Obituary of Kazimierz "Cass" Dawidek

DAWIDEK, Kazimierz “Cass”

Passed away peacefully while surrounded by family, on Sunday, November 26, 2017 in his 92nd year. Beloved husband for 62 years of the late Joy (2013) and loving father of Barbara (the late Douglas) Birchnall, Doreen (Russell) Dick and Mary (Matthew Asser) Dawidek. Much loved Grandpa of Donna (James) Nicol, Edward (Christine) Birchnall, David (Andrea Apa) Dick, Heather Dick, Jared Asser and Kate Asser. Cherished great grandfather to Amanda Polly, Jacob, Alexandre, Emilie Birchnall and Lachlan Dick. He is also survived by his brother Joseph Davidek and his family.Cass will always be lovingly remembered by his entire family. The family extends a sincere thanks to the caring staff of Albright Manor, especially the 3rd floor for their care, love and compassion. Cass’ family will receive visitors at the GEORGE DARTE FUNERAL HOME, 585 Carlton St., on Thursday, November 30, 2017 from 6-9 p.m. A Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated at St. Alfred's Catholic Church, 272 Vine St, on Friday, December 1, 2017 at 11 am. Rite of Committal will follow Mass at Victoria Lawn Cemetery. If desired, memorial donations to Albright Manor would be appreciated by the family.

Cass Dawidek's Eulogy

Unbreakable

I would like to start by thanking everyone for coming here today as we say goodbye to Cass Dawidek. Our Father, our brother, our Grandpa, also known as Gramps, G-pa, Great Grandpa and for a brief time during a summer in the late 90’s Titanic.  Today we celebrate and remember the life of our patriarch. My earliest memory of grandpa is going fishing with him and my dad. I remember my new yellow lifejacket and being in charge of the sandwiches grandma had made for us. We went out in the boat to Grandpa’s spot, it was this forest on a hill that met with the water and this was where all the best fish were. Grandpa was a master. Despite his precarious stance in the boat, standing with his foot up on the edge, no concern given to capsizing the boat. (a feat he would achieve later in life) He fished with the focus of a man determined to feed his family. He would cast and reel, cast and reel, trying out a few different spots but never casting in the same spot twice. Anyone who knew grandpa knew the fish he would bring home. Monsters of the deep capable of feeding many families. That afternoon grandpa landed a big walleye. To me, at the time, a scary black eyed fish with big sharp teeth. I was terrified of this fish. We started back to the dock and the fish was just losing it, snapping its jaws and moving around the boat, flipping out and in turn I was flipping out. Seeing my terror Grandpa picked me up and put me on his lap. I felt safe from the fish but cautious because it was right below me. It continued to jump and snap and thrash about the boat and each time Grandpa would calmly reach down grasp the fish and neatly place it back under the seat. I remember thinking. “How could this man, this old man handle such a monster like it was nothing.” It was that day I realized my Grandpa was UNBREAKABLE. He escaped his war torn homeland with his mother to come to Canada where he met his love Joy and together they began their (and now our) beautiful family. They had 3 daughters, our mothers, sisters, cousins, wives and now our matriarchs. He worked in a factory, built houses, fixed everything, helped everyone and when push came to shove he picked fruit and did odd jobs to help make the ends meet. His generosity and compassion were unrivalled. He saw people as people and helped anyone whenever he could. He was our provider, he was our caretaker, and he was our unbreakable rock. I spent a lot of time with Grandma and Grandpa growing up, we all did. And I look forward to remembering our times together and sharing all our memories and stories with each other today as we celebrate his life.  I’d like to share with you some things I learned from him. A list I’m calling;

Lessons from my Grandpa

• Bacon grease is the secret to a great steak
• Work hard at everything. If it’s worth doing it won’t be easy.
• Electric frying pans can be fixed with a washer and fuses can be replaced with a penny.
• Cast and reel, don’t talk…it scares the fish.
• If a nail is bent, it can be straightened. Don’t buy what you don’t need. Everything can be reused 
• Keep every receipt, so that decades from now your children will know you spent $1 on pens.
• Believe in something and Stand up for what you believe in.
• Respect the animal who gave its life so you could eat.
• Singing in polish makes you a better driver.
• Make sure to Help those less fortunate than you.
• Christmas trees should be decorated only once.
• The best naps, are post breakfast food baby naps.
• Study. Anything that interests you.
• Be grateful. Show your gratitude to those who deserve it and Forgiveness for those who do not.
• Spread the wealth and
• Always pay your debts. Even the ones that can never truly be paid.

Cass (Grandpa) was my hero. He gave us something we never had to earn. He gave us the thing that he fought so hard to earn himself. Freedom. He built a life here for his family and built a home for all of us here today. He welcomed us home no matter how long we’d been gone and fired up that grill as if we’d never left. He showed us the riches of life in his smile and taught us to build lives of our own. The lives that his daughters built for us and lives we now build for our own kids. We often view our heroes as these unbreakable titans, Gods among men, and I think that’s what makes today especially hard for all of us. But his legacy is the strength he instilled in each of us. And the unbreakable was not the man, but his love for each and every person here today and the unbreakable bond he shared with our Grandma, your mother, our Joy. I think back to that demon fish trying to eat me and today I still can’t believe that he is gone. But today I know that no matter how that demon fish manifests itself I know I have the unbreakable strength to face it head on. Grandpa once told me that it was important to remember those we have lost, our pets, our friends our loved ones. But never look back. Instead live and look forward and carry their teachings and memory with you. As rich as Grandpa showed us life can be, today the world is a poorer place without him. And while we remember him and celebrate his life, each in our own way, remember to Live and look forward as I leave you this.

“Important are the days that we do not yet know.”

Thank you.

David Dick (Grandson of Cass Dawidek, Son of Doreen (Dawidek) Dick)