Russell Leo Petry

Russ was an honest and good natured man who liked the simple things in life. He loved a good joke and liked telling them as well. He was a frugal man who always knew where to get the best deal. He liked to dance and have a good time and as they say often had "Ants in his pants". He loved to travel and did a lot of that in his later years.

He was the first born child to his parents Josephine Kryskow and John Petryliak on January 30, 1941, in Edmonton's Royal Alexander Hospital.

Russ grew up on the family farm in Morinville Alberta and went to school in Bon Accord Alberta.

He enjoyed sports like baseball, basketball, fishing and hunting and also fancied himself a good dancer.

After finishing grade 11 in high school Russ moved to Edmonton and completed training in meat cutting and got his start in the industry with Loblaws.

Soon after that he met a pretty young lady named Darlene Maksymiuk at a house party not far from where she lived, and offered her a ride home. A little less than 2 years later they were married on September 22, 1962. Their first place was a small 3 bedroom house in Edmonton. Where they resided until 1965 and packed up and moved to Pasadena California. 1 Year later for fear of being drafted to serve for the US forces in Vietnam, they packed up again and moved to Burnaby, B.C.

Shortly after that, Russ and Darlene adopted a little 6 week old boy and named him Warren Shane. One year later Darlene gave birth to baby boy Troy Graham on Sept 17, 1967. Three months after Troy was born the family moved to Edmonton for two and a half years before returning to B.C. and buying a duplex in Surrey in the summer of 1970. Around this time the family name was shortened from Petryliak to Petry. One year later they bought a brand new home in North Delta B.C. where Shane and Troy started school.

On February 24, 1973, Darlene gave birth to baby girl - Lisa Dawn and the family was complete.

Russ and Darlene separated in 1975 and were divorced three years later. Russ continued to see his kids during the separation and divorce period, but it was not as often as they would have liked.

In 1978 Russ met Marlene Areshenko, a working mother with four kids of her own. It wasn't long before they were living together and Russ quickly became a fixture in the lives of Marlene and her four children; Doug, Barry, Shelley and Sheila. Russ and Marlene finally tied the knot in the summer of 1995.

Russ would spend his remaining years with Marlene which they spent time traveling to their winter home in Arizona and around the USA. They would see all their children married but one, and see the birth of fourteen grandchildren on both sides of their marriage.

Marlene passed on in May of 2016 at Chilliwack Memorial Hospital. Prior to her passing Russ faithfully visited her daily in the care facility she was housed at. The passing of Marlene deeply affected Russ and the joy in his life was gone. He often talked about how much he missed her and sought grief counseling.

About a year a half later Russ moved from Chilliwack back to Surrey to be closer to his three kids.

He would regularly attend the Royal Canadian Legion weekly to check up on friends and still do a little dancing. When COVID-19 hit, Russ was too often alone and could not do or go to the places he'd often been. This was around the time his health started to decline. He would have an increasing number of falls and his heart was beginning to fail after two prior heart surgeries. After numerous hospital visits, Russ was diagnosed with an aggressive stage 4 cancer of the esophagus. After this he would not go home, although several times he tried.

In early September he was moved to Laurel House Hospice where he could have regular visitors over the last days of his life. Shortly after, on September 27th Russ lost his battle with cancer. Russ passed away peacefully at the age 80 years old.

Russ is survived by his three children; Troy, Shane and Lisa, fourteen grandchildren and many friends.

God rest his soul.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hendersonslangleyfunerals.com for the Petry family.