Obituary of Raymond (Ray) Oancia

August 27, 1930 - November 14, 2022

Gracing Planet Earth For 92 Years

Raymond “Ray” Oancia, passed away on Monday, November 14, 2022, at the age of 92.

Ray was born at home to European immigrants Stephania Kostuik and Theodor Oancia near Limerick, SK. He was raised on a mixed farm with nine siblings, five older and four younger. Ray left home at the age of 18 to attend the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon. He graduated in Civil Engineering in 1952. During Ray’s second year of school, he met the love of his life Betty Smith (Oancia). They courted and were married in the fall of 1952. They resided in North Battleford the first four years of their life together, where Ray worked for the SK Department of Highways. Their daughter Candace Joanne was born in 1953, and son Derek Gordon in 1955. They relocated to Winnipeg, MB in 1956, as Ray began a new engineering job with the Federal government. During that time, Ray worked in Baker Lake, NWT, building a four-bed hospital with living quarters among other projects. In the spring of 1958, the family moved to Inuvik, where Ray worked as Project Engineer building the new townsite of Inuvik. Their third child Heather Lynne was born in 1959 in Aklavik, as there were no hospitals yet in Inuvik. The family relocated to Edmonton, AB in the fall of 1961, where Ray worked for Public Works of Canada. In 1964, the family relocated to Dartmouth, NS where Ray worked in Halifax for another engineering position with the Feds. In the summer of 1966, the family packed the car with camp gear and moved from the east coast to the west coast, Powell River, BC, where Ray began his career with MacMillan Bloedel, working on an expansion project at the pulp and paper mill.

In 1967, the family relocated to Vancouver, where Ray continued his engineering and, after returning to night school at SFU to acquire an MBA, worked as a controller with MacBlo in eastern and western Canada, and in the United States, including Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, New Jersey and New York. 

Ray was fortunate to retire at the age of 61; in fact, he actually had a longer retirement than his working career with MacBlo!

He and Betty really enjoyed the post-work life. For years they had a getaway close to home in Birch Bay, WA, and, being keen gardeners, had lots of fun putting their own stamp on the property.

They relocated to Calgary in 1997 but spent the chilly winter months in Havasu, AZ for many years. They also travelled extensively, visiting many different countries. As a former civil engineer, one trip Ray really loved was a cruise from Vancouver through the Panama Canal to the Caribbean. He was fascinated with the workings of the canal. Another favourite was a road trip in the UK, which included visiting the land of his preferred tipple, whisky.

Ray was never one to relax for long: with Betty as the design consultant, he did extensive renovations in the various homes they occupied in Vancouver and Calgary. He even extended his construction talents to a smaller scale, building dollhouses and bird houses for relatives and non-profit donations. They also did some volunteering together at various organizations, including Samaritan’s Purse.

One of Ray’s great pleasures was golfing. He was able to indulge in the game until only a couple of years ago and was lucky to have made two holes in one, an uncommon feat.

Ray is survived by his children, Candace of Vancouver, BC, Derek of Calgary, AB, and Heather (Stephen) of Calgary, AB. Ray is also survived by his three sisters, Marianne Wyatt, Hermoine Martel, and June Krogan, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Besides his loving wife Betty, Ray was predeceased by siblings, Anne, Lillian, Dorothy, George, Clarence and Walter; niece Kimberly; and nephews Ken, Greg and Bernie.

Condolences, memories, and photos can also be shared and viewed here.
 

In living memory of Raymond Oancia, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB T2S 2L5, Telephone: 403-243-8200.