You left us 3 years ago to-day. You are loved, missed and remembered by your wife Joan, your children, your grandchildren, your extended family and friends."If I had a flower for every time I thought of you I could walk in my garden forever".  Alfred Lord Tennyson. Dear Jake, I hope you continue to sing with the choir of angels. I also hope that you take nice walks in your garden with your little dog who went to join you recently. Love you forever. Joan

Dear Jake, it has been 2 long years since you left us.  In the past two years you have been joined by your niece Karen in August 2017 and by your older sister Pat in September 2018. You are forever in our thoughts, hearts and minds. We love you and miss you beyond measure and we hope you and your family in heaven are singing with the choir of Angels. Love from your wife Joan your children.

" Perhaps they are not stars but rather openings in Heaven where the love of our lost ones pours through and shines down upon us to let us know they are happy". (An old Inuit Legend). One year without you my dear Jake. I will continue to pray for you and talk to you. You will be in my heart and the hearts of your beloved children forever. Rest in peace my love.

Dear Jake it is almost one year since you left us. "As long as we live you will live. As long as we remember you will be remembered. As long as we love you will be loved." Always loved and remembered by Joan and all of your family.

"There are days when your absence is the loudest silence I have ever heard". (Dr. Joanne Cacciatore). Always missed, loved and remembered dear Jake.

I remember the time where we sat in the garage and built these diy radio kits, and the potato battery.... those were fun times. I'll miss you pop.

43 years ago to-day we married. So many treasured memories from the past, so many plans and hopes for the future now unmet. You will always be remembered and loved dear Jake. Joan xox

Daddy,
There isn't a day that goes by that I don't talk to you. Your calm, loving voice answers me as if we just spoke yesterday, but we didn't. You have been gone now for 8 months. Listening to your voice on my answering machine makes me cry more today than I did when you first left.
I was just on holiday with the boys and we spoke a lot about you and about how much you would have loved it there with us. It is in these moments that you feel most alive to me.
Liam reminds me more and more of you every day. He asks so many questions about you and your childhood, how you would react in this situation or that situation, as if he senses this connection. And I always just figured there would be time, time to ask all those unasked questions.
But then one day there was no more time, just like that, it was gone. There were still so many conversations that we wanted to have. 
I couldn't bring myself to write anything here before now. It was a kind of self-protection. I realize that now because as I am writing this, the tears are flooding down my face and I feel the space inside that was created when you left. 
I won't finish this letter, (is it a letter?), with a final statement or closing remark because it's not finished. There are still too many things left to say......

8 months to-day since you left us. This photo was taken just before then. You are ever in our thoughts and prayers. Love Joan

This is the blackest day of my life  I am devastated to find that my dearest Karen has died  I loved her so very very much  She had the kindest heart of any one I have ever Known  God bless.   Aunt Bev  England x

Dear Jack: Dear brother, you are often in our thoughts  and conversation. Even more so on this unbelievably sad day for us all as we gathered to say goodbye to Pat's daughter Karen.
We know you were her Touchstone and Rock. To lose two beloved members of our extended family within eight months is just so very difficult. Our dearest wish is that she has joined You, Tommy her Dad  and her Uncle Jim  with God's Blessing.
Barbara and Pat

"if I had a flower for every time I thought of you, I could walk in my garden forever". Alfred Lord Tennyson. Love from Joan

Dear Jake,  when I read the messages of love I feel incredibly sad that I missed so many years of being part of your life.  You will always be alive in the hearts of your family.  Love, youngest sister Bev

In loving rememberance of a dear brother on his "75th" birthday.  I miss you very much Jack, your humour & wit & your kindness & understanding, all the advice & help you gave me over the years.
RIP Dear Jack, you are forever in my heart..."Till we meet again"
Love Pat

"Remembering you is easy. I do it every day. But missing you is heartache that never goes away". Author unknown. Remembering you, missing you and loving you especially to-day on your birthday. Happy Birthday my dear Jake. Love Joan.

