Charlie Radomski

He is survived by sister Josie/Boyd Campbell, sister Bernice Radomski, brother John/Donna Radomski, favourite niece Reghan/Mark Scaletta their children Paige and Sam, and nephew and godson Colin/Jenn Campbell and their children Tayah, Brooklyn and Sophie. He was predeceased by parents Pearl & Joe Radomski.

His was a life well lived - an avid outdoors person he enjoyed road trips on his Harley, golf, hunting, archery, ice fishing and friends. We wish to thank his doctor's and staff at CancerCare HSC and the Doctors and staff at Concordia Hospital.

In keeping with his wishes cremation has taken place and a private family gathering of remembrance will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations to CancerCare Manitoba Foundation.

Love and memories never truly leave us.

Eulogy

On Sunday August 9th a small gathering of friends and family held a Celebration of Life for Charlie in the common room at his apartment building at 1660 Henderson Hwy. A tribute was given by his niece and nephew which is included below for those who were unable to attend.

Good afternoon everyone. Thank you all for being here today as we gather to remember, honour, and celebrate the life of Charlie — he was a son, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, cousin, friend, co-worker, and someone who left a lasting impression on all of us who were fortunate enough to know him. I am Reghan, he is Colin his favourite niece and nephew – no need to point out that we are also his only niece and nephew !

As you all know, Charlie was a quiet and unassuming person, and would not have wanted a big celebration – but we all know he was so very deserving of a celebration, so today we are gathering to say a few words, share some memories and drink a toast to Charlie. At each table there is wine, please feel free to fill your glass as we will end this with a toast.

Uncle Charlie was born on December 8, 1956, at Selkirk Hospital, twin brother to Bernice — or, as we all know her, Auntie B. According to Auntie B, she was born first only because he kicked her out ! . From the very beginning, family and food seemed to go hand in hand. On the day Charlie and Bernice were born, our mom, Charlie’s big sister Josie, and Grandpa Joe stopped in Winnipeg Beach and Grandpa Joe actually stopped and “bought” ham sandwiches for lunch which to this day ham sandwiches remind Mom of that day. In many ways, that story feels very fitting, because in our family, the birth of every child has always been something to celebrate with food.

Charlie, and all the Radomski siblings, began school in the one-room schoolhouse in Foley. As the schools amalgamated, he and the other students were bused to Kjarna, Winnipeg Beach, Gimli Middle School, and eventually Gimli High School, where he completed his education. Those early years helped shape the person Charlie became: grounded, practical, dependable and connected to family and community.

Charlie’s work life reflected many of the qualities we admired in him. His first job was at East West Packers, where he worked from 1974 to 1990. Close to the end of his time there, he realized that he needed a change and so he took it upon himself to upgrade his education and took the Power Engineering course. He had a few different roles as an engineer and then found a job with the St. James-Assiniboia School Division in June 1999 working alongside wonderful people where he finished his career, retiring in 2019. He made some very special friends in the school division, some of whom are here today, and we’re so glad you could be here. Wherever Charlie worked, he was known as being conscientious, diligent, reliable, and easygoing. He was a team player in the truest sense and treated people well along the way. He had an exceptional work ethic and was willing to share his knowledge, as shared by Paul, a former co-worker.

Uncle Charlie had strong family values and a quiet way of letting people know they mattered. He was easy to be around — calm, gentle, and genuine — and he had a wonderful sense of humour that often came through in the most understated way. Sometimes it was just a quiet comment, slipped into the conversation, that would catch you off guard and make you laugh.

Charlie also had interests and experiences that some of us were still learning about. We only recently found out that he curled. He took skydiving lessons and actually did the jump! When he retired, golfing became one of his serious passions. His brother in law, our dad Boyd, was his golf partner and together they visited many courses far and wide in Manitoba. On a recent trip to visit Mom and Dad in Arizona, he attended the Waste Management golf tournament in Phoenix in February of 2023 with my dad, which was a bucket list experience for both of them.

