June 2, 1941 – April 1, 2022
Our beloved husband, dad, brother, and Papa, Alvin “Al” Cholak was called to his eternal home on April 1, 2022, at the age of 80.
Alvin was born in Lamont, Alberta and he grew up on the farm enjoying nature and its bounty. Along with the farm, Alvin’s family owned and operated Midway, a store, fuel station, and a theatre at one time, which was the hub of the community for many years. Alvin would often share stories of his childhood as his early years helped him learn the value of hard work, perseverance, family, and connecting with others.
He was a natural salesman and loved being with people and getting to know them. He was very proud of his Ukrainian/Romanian heritage and looked forward to traditional Ukrainian celebrations with lots of food, family and friends, and good times around a full table. He had a witty sense of humour that never failed to make us laugh.
Alvin loved the Lord, being at church, sharing his faith, reading a good book, spending time with family, and being his wife’s sous chef. There always seemed to be something cooking in the Cholak household, often a pot of homemade soup on the stove – everyone was invited to come in and sit down for a spell to enjoy at least one bowl of soup with a piece of rye bread and a cup of tea.
Alvin was a die-hard Oilers, Elks, and Blue Jays fan. He enjoyed watching sports of all types and kept up to date on the current sports world. He loved going to games to cheer on his hometown favourites and enjoyed watching with his grandkids.
Although Alvin loved to tell stories, he absolutely loved being with people and hearing their stories. He would ask questions and truly listened when others would share with him. Alvin demonstrated traits of patience, love, determination, faith, and courage everyday. He was a role model to us all as he lived his life with a kind and generous heart. We are incredibly blessed to have had him in our family and to have shared many memories together. We will miss him dearly, but we are rejoicing that he is in paradise with Jesus.
Alvin is lovingly remembered by his wife and best friend of 54 years, Jadwiga (nee Gorka); his daughters Leanne (Harvey) Powers, Christy (Darcy) Morin, and Jackie (Eric) Fournier; his grandchildren Allison (Joel) Toews, Zachary Morin, Carson and Molly Powers, and Jackson and Jade Fournier; his siblings Jean Berreth, Leonard Cholak, and Donna Swanson; sisters-in-law Halina Boisvert, Elizabeth (Rick) Redl; and numerous other family members and friends.
He is predeceased by his parents, Michael and Anne Cholak; brothers-in-law Ben Boisvert, Ernie Swanson, and Ken Berreth, and many other loved ones, who he has now been reunited with.
The family extends a heartfelt thank you to: the U of A hospital team, the Good Samaritan Seniors Clinic, Bayshore caregivers, AHS physicians, home care workers, and community paramedics. Each of you have had a part in caring for Alvin over the last year and a half, and as a family, we are so grateful for your compassion and kindness as you did your job with excellence.
A celebration of Alvin’s life will be held on Wednesday April 13, 2022, at 1:00 pm at Life Church, Edmonton. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Arts on the Ave at www.artsontheave.org/donate or ShareWord Global at sharewordglobal.com/ca/.
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
Psalms 91:1-2
Serenity Funeral Service
North Central Chapel
780-477-7500
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of CHOLAK Alvin “Al Norman April 1 2022..
Death notice for the town of: Edmonton, Province: Alberta