Obituary of Valentin Shoumak

September 12, 1936 – Poland

September 8, 2020 – Calgary, Alberta

Valentin Shoumak passed away peacefully at his home on Tuesday, September 8, 2020 at the age of 83 years.

Valentin, also known to his friends and family as Val was born on September 12, 1936 in Poland. He spent his early childhood in Germany where his family was forced to work in an armament labour camp until the war ended in 1945. Following the war, he immigrated to Canada with his family at thirteen years of age. Val was an excellent student with a photographic memory and a love for history and geography. He always enjoyed a challenge. Val absorbed the world around him quickly and yearned for knowledge as he grew into an adult. Val worked for Canada Postal Service for decades. He especially enjoyed playing detective in routing mislabeled mail to the rightful destination.

On December 26, 1987 he married his longtime friend and love, Krystyna Solowiej. Together they enjoyed long walks picking wild mushrooms, watching nature shows, documentaries, trivia shows and his personal favourite - Jeopardy. They also enjoyed crossword puzzles, discussing politics and debating the world while taking care of their beloved pets, dog Julios, dove Boni, and their current cat Charlie who followed Val everywhere. He was also an avid collector of coins and stamps as well as other memorabilia. Val loved spending time with his large extended family. He regularly travelled with his wife to Vancouver Island on the west coast of Canada to visit his goddaughter, sister and brother-in-law in Victoria, BC. 

Val is survived by Krystyna Shoumak, his wife of thirty-three years, his sister Nina Cote (George Cote). He is also greatly loved and will be dearly missed by his extended family Lidia and Marek Lachowski, goddaughter Wiktoria Lachowski, nephew Sylvester Lachowski (Justyna) and their children, Jacob and Adrian; niece Agata Korczewski (Krzysztof) and their children, Natalie, Nicholas and Isabella.

Val was predeceased by his parents, Maria and Nicholas Shoumak as well has mother in law Bronislawa Suswilo.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady Queen of Peace Polish Catholic Church (2111 Uxbridge Drive N.W., Calgary, AB) on Saturday, September 12, 2020 at 1:30 p.m. Graveside Service to follow at Queen’s Park Cemetery.  Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed on Val’s obituary at www.McInnisandHolloway.com.

In living memory of Valentin Shoumak, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Fish Creek, 14441 Bannister Road SE, Calgary, Ab t2x 3j3, Telephone: 403-256-9575.