Charlie also enjoyed the freedom of being outdoors and doing the things he loved. He had a passion for riding his Harley over the years. We are so happy that the Harley is staying in the family, Uncle John will make sure it’s well taken care of. He also enjoyed spending time in nature - ice fishing, bow and rifle hunting, including fly-in hunting/fishing trips with his friends. Some of his happiest moments were spent in his tree stand on his property with his “best friend” Wayne, surrounded by the quiet of the outdoors. There was a bear story...one spring while out searching for morel mushrooms, he encountered a mama bear who gave chase and he got to his truck in the nic of time !

When news of Charlie’s passing reached family, the messages that came back said so much about who he was. Our Alberta cousins remembered him as a sweet and gentle soul, someone they were grateful to have spent time with over the last few years. They spoke of the peace and calm he carried, of his quiet humour, and of how much he reminded them of their Uncle Joe, who was our Grandpa. One message asked that we open a bottle of whiskey, gather as a family, and say “Dai Bozhe” on behalf of the Alberta family.

For us, Charlie will be remembered through the little stories. Colin and I both shared some of our memories with Uncle Charlie; funny enough, some of our memories overlapped. We both remember time spent when we were young where he took us for sleepovers at his home on Atlantic, and visiting at his home in Foley. We both vividly remember the time he taught us to shoot skeet and we discovered we were not very good at it. I remember one time when we were out there and his dog Buddy the Chow and our dog Jazzie the Shih Tzu chasing a poor little mouse. It was not a good ending for that poor little mouse, but we all had fun watching it..

We will always remember that the first CD we ever listened to was at Uncle Charlie’s… “Money for Nothing” by Dire Straits. Charlie was so excited to share this new technology with us. Even now, whenever that song plays, I will think of him.

I remember Gibson’s being his whiskey of choice, and how that became the gift when he kindly gave up his home to my friends and me in 1993 so we could go to Sunfest in Gimli without having to sleep in a tent. I only recently shared with Uncle Charlie about that weekend and a few of the antics that occurred. I think I made him chuckle over what happened at his place. That was also the gift that I gave him when he and Uncle John helped us with the garage door opener in our new house. Although “helping” may not be the right word, because they pretty much did it themselves while we watched.

And then there were all the smaller moments in between — Christmases, Easters, birthdays, family gatherings. Charlie was a really great uncle. He was kind, generous, and quietly funny. He did

not need to be the loudest person in the room to be felt. His presence was unassuming and reassuring. He cared in practical ways, in generous ways, and in ways that sometimes only become clear when we look back and realize how many memories include him.

Losing Charlie hurts because we loved him. Grief is not selfish; it is the natural response to love. When someone we love is no longer physically with us, our lives change shape. We are not the same, and we are not meant to be. But the bond remains. The love remains. The stories remain. The laughter remains. The lessons remain.

Charlie’s life reminds us that goodness is often quiet. It is found in showing up, in helping without making a fuss, in making people laugh with a well-timed comment, in opening your home, sharing your time, remembering your family, and being someone others can count on.

So today, we say thank you, Charlie. Thank you for your gentleness. Thank you for your humour. Thank you for your loyalty, your generosity, and your love of family. Thank you for the memories — the funny ones, the heartfelt ones, and the ordinary ones that now mean everything. We will miss you deeply, but we will carry you with us always. Rest easy, Charlie. This is not goodbye, it’s until we meet again.

Death is an enemy, it takes away from us people we love dearly. They can never be replaced. We can never be the same. Our lives take on a new shape over a period of time, but we will always miss them. Grief is not selfish, it's normal. We grieve, because we love. Our hearts ache with the pain and we grieve, anything less is unnatural. Our bond and love remain.

For those who find comfort in faith, death is like a temporary parting, while it lasts, it is full of anguish. But one day it will end and there will be a joyful reunion. This is grieving with hope that is Jesus' gift to all who put their faith in him.

Our family chain is broken

and nothing seems the same,

But as God calls us one by one

The chain will link again.

We also want to thank our Mom, Auntie B and Uncle John for being there for Uncle Charlie. It was their privilege to be present with him during his last weeks, and one they will always cherish in their hearts. We know it meant the world to Charlie.

On behalf of the family, please raise your glasses in a toast to Uncle Charlie –

Dai Bozhe