LAWRENCE GORLICK

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LAWRENCE GORLICK Peacefully, on the morning of Tuesday, December 7, 1999, as a blazing sun was rising in a clear prairie sky, our dear husband, father, grandfather, friend and servant of God, Lawrence passed on to eternal life at the age of 73. Just as we thought he had again fought back from complications related to a stroke that first affected him 22 years ago, his struggle suddenly ended. He leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife of 50 years, Vera; son Barry and daughter-in-law Celia and their children, Samantha, Ryan, Alexandra and Gregory; daughter Brenda and son-in-law Leon and their children, Jordie and Taj; and son Brian and daughter-in-law Charlotta and their children, Molly and Joel. Also mourning his passing are his sister Lena, Veras eight sisters and a brother, along with numerous nephews and nieces for whom "Uncle Lawrence" had a special fondness. Lawrences priorities were simple: family, church, and work. From the time he and Vera left the farm in Shell Valley to make a life for themselves in Winnipeg, Lawrence lived and worked and prayed for his family. His innate sense of right and wrong, and of what was important, fuelled a burning need to provide his wife, children and more recently his grandchildren with everything and more. He was quietly proud of what he and his family had accomplished. Lawrences family was important; sleep was not. At the CNR, and later Via Rail, Lawrence worked, and worked, and worked. He took every available extra trip at all hours of the day and night and never tired of the camaraderie of his workmates or watching the prairie pass by. The saddest day of his life was when he realized, in 1988, that he must take early retirement. Through everything, Lawrences Romanian Orthodox faith sustained him. As one member of a tiny group of people from Shell Valley who had a dream 40 years ago to someday, somehow, build their own Orthodox church in Winnipeg, Lawrence worked diligently with the others to see that the dream came true. St. George Orthodox Parish is their legacy. Prayers will be at St. George, 121 Harvard East, Transcona, at 7:30 in the evening on Sunday, December 12. The funeral will be at St. George on Monday, December 13 at 11:00 in the morning with interment to follow at Elmwood Cemetery. Father Myron R. Klysh officiating. The family would like to thank the many medical and nursing personnel at Home Care, Concordia, Seven Oaks, and the Rehab Hospitals for their kind and compassionate treatment. In lieu of flowers, the family would truly appreciate donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, 301 - 352 Donald St., Wpg., R3B 2H8 or St. George Orthodox Parish. Arrangements entrusted to Klassen Funeral Chapel, 338-0331.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 10, 1999