Parcourez la nécrologie de Charles James Zip Mark Friday November 10th 2023 résidant dans la province Ontario pour le détail des funérailles
Charles James Mark
“Zip”
Peacefully at Northumberland Hills Hospital, Cobourg, on November 10, 2023,
in his 97th year. Predeceased by his dearly loved wife, Jean, and his adored grandson, Matthew
Smith. Loving father of Marianne Woodward (Steven) and Nancy Wood (Maurice). Beloved
grandfather of Andrew Woodward, David Woodward (Tristan), Brendan Smith (Ashley), and
Beverly Smith (Ian). Grandfather-in-law of Alexandra Smith. Proud great-grandfather of Emmett,
Ella, Adeline and Lennox.
Charles was born on October 6, 1927, in Port Hope, and was the youngest of four children born
to Arthur Mark and Margaret Lucey. He is predeceased by his brother Keith Mark (Lillian, Ida),
sister Ruth Mark, and brother, the Reverend Malcolm Mark (Helen).
Charles earned his nickname “Zip” from his older brother Malcolm, because as a child he was
small and had to move and run fast to keep up with the rest of his family.
Playing ice hockey on the local pond, he was smaller than the others, and fast.
Reminiscing about his hockey days, he would often say, with a chuckle, “I lost my best teeth
playing hockey”. His nickname ‘suited’ him and “Zip’ stuck for the rest of his life.
At age 15, Zip skipped his high school Latin class, and began a challenging but exciting journey
to become the owner of O’Neill’s Men’s Clothing, at 78 Walton Street, in Port Hope. To skip
school is not something he would have suggested to a young person today, but he lived in a
different time—when, for some, it was more advantageous to take a path less travelled.
Ironically, if he had stayed in class to decline Latin nouns, he might never have become the Zip
of men’s clothing, who was known and trusted.
Friendliness and the love of people were the hallmarks of Zip’s business. Older “Port Hopers”
remember going into the ‘store’ when they were children and teenagers. Zip knew all of their
shirt and pant sizes by memory, as well as their fathers’ sizes. Wives and mothers used to call
Zip before Christmas to make sure he had the right sizes of shirts for their husbands and sons
for Christmas. The only complication was the wives and mothers didn’t always know what the
right sizes were, but Zip remembered, and that was all that mattered. For over 50 years, Zip
made sure that the men of Port Hope were dressed suitably, and it was his distinct pleasure to
do so.
Over the years, Zip and Jean shared much fun and celebrated many of life’s milestones with
their good friends, the “New Year’s Gang”. After his retirement in 1994, Zip spent his leisure time
with Jean and enjoyed the time with his grandchildren. He played golf several times a week with
his ‘old buddies,’ and, on his 79th birthday, Zip golfed a ‘hole in one’.
Zip was always friendly, loved to chat with anyone, and he had a keen memory of all things ‘Old
Port Hope’—right to the end. As Zip would say to his grandchildren, whenever he thought that
he might not see them again, «Don’t take any wooden nickels.»
The family is very grateful for all the visits, assistance, and aid given by dad’s friends and
neighbours, over the years, which allowed him to stay in his own home.
Thank you to the doctors, nurses, caregiver Alison, and friends Bill, and Kim, for their
compassion and care.
Visitation will be held at Ross Funeral Chapel, on Friday, November 24th from 12:00pm –
2:00pm with a private family graveside service following.
Those wishing to make memorial donations are invited to consider Crohn’s and Colitis Canada
or The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada.
Friday November 10th 2023
Décès pour la Ville:Port-Hope, Province: Ontario
avis deces Charles James Zip Mark Friday November 10th 2023
nécrologie Charles James Zip Mark Friday November 10th 2023
Nous offrons nos plus sincères condoléances à la famille et aux amis de Charles James Zip Mark Friday November 10th 2023 et espérons que leur mémoire pourra être une source de réconfort pendant cette période difficile. Vos pensées et vos mots aimables sont grandement appréciés.