Dear Mark, I wish I would have been a better brother to you in our youth and more importantly in adulthood.

I will fondly remember hanging out with you when you were a young man and able to enter the bars. We didn’t do it a lot but I will cherish the times we did.

I’ll also never forget the time a coworker of mine took your sunglasses and stomped on them in the bar. I smacked him and told him to pay you money for the glasses. He said no and we had to throw down… it was the worst “win” I ever had in a fight but that SOB paid you for your glasses! It hurt like heck but I was proud to be your big brother in that moment.

Rest in peace brother.

I love you,

Jimmy

As a young kid, I have fond memories of visiting our Nanny and Grandpa and walking to a nearby park to play soccer or frisbee with my older cousin Mark. There were also several fun summers of swimming in our pool and riding bikes. One particularly vivid memory of Mark happen during one of these summer visits. We were having a great time playing on the stilts my dad had made and Mark’s new skateboard. Mark was adamant that we could both get to the playground without touching the ground. Me, being filled with the unwarranted confidence of youth, was pretty sure I could do it on the stilts, but I was positive there was no way Mark was going to be able to traverse the two blocks, uphill, on his skateboard without touching the ground. It took about half an hour, and dozens of falls by me, to reach the park, but wouldn’t you know it, Mark arrived hot, sweaty and grinning without touching the ground once! He negotiating the entire trip using a magical move called “tick-tacking” to maneuver that skateboard side to side, and ever so slowly forward and up the hill, seemly defying the laws of physics. Wow!Was I ever impressed with my big cousin Mark, and his skateboarding super powers! The memory of the determination he showed that day has stayed with me all these years later.

Rest in peace Mark

Your little cousin, Dennis

Mark was born in Calgary, AB, and lived in Lethbridge, AB for the last 15 years.

Survived by his Mother (Victoria), Father (Ladysmith), Sister (Victoria), Step Brother and Step Sister (Calgary) and two half Sisters (Lethbridge), and their respective families.

Trouble from the beginning, and early use of substances led to a Schizophrenia diagnosis and long term health problems including COPD that he succumbed to. While his lifestyle and choices never aligned with his family’s, Mark valued family and tried many times to connect with them, but always managed to screw it up. In the last few weeks, Mark called his Mother almost daily.

Gratitude and a heartfelt thank you to Andy Chiew, of Lethbridge who was a patient friend to Mark, and never gave up on trying to help and guide him. In addition to making sure Mark received the Tim Horton gift cards his Mother would send each month, Andy updated her when needed and gave reassurance Mark was OK and happy in his own unique way.

Dear Mark,

I have mourned the loss of you for so long, your passing is not a surprise or a sad event. I am relieved you finally get to rest in peace. I will carry the sadness I’ve always had for you, forever. XOXO Your little sister