Obituary
Our family fire chief and amazing Poppa went to his last alarm and passed away with his eldest daughter at his side after a long and courageous battle with multiple cancers on December 26, 2021.
He is predeceased by his brothers Joseph and John Jr., his parents John Sr. and Catharine, and his soulmate, Sharon.
He leaves behind his dear sister-in-law Kathleen, and the family legacy of his children: Jacqueline, Heather, Ryan, Carly (Cory), and Nathan (Michelle); his grandchildren: Christopher, Gabrielle, Sarah, James, Riley, Zoe, Max, Amelia, Abby, Chelsea, Bailey, Haileigh, Ethan, Alleigh, Kayleigh, and Marleigh; and his great-grandchildren: Lucien, Christian, Dominic, Logan, Callie, Soren, and Phoenix.
Michael was born to Polish and Slovak immigrant parents on September 22, 1947. The eldest of 4 children, he learned many great life lessons at the knee of his mother: how to use everything, the importance of family, how to share what you have with others, the value of hard work, and how to save money for a rainy day. Doing odd jobs in his childhood, he was able to purchase a washing machine for his mother one Christmas. Balancing that kind of responsibility to his family was a rebel streak that got him into a few snares as he raced his cars for pink slips as a teen and thumbed his nose at authority at school or at work. He joined the Hamilton Fire Department on October 23, 1967 at the tender age of 20, married his first wife Diana in 1968, and welcomed his three biological children Jacqueline (1969), Heather (1971) and Ryan (1973). In 1974-75, he designed, planned, and built his first house on Ridge Road in Beamsville. This accomplishment was a source of great pride for him, and he learned a lot from that experience. As the years passed, he also built a barn for a neighbour, and a garage for his brother Johnny. A few years after his first marriage dissolved, he met the love of his life, Sharon and got to know her children Carly and Nathan. He loved and treated them like his own, and they cherished their poppa as the awesome guiding force that he was in return. During this time, he purchased the 37-acre property in Wainfleet, and built his second house there. He was greatly pleased with the property, and revelled in working in the woods, and in the garage. There are endless piles of Poppa’s “good stuff” that he has collected over the years, a habit he came by honestly from his own father… because you never know when it would come in handy. Endlessly, Mike delighted in helping to fix our cars, being able to lend us money, and give us advice… never complaining, but making time to help. He taught us all the life lessons and practical skills he had learned over the years. He also loved being the head of such a large family, and family gatherings were a source of great joy. He was greatly saddened and was never quite the same after Sharon passed in 2020.
Life in the fire department was never easy, and it did take a toll on Mike both mentally and physically. He suffered from alcoholism during his time on the job, but when he started his retirement years in November of 1998, he began his recovery. He had been sober for 23 years at the time of his death. The family would like to thank the staff at the Homewood Health Centre in Guelph for helping him recover; you gave us our dad back. Physically, we learned in 2010 that Mike was suffering from job-acquired colon cancer, and he had a bowel resection to correct the problem. A few short years thereafter, the cancer was back, and it was metastatic. The surgery to remove it left him with a colostomy he would have for the rest of his life. Over the course of the final years of his life, cancer would repeatedly pop up in his prostate, lungs, bones, and finally, his abdomen. Multiple courses of chemotherapy, radiation, and surgeries were stoically endured. His great courage and never quit attitude was a source of inspiration to all who knew him. The battle proved too much however, and he finally succumbed to his illness after 11 years of struggle.
The family would like to thank the many nurses and doctors at the Walker Family Cancer Centre in St. Catharines and the Juravinski Cancer Centre in Hamilton for the quality of care Mike received while he was being treated there. We would also like to thank the PSW’s and nurses who cared for him during his final weeks, both at home and in hospital. Special thanks to Colin from the firefighters’ union for all your help in getting our father the assistance he deserved.
A memorial will take place at a later date when we can celebrate both Michael’s and Sharon’s lives without restrictions.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations in Michael’s memory to Threads of Life (a charity that supports victims of occupational fatality, injury, or disease and their families), or the Niagara Health Foundation (earmarked for the Walker Cancer Centre).
threadsoflife.ca/donate
www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/niagarahealthfoundation
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Michael John May September 22 1947

December 26 2021..

davidson funeral homes

Death notice for the town of: Port Colborne, Province: Ontario

death notice Michael John May September 22 1947

December 26 2021

mortuary notice Michael John May September 22 1947

December 26 2021