“ THE DUKE”
We would like to thank each and everyone of you for taking this time to support our family and to celebrate an individual who gave what he could to those he loved. He gave time, a little advice, some food, some drinks and maybe a little cash to those who knew him well. He made you earn your victories and more often, he handed you a gracious loss, in most competitions or games, you played with him. Most of all, Andy was sure to give a laugh to almost everyone he met.
Andrew Davidowski was the youngest of seven children, born in 1932 in Hartney Manitoba. He was the last surviving member of his family as he is predeceased by his mother Martha (Bodnarik) and father Wasyl (Bill) Dawidowsk both born in Ukraine. His sisters; Annie (Mack) Balcom, Mary (Bill) Hume, Pearl (Horace) McLeod, Edith (John) Chappel, his two brothers John Davids and Nick (Beryl) Davids. As well as two nieces Cathy and Kim along with two nephews John Jr. and Kevin.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Lorraine (Lazzarotto);
Three children: Kenneth (Cheryl), Carrie, and Robert (Carla)
Six grandchildren: Zelinda, Erica, Steff, Kayla, Ty, and Cairo
Four great grandchildren: Jace, Raina, Kendra, & Evelyn.
Nieces & Nephews: Patti, Lynne, Richard, Bill (Judy), Maureen (Rick), Michael (Marlon), Steven, Karen, Susan and Connie (Len).
He is also survived by his extended family: in-laws Viola (Robert) Ellithorpe and their children Larry, Shirley, Eric, Angela and Cathy. The families would share many fond memories during the summer months and various holidays together.
He was also the last member of the “Sawdust Crew”. Andy was known as the “Sawdust Maker” as he could snore and it sounded like a sawmill running 10,000 board feet per hour. He is predeceased by the “Sawdust Burner” Marcel Bernier and “Sawdust Kid” Homer Lowen.
He left school in grade 8 to work with his older brother Nick. They would often hitch rides on the boxcars to Ontario where they would look for work. The duo would send money home as they made their way back playing pool and gambling along the way.
As a young man. Andy was employed by Canada Cement Lafarge in Exshaw Alberta. This would be where he was to meet the love of his life Lorraine. She would come by daily to bring lunch to her father. Andy noticed her and told his co-workers “I am gonna marry that girl someday!”.True to his word, the 32 year old Andy married his 23 year old bride Lorraine on January 18, 1964.
He left Exshaw Canada Cement after a couple of years to go back to school. He attended Southern Alberta Institute of Technology and became an electrician. He worked on many new buildings in Calgary including the still standing Hudson Bay building.
Andy then decided to move the family to Prince George to “make the million” that so many men were talking about. He used his electrician skills to wire the Intercontinental Pulp Mill facility. Then in 1969 he was hired as an electrician to help build the new Canada Cement Lafarge in Kamloops.
He was a family man and loved unconditionally. As is often the case, the elderly form special relationships with the young ones, their smiles almost instant. Andy, and his great granddaughter Raina, had this very special relationship. She would make her papa cards and keepsakes for all occasions. They would sing , dance, play catch (with his wife’s teddy bear) and papa would always share his popcorn, even setting a cup aside if she was not there to share with. Each year on Raina’s birthday, he would say to her mother Zelinda “maybe I’ll make another year.” In November 2020 when Raina turned 5 he said “I think she’ll remember me”with a smile on his face.
Andy and Lorraine, gave endless time driving the family and team mates to sports, supporting his children in their wins and losses. Andy, coached baseball, refereed football and oversaw numerous curling tournaments. He played hockey and baseball as a youth and he golfed occasionally. As a player, he mostly bowled, threw darts, shot pool and curled. There were very few card games he has never played and fewer that you could beat him at. He loved playing chess, backgammon and cribbage with friends and family. He spent alone time with crosswords Logic ,math, and word problems. In later years he enjoyed his daily dose of Sudoku.
His main hobby was the large garden he maintained in Prichard for years, and because of the great yield Lorraine spent many hours canning everything from plums to pickles.
In 1970 Andy and Lorraine were introduced to Paul (Isabelle) Keisman who became life long friends that have shared many dinners, dances and camping and fishing trips at Neskonlith and so many other wonderful experiences.
The Davidowski family would like to acknowledge the very special people and the positive effect they have had on our lives. Andy’s Lafarge family has always been a rare group that meant a lot to us.. This group of people still amaze and inspire our family, as there is no company we have ever worked for that has this type of camaraderie, support and friendship.
For those of you that spent any time with the Davdowski’s at Christmas, you would know that there was always plenty of food and drinks to share.
Andy and family were famous for picking the ugliest “Charlie Brown” Christmas trees, and loading them with decorations and giving them a longer than expected life. The household record was January 22 when we finally took down the tree.
Andy lived a good life to the age of 89. He was a philosophical and inspirational man with a good sense of humor, and many jokes that will be missed by his family and friends. His jokes and sense of humor will be missed by his family and friends. From his notes and writings we have compiled a few quotes that we hope will give you a laugh and bring back a few memories of Andrew Davidowski. “Quotes from the DUKE”
QUOTES from the “DUKE”
“I may not always be right, but I am never ever wrong”
“Take my advice and suite yourself”
“Sometimes you just have to hold your chin up and take the high road”
“ If you stay down on a ground ball you will catch 9 and only take one on the chin”;
If you pop up you will catch none and will probably still take one on the chin”.
“If things are equal “where is my share”
“You learn nothing when you are talking”
Sister Pearl used to say when my neck was dirty
”give it a once over lightly” (I say the same thing when I vacuum the rugs)
High water mark “when I washed my neck”
“Never agree with your wife when she says she’s stupid”
“As a young man, I thought I was quite smart. I never knew how stupid I was until I went to SAIT.
“You become a journeyman and then you start learning”
“The dumbest apprentice can sometime teach a journeyman a new trick”
“There is no such thing as an atheist; You’ve got to believe to disbelieve”
“Greed in every man’s downfall…How much is enough?”
“In the Stock market and almost everything else in life. The bigger the risk the bigger the reward” – author unknown
“Red light means Stop; Green light means go; Orange light means Hold your horses” from Ty Grandson
About moving; “If I never see another box it will be too soon”
“If you ain’t got it; who needs it
If you need it; go get it
If you get it; use it
If you don’t use it; WHO NEEDS IT”
“ Less haste, more speed”
“ When the drifter offered to sleep on the floor; I offered him a bed”- I would rather wash the sheets than the floor.”
“This is my house, if you two want to fight, suite yourself, but take it outside. There will be none of that business in this house”
“When you see a fork in the road….take it” from Yogi Berra
“Why does the yoke of an egg break when you make poached eggs and never breaks when you make scrambled eggs”
Don’t judge, gossip or disrespect others till you have walked in their shoes.’
“Never tell a lie to make yourself feel better. When the person finds out the truth and They Will : You will then have to live with the consequences of being a liar.’
“If your God is as good as mine; You have a good one”
Offer Condolence for the family of ANDREW DAVIDOWSKI 1932 – 2021
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de ANDREW DAVIDOWSKI 1932 –..
Décès pour la Ville: Kamloops, Province: Colombie britanique