Over the past number of years I feared this exact moment many times. I have, in a sort rehearsed this speech over and over again; but thankfully, year after year I never needed it. But as I sit here to write this speech this morning I am at a loss at where to start. For as you all know, there are so many great stories and memories that I  could go on for hours.

Grandpa, as I knew him for the past 36 years, has always been there for each of us as grandchildren in one way or another. In later years he came to know Mat and Paula and adopt them in to the family as grandchildren as well.

I guess I feel lucky and spoiled as by virtue of my age I got to spend the most time with him during a period of his life when he was active, keen and ready to embrace new challenges. I have fond memories of playing in the back yard on Elm Street and crawling into bed with Grandma and Grandpa and watching cartoons early in mornings when we stayed over. I remember playing golf with Grandpa at Shaughnessy as a kid and walking the course with him. As a teenager I worked beside him on the Angus lands project; if there was something that needed to be fixed, we were on it. Amazingly in his late 70’s he was keen to work and be an active part of the project.

Statistics Canada states the average age of death in Canada as 74.5 in 2005. Clearly Grandpa’s life was much more than average in many ways. Not only was Grandpa ready and willing to embrace change and new ideas, he adopted a cell phone in his 90’s and learned how to use the internet and Facebook at the age of 94.

As grandchildren many of us had the opportunity to travel on holidays with Grandpa. I spent time with them in New Zealand and had many fond trips to Hawaii and Hornby. Grandpa loved to travel and even until the last year of his life he was still keen on trying to go to Mexico to see Lorretto Bay. Even though the family thought it was bad idea, Grandpa would ask me regularly how we could conspire to do it; and if I could fly down for a week with them while he skipped dialysis. As a kid I remember them taking countless bus trips to Reno and while his winnings were never as good as Grandma’s, Grandpa would always reflect on the money he spent at the Rock or Reno as the cost of having fun.

Grandpa took to activities with great tenacity and stubbornness as he was determined to see them through. From baking bread and having the right bread machine, to ball room dancing in Kerrisdale, to brewing beer in large bottles to save money – Grandpa was keen to take on a new task. Three years ago Grandpa wanted to get a new TV. I had told him that I would take him to London Drugs to pick out a set and bring it home after I was finished with work. When I arrived at the end of my work day to take them, much to my shock there was the TV box in the living room waiting for me to set it up. I asked if London drugs delivered. He said no and proceeded to tell me how he and Grandma drove to Kerrisdale, parked, purchased the 37” flat screen and then brought it home and carried it into the living room for me – all at the age of 91!

As you all know, once Grandpa had his mind set on something it would happen. There had been many family functions when Grandpa would look at his watch and say “lets go” and that would be it. They would be gone! Determination was his strong point.

Not only did Grandpa love his grandchildren but he always had a vested interest in what we were doing in school and in work. He would love to hear me talk on my cell phone and conduct business at any chance. He would say that it’s great to remember what it was like to be busy and active in the workforce. He always had a keen interest in our sports, dance, school and travels. He always made time for a cup of tea and a chat to catch up on where we were in life.

We know he loved us grandchildren; and we know he adored his great grandchildren. Over the years with the arrival of Madeleine, Spencer and Izzy, I saw him age physically but remain even younger as he played with them on our weekly visits. His face would light up the room when he saw them and he would bicker with Grandma over which great child loved either one of them more.

I asked Madeleine this morning what she remembered of Great Grandpa; and as she told me over a steam milk this morning, I started crying at Starbucks at 6 a.m.! She said that it was his smiles and great big hugs that she loved and she continued to say that Spence loved his whisker rubs and that she would remember those things most. I don’t think Grandpa’s garden has been so well watered as to when Madeleine took on the task. Grandpa was keen to tell her about the roses and tomatoes in the back. Until a week before Grandpa went in the hospital he was asking if I was having more kids or if Kathy would have another!

In the final years of Grandpa’s life we spoke many times about his diminishing quality of life; and I think over the past number of years he held on just to see Paula and I get married, Kathy and Mat get married, the arrival of three great grandchildren, and the graduations of all the girls. I firmly believe it was these milestones that kept him driving for more. Finally he achieved, what many find shocking, his 70th wedding anniversary and a great party to celebrate his life with Grandma. I believe at that point he knew he had achieved everything. It was in sort a celebration of life with him there to enjoy it. And while he did not live to see Jennifer, Justine, Laura and Stephanie get married and have kids themselves he did see them grow up into fine young individuals with promising and bright futures.

