Obituary of Bernie Pawchuk

March 14, 1942 – Yorkton, Saskatchewan

October 21, 2023 - Calgary, Alberta

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Bernie Pawchuk on Saturday, October 21, 2023 at the age of 81 years after a courageous battle with cancer.

Bernie was born in Yorkton, SK and grew up and received his education in Theodore, SK. He arrived in Calgary in 1961 and was first employed with the Alberta Land Titles Office.

Bernie married the love of his life Toni in 1962. In 1977, Bernie purchased a quarter section NW of Cochrane where the family relocated. He built an equestrian center on the property and enjoyed raising Arabian Purebred horses. He loved being in the rural setting. Bernie loved to travel and visited many countries. One of his favorite holiday destinations was Hawaii. He enjoyed going there many times with Toni.

His favorite passions were fishing and boating. He spent many summers in British Columbia at Shuswap and Kootenay Lake, and Sidney on Vancouver Island. He loved to explore the islands on the West Coast including the San Juan islands. Bernie was mostly self-employed, and this led to a long and prosperous career in Real Estate and Property Development. In the past 15 years, Bernie and his two partners were involved in manufacturing industrial trailers for the Oil & Gas and other sectors.

Bernie will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 61 years, Antoinette “Toni” Pawchuk (nee Chabot), and was the loving father of Richard (Amanda) Pawchuk; daughters: Renee (Garth) Sheehan and Roxane (Fred) Hume. He was the proud grandfather of Tel and Chase Sheehan, Jaycee and Trevor Hume and great-grandfather of Avery Sheehan. He is also survived by his sister Violet Bilokreli of Theodore, SK; brother-in-law Marcel Chabot; sisters-in-law Edithe Haworth and Camille Hannah, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Harry and Kate Pawchuk; brothers, Berny and Eugene Pawchuk; and sister, Eugenia Pawchuk.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Mary’s Catholic Church (East of the James Walker Trail and Highway 22 intersection, Cochrane, Alberta) on Friday, November 10, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. Luncheon afterwards in the church gathering area followed by a private interment with family. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society or the Kidney Foundation of Canada.  Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed here.

“Live Simply, Love Generously, Care Deeply, Speak Kindly, and leave the rest to God.”

In living memory of Bernard Pawchuk, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Cochrane, 369 Railway Street, Cochrane, AB T4C 2E2, Telephone: 403-932-4740.