"Grief never ends, but it changes. It's a passage not a place to stay. Grief is not a sign of weakness nor a lack of faith. It is the price of love." Author unknown. So many milestones in June. Fathers Day June 18th,it will be so very sad without your presence. June 22, will mark 6 months since you left us and June 23rd, your birthday. Your family loves you and misses you so much. For me, life as I knew it is no more. I miss you immeasurably. Rest in Peace dear Jake. I love you always.

"Grievers use a very simple calendar, Before and After" (from grief diaries). 5 long months After (not 6 as I previously wrote). Joan

"A thousand moments that I had just taken for granted - mostly because I had assumed that there were a thousand more". Morgan Matson. Not my words dear Jake but so apt. 6 long months have gone by and you are always in my thoughts. Joan

Another milestone dear Jake. I know that you will be with us in spirit on May 11th to wish Vanessa all the very best for her 40th birthday. How we wish you were still here to celebrate with us.

Dear Uncle Jack, Mom & I were just remembering you yesterday, 4 months but to us, it seems like an eternity...We miss your kind & gentle soul & you are always in our thoughts & forever in our hearts....xoxo

Dear Jake, 4 months to-day since you left us so suddenly. Thinking of you and missing you to-day as I do every day. Love Joan.

My dear Jake, it is beyond sad that you are not here to wish Michelle a happy 42nd birthday today. I hope and pray that your good wishes for peace, joy and happiness will reach her anyway.

3 whole months gone Jake. We miss you beyond measure.

Such a good Dad. Jake I know you are smiling down on David to-day on his 37th birthday.

A lovely photo of you Jake to celebrate David's 37th birthday. We all miss you so much.

 Two whole months Jake (a lifetime) Missing you every day but especially to-day February 24, 2017. I Love you so much. Joan

I was shocked and saddened to hear of my cousin Jack`s sudden death. We were close friends as boys, but geography mostly kept us apart over the years. When we did meet, the friendship had not faded. Rest in peace Jack.
Your cousin and friend,
Geoff Proudlock.

Grieving the loss of Jack the best type of brother anyone could wish for......
Always patient, humorous, supportive and kind. 
Good Night,  God Bless.          Barbara

One of my fondest memories I have for my dear brother & my great friend was when Jack was 14. He had the leading part in the opera "Mikado".  Our Dad had just passed away shortly before.He would have been so proud of him as was I. He brought tears to my eyes with his excellent performance and that is how it was for the following 60 years. So very proud of my younger brother, he was the kindest & dearest brother anyone could ever ask for...I will miss you dearly sweet brother...
"We'll meet again"
Love always, Pat

No surprise that the memory we have of Jake is one that revolves around his wonderful singing voice.`
My wife Pauline and I were staying with Johanna and Jake at a house they had in the rural area of Oakwood.
After a good dinner, Jake suggested retiring to the basement to do some karaoke.
Needless to say, our efforts at singing were pretty dismal -- and then Jake gave us his rendition of several songs that were among his favourites.
They were of course performed with the professionalism that Jake always showed.  It was a most most beautiful sound and rightly condemned all other efforts to mediocrity.
Thanks, Jake, for reminding us what a real voice sounded like.

We`ll miss you, Jake

Pauline and Clive

We were so sadden to hear of Jake passing are thoughts and prayers are with you Joan and the family.

Auntie Joan and Family, we are so sorry to hear of your loss. Our hearts go out to you all.
Hugs!
Love Terry and Brigid

I first met Jake in Kitwe, Zambia in 1979 and worked for him, along with Syam Nair for a period approaching 4 years. When Jake and his family left Zambia for Canada, I too left for Angola and Syam remained in Kitwe, performing what was then Jake's job. Collectively the 3 of us remained in contact, on and off for a period of some 35 years.
I will always remember Jake for teaching me so very much about engineering with his quiet and unassuming character and infectious humour; it was Syam and my intention make a surprise visit to Jake and family in Canada during 2017; we will still make that visit one, day but it will now be with the  Angels.
Love me Tender was a song that some of us heard him sing as Elvis Presley at the Edinburgh Hotel in Kitwe; for Jake it was very apt.
Love to Joan and the Family.
Chris Hull & Syam Nair

