Mr. John Hewko

Obituary

At the age of 88 years, John (Ivan) Hewko, a longtime Toronto retired oil delivery driver died peacefully in his sleep on Monday August 6, 2012 at St. Joseph's Health Care Center after a brave battle against cancer. John was the loving father of daughters Anna and Irene, grandfather of Paul, Geoffrey, Erick and Alexander-Jai, and great grandfather of Sara and father-in-law of Nadia (Lykow) and Samrendra Singh. John was predeceased by his brother Michael Hewko who died in 1974, his wife Maria who died in 1996, and his son Nicholas who died in 2008. John was born in Grabowitz, Ukraine on August 17, 1923 to parents Nicholas and Anna Hewko. John left Ukraine in 1942 and worked in Germany during the war. In 1945 he moved to Belgium where he married and his son Nicholas and daughter Anna were born. John immigrated to Toronto, Canada in June of 1951 along with many other Ukrainian families to begin a new life. John worked as a delivery driver for UBA Trading Co., and then Alberta Fuel Oil and Ultramar. John made many friends as a delivery driver and liked to joke and enjoyed making good conversation with his customers and associates. He befriended all who came his way, that was his nature to try and be helpful and friendly. John retired in 1988. He enjoyed travelling, working on home projects to help his family and friends. He especially enjoyed his summers at the beach in Wildwood, NJ and Florida. Many a Sunday afternoons were spent picnicking with his friends at Kiev Ukrainian Center. He particularly enjoyed Kiev Center because it reminded him of his beloved homeland that he left behind in the Ukraine. John was a devout servant of God and loved his church (St. Nicholas - Bellwoods) and his Savior our Lord Jesus Christ. John was a compassionate Christian who always was ready to help his friends and family by taking them to church, to the doctor or just for a little drive around town. John leaves behind his immediate family, distant relatives in the US and abroad, many friends and neightbors and his devoted friend and companion of 24 years Luba Royko. In lieu of flowers, donations are welcome to the Canadian Cancer Society or St. Nicholas Catholic Church (Bellwoods).

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Burial / Entombment / Cremation