Edward Zdancewicz
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Edward Joseph Zdancewicz (Ed Zed) in the palliative care unit of NRGH on Sunday January 8th 2017 surrounded by his family and held by his loving wife.
Ed was born at St. Paul’s hospital in Vancouver BC November 15th 1956. Ed is survived by his Wife Louise (Pye), Children William, Joey and Anna, Father Edward Frank and Mother Clara (Merasty), Brothers Brian, Rick, eight nieces and nephews, Best friend Bud Shuler and pre deceased by his brother Stephen.
Ed was part of a military family and spent his childhood and teen years in; Vancouver, Shilo Manitoba, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, and Kingston. Ed was a man of many talents and worked as a prize awarded DJ, a delivery driver, was almost an air traffic controller and enrolled in pre law. He received an internship with Employment Canada and won the competition for technical support in Campbell River where his computer skills were best utilized. After a couple years he was transferred to the Nanaimo office where he went to work the first day dressed in a wizard costume. Ed made friends very quickly with his witty, fun, extroverted personality.
Ed was married to Louise on February 14th 2004 in Nanaimo BC and his three children were born in 2005, 2006, and 2009. He loved his family with all his heart. His children and wife were everything and his whole world.
Ed was diagnosed with Cancer September 2012 and survived 35 rounds of radiation and 3 rounds of Chemo. In December 2012 he returned home and fought his way back to the man he was prior to cancer robbing him. He returned to work at ESDC, where he worked for 30 years, in mid-2015 and promptly re engaged in his Union duties with PIPSC. Working with his Union was a great passion for him. He enjoyed working with upper level management, travelling, and making a difference in his workplace. He returned to the Surrey cancer clinic in December 2015 and received a cancer free bill of health. It was one of the happiest moments in our family. But, by January he began to feel ill again and on March 31st 2016 he was told his cancer had metastasized to his lungs and that there was no cure.
Ed told his wife to never write in his obituary that he went fighting. But rather that he “went kicking and screaming”. Ed was not ready to leave his children and it weighed on him in his last months. Ed was an avid golfer, poker player, traveller, karaoke singer, dancer, computer genius, dad, husband, son, and king of unfinished projects. He was a charismatic person with a sense of humour that never ceased. Ed will live on in the hearts of his family and friends, and anyone who had the chance to meet him.
There will be a prayer service and viewing at St. Peters Church on Tuesday January 17th at 8 p.m.
The funeral service will be held at St. Peters on Wednesday January 18th at 11a.m. followed by the burial at cedar valley memorial. After which there will be a memorial tea in the hall of the church. The family requests that you not wear black, and Hawaiian shirts are encouraged.
We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the staff of the palliative unit and community nursing for all their support. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the cancer society.