long drive. To know George was to know a
good man. He didn’t suffer fools, rarely complained,
and had no time for phonies. A master storyteller,
with a touch of the absurd, he did not pass willingly
from this world: he fought tooth and nail – tough to
the very end – and we have no doubt that his epic
battle has made headlines in heaven.
The family wishes to thank Dr. Jonathan Pearce
and the Palliative Care team at St. Paul’s Hospital,
as well as Shylo caregivers Grace, Evelyn, Harry,
Batool, and Tomi.
A Funeral Mass and reception will take place at 11am
on May 30th at St Edmund’s Catholic Church,
535 Mahon Avenue, North Vancouver.
We welcome you to view the following documentary and news pieces involving George Gustantine Frederick.
vimeo.com/271594956
globalnews.ca/video/4098474/discovering-the-benefits-of-music-therapy-in-b-c-hospitals
vancouversun.com/news/local-news/st-pauls-hospital-music-therapy-relieves-pain-for-palliative-patients
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Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de George Gustantine Frederick 1926 2018.source
Décès pour la Ville: Burnaby, Province: Colombie britanique
