Tom passed away peacefully of February 20, 2019 after a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s disease. He will be missed and is survived by his second wife Sonia Pope (nee Azcarraga), siblings (Peggie, Bob, Marty, Jack) and five children from his first marriage to Wendy Pope (nee Durban): Brad (Donna), Darlene (Murray), Brent (Donna), Burt (Helen) and Shelley (Craig). Missing Tom as well are his 12 grandchildren and 2 greatgrandchildren.
A viewing will be held at First Memorial Funeral Home, 14835 Fraser Highway, Surrey from 10 AM – 12 Noon on March 1, 2019. A Funeral Mass Service will be held from 11 AM – 12 Noon following by a Celebration of Life: Reception from 12 Noon – 2 pm on April 6, 2019 at St. Matthew’s Parish, 16079 – 88th Avenue, Surrey, BC. A Burial Service will be held at 11 am on April 13, 2019 at Mountain View Cemetery, 5455 Fraser Street, Vancouver, BC
Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to the Parkinson Society British Columbia www.parkinson.bc.ca
- A LITTLE MORE ABOUT TOM -
His early days
Tom was born in Montreal. He was the third eldest of 6 children. The family hopscotched across Canada starting in Verdun, Toronto, Winnipeg and finally Vancouver. The family moved to Winnipeg when he was 9 years old - 1939/40 and they lived there for almost a decade. The three eldest - Peggie, Bud, and Tom - were like the three musketeers playing, climbing trees, and swimming in the Red River, and diving off the icebreaker that was there at the time. He was religious and sang in the choir with Bud and Bob at St Alban’s Anglican Church, and believed that everyone should go to church. The eldest, Peggie Fewings (who is now 92 years old) remembers that Tom was family oriented, and always a good brother to her, “taking a keen interest in what she was up to” even after several moves around the country. She also recalls that Tom was always good with his money, even when he was a kid. He was good at saving money, and he was a shrewd bargainer. In the late 1940’s in Tom’s late teens, the family moved to Vancouver (except for Peggie). Soon after, Tom started working at Bank of Montreal. In those days, the banks moved their personnel, especially those that showed promise for promotion. In the early years, Tom worked in several places in BC including Prince Rupert, Terrace, Stewart, Enderby, Port Alberni, Nanaimo and several locations in Vancouver.
As a young adult and the growth of his family
Tom met his first wife, Wendy (nee Durban) while in Vancouver. His first son, Thomas Bradley was born in 1955. Thereafter, the rest of his children were born in several places in the province of BC – Wendy Darlene in 1957, Port Alberni; Stuart Brent in 1958, Nanaimo; Lesley Burton in 1961, Burnaby and Shelley Marie in 1963, Burnaby. Yes, you likely noticed a trend…all of us were called and known by our middle name except for the youngest, Shelley. It was a very busy household in those years with 5 active children. We also had a very extended family with lots of aunts, uncles and cousins on both the Pope side and the Durban side of the family.
Tom had three different promotions in the BMO while in the Vancouver area and his children remember living for 8 years in one house on Hazelwood Drive in South Burnaby – the longest they lived in one house as children. Tom was doing very well in the bank and hence, had several promotions that moved him across Canada: 28 months in Kamloops from 1970-72; 28 months in Winnipeg from 1972-74; Mississauga in 1974 for 9 years to work in the Greater Toronto area and Hamilton; lastly to Regina for 9 years as the Vice President of the Manitoba-Saskatchewan Corporate Banking Division. As he moved across the country, his children appeared to migrate back to where they spent their senior high school years – Brad returned to Kamloops and Darlene to Winnipeg.
One of Tom’s true enjoyments and anchor points for the family was Sheridan Lake. The property was purchased in 1966 and while camping out on the property, he built a cabin with the help of his family. While in Winnipeg, Tom would make the 24 hour drive back to the interior of BC on an annual basis and while in Toronto, it was a 48 hour drive to Sheridan Lake. You might be wondering how this was done. One of the family vehicles was always a camper truck and there were usually 3 or 4 drivers – Tom, Wendy, and one or two of the kids. Each would take a shift while the others slept or enjoyed the scenery. After constant driving with only short stops for refueling (both the car and family), the family arrived at their destination. This was one of many activities that truly demonstrated the high energy and tenacity that Tom devoted to an endless number of his life’s experiences. In addition to continuous building and renovation of a cabin, Tom also purchased and maintained a “fleet of boats” – canoes, small fishing boats & ski boats. All of his kids and grandchildren enjoyed water skiing and even Tom continued to slalom water ski until age 75 years.
