HARDIAL SUKHAN

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HARDIAL SUKHAN On Sunday, January 15, 2017 at 7:15 a.m., Hardial Sukhan, died peacefully following a lengthy struggle with Alzheimer's Disease. He was 80 years old. Hardial was born on April 6, 1936 in Better Hope, Demerara, Guyana. His family raised Holstein cows and farmed sugar cane, and from a young age he helped his parents with the operation of the farm. Dad was a self-taught, self-made man. He left school as a young boy and worked on the farm; he hauled many, many tonnes of sugar cane from the field in his young life. Under the guidance of a dear family friend and School Headmaster, Dad returned to studying on his own, gaining matriculation and qualifying for university entrance, prior to gaining a teaching post. Dad emigrated from Guyana in the mid-1960s, settling first in London, UK before finally deciding to immigrate to Winnipeg a few years later. Dad was a student at the University of Winnipeg when he met Mum (his sweetie) Georgette (nee Pambrun), who was working in the University Library. Dad had a lengthy career, of which he was proud, working as an analyst in the Manitoba Provincial Government. He devoted himself to his family, his community and his faith right up to the time of his illness. He was a life-long learner, and could learn to do anything he set his mind to and loved to share knowledge with others - he was a natural teacher and mentor and leader. He had strength and compassion and touched many lives with his cheeky sense of humour and willingness to contribute and help. I remember Dad getting up from a deep sleep at 3:00 a.m. to give a ride to a loved one without complaining. When Dad did something, he did it with his whole heart. He took pride in everything, task and endeavour he undertook. And considered no task too simple or humble. He helped with the housework, and the cooking - truly, he believed in love as servitude. Dad had an amazing capacity and strength for accepting the grief and loss and the curve balls that life throws us. Throughout my life, I watched him face every loss with grace and quiet resolve. Even in the last years of his life, as he wrestled with Alzheimer's, Dad had a quiet resolve about him. A special thank you to the entire staff of Poseidon Care Centre, in particular the second floor nursing staff that always provided compassionate care, right to the very end. Also, thank you to Desneiges, Louise and Réjean Roy for being Dad's angels. In lieu of flowers, please donate in Dad's name to your local Alzheimer Society or to a local no-kill animal shelter. Cremation has taken place and a Funeral Mass will be held Wednesday, January 18, 2017 at 10:00 a.m., at St. Emile Parish, 556 St. Anne's Road, Winnipeg. "Daddy I will always miss you, love your daughter Roxanne." Funeral Arrangements in Care of: Wheeler Funeral Home, Cemetery & Crematorium 1800 Day Street - 204-224-1525 Please sign the book of memories at www.wheelerfuneral.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 17, 2017