For me his legacy that will always be in my memory is that he was stubborn, determined, and not shy to let people know where he stood on a subject. And while sometimes he was difficult, these qualities put together saw an individual move his family to Canada on a quest for a better life. He would then continue that quest and progress to build a cottage for the family and finally move out west with the rest of the family to seek out a better quality of life. Above all, he was a family man and loved Grandma dearly – she was always his first interest. 

As we, us grandchildren, go forward please keep in mind that none of this would have been possible without him. He took great leaps of faith and risk and realized that nothing would be achieved without taking those giant steps forward. Today we take that first giant step forward without him.


I would like to say a few words on behalf of the cousins.

As I sit down to write this I can smell the scent of garlic on my hands from the salad dressing I’ve just finished preparing and I know Grandpa wouldn’t be impressed in the slightest. Once, when I asked Grandpa of his aversion to garlic he told me a story of how when he was young he went to a dance and danced with a girl who smelled horribly of garlic. And with a disgusted voice he said “I can vividly remember that smell to this day”. I think he must have been quite traumatized, but luckily for us I guess grandma smelled quite nice, and knowing her she probably smelled of lavender and soap when they met.

When recalling this story it occurred to me that a young girl, smelling of garlic, left an impact on Grandpa that lasted around 75 years, and I started thinking to myself that if one short moment could leave a 75 year-long impression, then 94 years of moments has the ability to impact so many lives and leave an eternity of lasting imprints. I know that our many moments with Grandpa have not only touched our lives, but also changed and impacted them for forever.

Although Grandpa is no longer with us today, in body, I can feel him here among all of us in sprit. Furthermore, as I look around this room I see bits of Grandpa through traits acquired by many of us. The members of this family each remind me of Grandpa in unique ways and I find comfort knowing that little bits of him will be carried on and passed down to future generations.

When AJ tells a story, he talks with great enthusiasm and excitement, and when I hear him talk I’ll always think of Grandpa. When Grandpa told a story it was like he was reliving that moment in the present and you just wanted to be right in that moment with him. That vitality stuck with him right to the end, and he never let go of his zest for life.

When I see Kathy’s great big smile I’ll always be reminded of Grandpa’s genuine and uplifting smile. Cathy also has a sophistication about her that reminds me Grandpa. Grandpa liked to put his best face forward, always looking spiffy in a suit and tie. He carried himself each day with strength and dignity.

Jennifer is a great listener with a kind heart and uplifting advice and when I talk to Jennifer I’ll be reminded of Grandpa. Even as a very young child I always felt like Grandpa took what I had to say seriously. I felt like he treated me like a person, not simply as a kid. Grandpa was thoughtful with his words and conscientious with his advice.

When I think of Justine I think of incredible work ethic, as she is always hard at work donating her time to worthy causes. This work ethic makes me think of Grandpa, in his 90’s standing on my bed, attempting to install my chandelier, or working away at my dad’s name badges. Grandpa approached every project, big or small, with enthusiasm, and each day with incredible drive.

When I hear Stephanie’s laugh, her real let loose laugh only few of us have had the pleasure of knowing, I will forever think of Grandpa. When Grandpa really laughed, it was a genuine wholehearted kind of laugh that just made you want to smile. He would throw back his head and slap his knee, then shake his head, sometimes even at his own jokes. Grandpa always reminded me that it was important not to take oneself, or life, too seriously.

One thing I think Grandpa and I share in common is what others might call stubbornness. Although I think Grandpa would agree with me when I say that I choose to see this as determination. Grandpa always knew what he wanted and refused to give up or give in until he got what he wanted. What others might have seen as a weakness I believe truly was his strength. Grandpa knew he wanted to live as much life as he had and refused to give up on himself.

Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa we have a beautiful family and together we will keep Grandpa’s memory alive. He lives on in each of us. So with this thought, never forget to drink a Guinness every now and then, put your feet in the sand at every chance you get, love dogs, love life, laugh at your own jokes and of course even when times are tough, never give up, because that’s how Grandpa would have done it. Lets continues to make him proud.

Grandpa, I miss you and I’ll never forget you.

Thank you for being the person we knew and the Grandfather we love.

Mount Pleasant Funeral Home

Walter Wardle

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Walter M. Wardle

September 16, 1915 – April 23, 2010

Mount Pleasant Universal Funeral Home

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