"Gently they go, the beautiful, the tender, the kind; Quietly they go, the intelligent, the witty, the brave. I know. But I do not approve. And I am not resigned." (from a poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay) I will love you and miss you forever dear Jake. Joan

Aunt Joan,
We are so sorry to hear of the loss of your husband, Jake. Our hearts are with you and your family at this time of sorrow.
Phyl and Bob Schepens and family

Pieces of my heart 
Will always rest with you
In good times and in bad
You always saw me through
You were a man of wisdom 
someone always there
My rock, the one I turned to
When life was just not fair
I'm not sure what I'll do now 
that you are not a phone call away
I shall hold on to my memories
But there was so much more to say
You are a brightness in the universe 
A goodness among men
I am blessed you are my Daddy
Until we meet again
I love you Dad

You will live forever in our hearts and in our memories 
Xoxo 
Vanessa, David, Jack and Caitlin

Joan and family , we are all thinking of you at this very sad time , we will all miss Jake so much, love always Joseph Geraldine Frances Fiona Marie Robert and their families in Ireland xx

Joan and family , we are all devastated here in Ireland with the sad news of jakes sudden death. We have great memories of you which we will cherish, rest in peace Jake , Betty Robbie Mary and all the o rourkes in ireland

You have been part of the TWMVC for some time... You will be missed, and the TWMVC will miss you too!!!  You are now singing in GOD's choir....

Al Sadegursky (Tenor 2 TWMVC)

Jake, from the day I met you at Meals on Wheels, to when I met you as my neighbour a year later, you have always been such a kind and generous person. We will miss your conversations, and we will miss seeing you working away in your garage. You are so greatly missed by all of us!

Dearest Uncle Jack,
You will always be a great part of who I am...
You were more than my Uncle, you were also a Dad to me....
You are a beautiful soul gone way too soon....
You will be forever in my heart & never forgotten.........
Love you so very much....."Till we meet again"...
Love,
Karen
..

It was a privilege to have known you, Jake. We will miss you, so will TWMVC. .

Jake has been my singing "buddy" for the past 5-years at the Welsh Choir.  We stood together, sang together, puzzled out new songs and laughed together. His bigger than life personality, sense of humour and presence at our choir afterglows will be sorely missed.  Rest Well Jake and Keep On Singing.

Since my brief sojourn with the Choir, from 2008 to 2010, Jake always extended a very warm welcome to me, whenever I attended some of the choirs concerts, he even made me feel as I was still one of the boys'.
All of Jakes friends and fellow choristers will sadly miss his jovial disposition. My sincere condolences to you Joan, and your wonderful loving family,

I will miss this kind, gentle Bass Brother. His loyalty to the Toronto Welsh Male Voice Choir and dry wit will long be remembered.  My sincere condolences to Joan and the family.

Jake will be sadly misssed by all members of the choir. I will personally miss his droll British sense of humour reminding me of my own origins. My condolences to the family who will miss him most.
Ray Freebury

Jake, it was a pleasure to sing with you in the Toronto Welsh Male Voice Choir. Keep singing up there in the heavens. Treat them all to your Pharaoh from Joseph and his Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. 
You'll certainly be missed.

My dear Jake.  Although I have not seen you for so many years you were always in my heart and always will be.  Beverley

I was so sad when I heard of Jake's passing. He was a great guy and a cherished friend. He loved being part of the Toronto Welsh Male Voice Choir and we loved having him.  I will miss travelling together to and from choir practice on Wednesday evenings and afterwards spending time together with the lads having great, witty, Yorkshire laced humourous conversations which we will all miss terribly. 
R.I.P. Jake
Gwyn (Oshawa)

Jake, to us, your voice may be silenced, but your spirit will dwell with us forever. You always performed with heart. Your contribution to the choir, nothing less than exemplary. 

Thank-you for lending us your time. Thank-you for the years we shared together.

May Your Memory Be Eternal,
Wm.

OBITUARY

Mr. John (Jake) Oswald Lawson

June 23, 1942 – December 22, 2016

Oshawa Funeral Home

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