With sadness, we announce the passing of Jose Maria Peña. He passed away peacefully in the home of his daughter on 19 January 2022, following a lengthy battle with cancer. Jose was born in La Guardia, Spain, on 20 April 1941, to Casilda Maria Luisa Alvarez Vicente and Domingo Miguel Peña Lomba. He is survived by his three children, Carolyn (Doug Peake), David (Kimberly Conniff Taber), and Nicholas (Yu Chen Yu), 6 grandchildren, as well as his ex-wife Hilary Peña (née Barker), with whom he remained on good terms, his long-time companion Angelina Angulo and his sister, Generosa Peña Alvarez (Rafael Martinez Sobrino).
Jose grew up in La Guardia in the lean years following the Spanish Civil War. He joined the Spanish Navy in 1959 and traveled to many destinations serving aboard the sailing ship Juan Sebastián de Elcano, visiting among other places, Buenos Aires, and New York City. After returning to Spain, Jose studied cabinet making. In 1966 he took the chance to move to Canada, following an offer from a Canadian immigration promoter. He flew to Montreal and took a job with a local furniture shop. This was a time when many people from Spain, and especially Galicia, were emigrating for better opportunities abroad. After a season in Montreal, Jose arrived in Vancouver, taking up work in the construction trade.
Jose met Hilary at the YMCA ski club in Vancouver and they married in 1972. Excited for their future, the couple moved to North Vancouver. They welcomed their three children through the decade. Regular family vacations to Europe and the occasional rainy camping trip punctuated life through-out this period.
Jose’s career in the BC construction industry continued across 4 decades, as he became a skilled builder. Through toughness, determination and quiet pride, his work contributed to many important landmarks including BC Place, the Vancouver Library, Canada Place, the Revelstoke Dam, the Alex Fraser Bridge, and the Grouse Mountain Gondola.
In 2006, after 30 years working in construction, he took off his hardhat and began enjoying retirement. He spent time with his companion, Angelina. He took long vacations back in La Guardia, and visited with his extended family. He enjoyed these trips immensely, eating long slow lunches in the summer sun, visiting with childhood friends, and drinking the local wine while watching the sun set in the Atlantic Ocean.
Jose was also very happy to be grandfather to Patrick Peake, Riley Peake, William Peña, Aleyna Taber, Mathew Taber and Mira Taber. He had a great influence on the lives of Patrick and Riley, teaching them to fly kites, ride their bikes, and shop for fish and seafood on the wharves in Richmond. Jose also shared his love of travel and adventure with his grandsons when he traveled to Spain and Taiwan with them and a special trip to Paris with Patrick in 2018. Of course, Jose always had meat, cheese, fresh bread and orange juice ready whenever Patrick and Riley visited.
Jose’s family would like to thank the team at the BC Cancer Agency, who provided incredible kindness and support throughout Jose’s journey, especially Dr Kim Chi, Nurse Practitioner Nikita Ivanov and Dr Mira Keyes. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the BC Cancer Agency.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.firstmemorialnorthvancouver.com for the Pena family.
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