Retirement onwards
Tom retired from the Bank of Montreal in 1989. During the next couple of years, he and Wendy divided their time between their summer cottage at Sheridan Lake, becoming snow birds in Indio, California (near Palm Springs), and visiting his children who lived across Canada – Brad in Edmonton; Darlene in Vancouver; Shelley, Brent and Burt in Mississauga. Tom and Wendy thoroughly enjoyed golfing and socializing in Indio. Although a retired bank executive, Tom readily accepted the challenge of being the chief financial officer of professional golf tournaments, as well as bingo nights of significant financial size. He continued to be incredibly active while in Kamloops and at Sheridan as there always appeared to be an ongoing renovations to improve the townhouse or the cabin.
In 1991, his first wife Wendy was diagnosed with an early onset dementia (an Alzheimer’s type disease). In spite of the devastation of this diagnosis, his zest for life and creativity was clearly demonstrated in his care for Wendy during the coming years. He purchased a townhouse in Surrey that would facilitate her home living. In addition, he made many home renovations and kitted out the house and car to facilitate Wendy’s living with progressive cognitive and physical disability. During that time, he and Wendy continued to travel across the country and down to the states while living life to the utmost, until she passed away at home in 1996.
Tom was very lucky to meet Sonia (nee Azcarraga), a lovely, kind lady, with whom he shared the rest of his life. They married in 1999 and continued to live in their Surrey townhouse. Their travel schedule included the usual destinations of Sheridan Lake, Indio and visits across Canada to visit his now grown up children and their families. It now also included broader destinations to visit Sonia’s family, who lived in many places including the USA and Philippines. His impressive high energy continued well into his late 70’s, he was always a man that was “on the move”.
Tom’s physical demands of home reno’s and various sports eventually caught up with him with many aches and pains, and finally he had a knee replacement at age 78. This surgery did not go as expected and resulted in three more surgeries and a prolonged hospital stay. After his recovery, his kids realized that for the first time Dad was “slowing down’. The most noticeable consequence was that they knew precisely what phone number to call (previously a gamble), his home in Surrey, in order to reach him! Tom began to have Parkinson’s symptoms in this early 80’s which limited his ability to travel and be physically active. A higher degree of gentleness and appreciation overcame his character as his extended family became more involved with supporting his daily living. His kids and Sonia’s brother often pinch hit for driving and Sonia lovingly cared for his increasing physical needs to manage their living at home.
In December 2017, he had a slow tumble which resulted in hospitalization. Although we all expected that he would return home, that wasn’t in the cards. Tom went into a full extended care seniors’ home where he lived until his passing on February 20th, 2019. During all of his hospitalization and extended care, Sonia continued to provide incredibly devoted, loving care on a daily basis. Tom would call Sonia “his angel” and we agree completely with this characterization. Thomas, Tom, Tommy, “Dad”, “Grandpa”, “Uncle Tom” will be missed.
Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to the Parkinson Society British Columbia
Viewing:
March 1, 2019: 10 AM - 12 NOON
First memorial Fraser Heights Chapel
14835 Fraser Highway, Surrey, B. C. V3R 3N6
Funeral Mass Service:
April 6, 2019: 11 AM – 12 NOON
St Matthew’s Parish
16079 – 88th Avenue, Surrey, B. C. V4N 1G3
Celebration of Life: Reception
April 6, 2019: 12 NOON – 2 PM
St. Matthew’s Parish
16079 – 88th Avenue, Surrey, B. C. V4N 1G3
Burial Service
Sat April 13th 2019, 11:00am
Mountain View Cemetery
5455 Fraser Street, Vancouver, B. C. V5W 2Z3
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