À la mémoire de
Joseph Cucan
30 novembre 1933 –
6 août 2021
Joseph Cucan, surrounded by the love and care of his family, passed away peacefully on Friday August 6, 2021. In his 88th year, Joseph had most definitely lived a full and adventurous life.
While still a teen, he sought out excitement by boarding an oil tanker and setting sail for Venezuela. Thus began his life-long love of the ocean. When a young man, he developed a deep faith in God and dedicated himself to caring for the spiritual growth of others by heading out on missionary work abroad. When Joseph married, he settled down and established a successful career as a lithographer and graphic artist. In his spare time he cartooned, wrote non-fiction and was way ahead of his time in his ambitious crafting of organic wines made from local, native plants including dandelions and beets. He often reminded us, “water is for bathing, wine is for drinking!” As a young dad, he made sure his only child shared his passion for literature by reading to her nightly and ensuring she was a fluent reader and author. He continued to fuel his desire for adventure by travelling the globe: across all of Canada to the Yukon and Alaska, throughout the United States, the Pacific Islands (Hawaii and Tahiti), the Caribbean Islands, Europe, the U.K., Australia and Indonesia.
Always an avid reader, he sought out knowledge and educated himself in a variety of subjects from ancient history and theology to astronomy. He loved ideas and was well-versed in the rules and joys of debate. But it was his sense of humour and gift as a storyteller that made him the life of any party. He was truly funny – quick with a witticism, willing to clown and at the ready with a joke. He loved to make people smile and laugh.
Perhaps his greatest legacy was in the role of Grandpa and Nanny. He was devoted to his grandchildren, building a bond with them that cannot be broken by time or death. He loved them unconditionally: as colicky babies that had to be rocked for hours on end; as toddlers who wanted to sing the same songs, read the same books and play the same games over and over; as children with whom he willingly engaged in riotous mayhem and good-natured chaos, who ran him ragged swimming in the lake, going for mud baths, making forts with materials from his shed, creating works of art in the ‘studio’, going on scavenger hunts and conducting crazy science experiments in the basement. He continued to love them as teenagers, spending hours with them teaching them how to be card sharks, playing horse shoes, bocci, croquet and cheering them on the baseball diamond, soccer pitch or gymnastics floor. When they became young adults, he proudly attended their graduations, toured foreign countries, including Italy and Tahiti, with them, watched sunsets on the shores of Georgian Bay, played crib on the patio or toasted s’mores by the camp fire. For his grandchildren, the word “no” did not exist and the good times were always rolling. There was no better place than his house and no better friend to be with than Grandpa.
Joseph was the quintessential “Trontonian” from “Trawna” – a fan of the “big smoke”. He grew up in the Junction, shopped at Honest Ed’s, ate hot dogs at Shopsy’s, rode the ferry to Centre Island, watched Toronto Maple Leaf’s baseball at Christie Pits, cut out coupons for the Food Building at the Ex, explored restaurants in Chinatown, Little Italy and Greektown, climbed the bluffs, hiked High Park, drank at the Gladstone, and shopped at the St. Lawrence Market.
Joseph’s love and life will be celebrated and cherished by his wife of 59 years, Francine, daughter Janine, son-in-law Ernie and grandchildren, Arielle, Olivia and Alex, brother John (Heather) and many nieces and nephews. Predeceased by his older brother Frank (Nel).
*His grand puppy Zoe will also miss all those covert under-the-table deals!
Signer le livre d’or
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Joseph Cucan 30 novembre 1933
6 août 2021..
turner & porter funeral directors
Death notice for the town of: Toronto, Province: Ontario