Beloved husband of Elisa Melo Cabral, John passed away peacefully on October 4, 2016, at 86 years of age, surrounded by his loving family. Born in the Pedreira do Nordeste on Sao Miguel Island in the Azores, Portugal, John was a lifelong learner and adventurer with an endless curiosity and passion for life. He laboured from a young age to support his parents and siblings by farming their ‘terra’ and working for the city of Ponta Delgada, yet he always heard a voice whispering to him to set off to another land where the opportunity for a better life awaited. In 1957, he immigrated to Canada, beginning in Montreal, where he endured extreme weather conditions working for CP Rail and later for CN Rail in Ontario, helping to build Canada’s rail system. All the while he attended night school classes and studied diligently to learn English as his second language. He carried a tireless work ethic throughout his working life, until 1990 when he retired and together with his wife Elisa, enjoyed 26 years of doing their favourite things – gardening, fishing, traveling and camping in their motorhome. Their annual visit to Palm Springs and the Fountain of Youth resort was always a highlight. In all of this, what brought John the most joy was always his family. As a husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend, John’s loss is deeply felt by all who had the pleasure to know and love him. He will be dearly missed by his wife of 56 years, Elisa; his children, Goretti (Stuart) Day, Amelia (Dave) Petrunia, Suzanne St-Germain, Dimas (Heather) Cabral, and Danny (Susan) Cabral; his grandchildren, Christina, Stephanie and Vanessa Day, Melissa (Jordan) Schnoor, Ashleigh Vine, Talia, Kyra and Elijah St-Germain, Jericho, Austin and Adrianna Cabral, Aidan and Kyla Cabral; his sisters Maria Sousa, Inez (Jaime) Barbosa, Iria Dias, Hilda (Manuel) Leite and brother Joe (Violet) Leite; and his great granddaughter, Sophie Schnoor. A Christian Burial Service to honour his life will be celebrated on Friday October 21st at Our Lady of Fatima Parish, 1423 E. 13 Avenue, Vancouver BC. Prayers will take place at 11 a.m., Funeral Mass at 11:30 a.m., followed by interment at Ocean View Burial Park, in the Garden of Hope, Burnaby BC. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the BC Cancer Foundation.
Date :16 Oct 2016
Tribute :My uncle was a man with great spirit and a sense of joy that was infectious. I will always remember his sense of adventure all through his life and the love he had for his entire family. May he continue his love for nature and walks in heaven.
Rita and Mark Schnarr
Date :17 Oct 2016
Tribute :My deepest condolences to all his family He was a wonderful person that will be missed by many including my family
John
Date :17 Oct 2016
Tribute :A well lived life, Rest in Peace
Maria DMelo-Olsson
Date :26 Oct 2016
Tribute :I miss you dad. I could always count on you - your commitment to mom and your children was the beauty of you..you just knew how to be dad- your forever love of adventure was what I will miss and your fun and great sense I humour. There is such an empty place in my heart because I can't see you - but my heart is also filled with years of memories of love and fun. Thanks for being the best Dad I could have asked for...I will miss you always - and will see you again!
Amelia Petrunia