Josef Medovits

Josef (Joe) Medovits, age 91 years, passed away in the early hours of January 23, 2019 of natural causes at St. Joseph’s Hospice.

Joe was born on September 4, 1927 in Szekesfehervar, Hungary. The son of Ferenc and Kadalin Medovits. He arrived in England in the spring on 1948. Joe met Dorothy Lewis and they wed on December 15, 1951. Joe and Dorothy lived in London, later moving to Luton and in 1963 with family in tow crossed the Atlantic on the Empress of Britain to arrive in Canada, the country of his dreams.

Joe worked very hard, accepting all of life’s challenges to support and provide the best for his family while making sure Dorothy could return for visits to England and he could enjoy all the wonders of nature in Canada. He raced pigeons, was an avid fly fisherman, and was an expert marksman and successful hunter. He worked hard and eventually obtained his “tickets” for welding, working both in Nanaimo, B.C. and later returning to reside in Thunder Bay where he retired from CanCar. Joe’s dedication to his family was only surpassed by his keenness for education/knowledge, humanity for all and his passion for politics sprinkled with the occasional wit.

Joe will be deeply missed by his daughters: Ann (Renato) Copetti, Pamela Hald (Bert Allison) and Linda (Charles) Upton; son Dennis Medovits; grandsons: Adriano Copetti, Danyle Copetti, Kristian (Donna) Hald, Michael (Meagon) Hald, Charles Upton Jr. and Clinton (Savannah) Upton; granddaughters: Katrina (Ricky) Medovits/Fraser and Melinda (Doyle) Medovits/McGinnis. He was also blessed with many great grandchildren whom were loved and supported for each of their own special “selves”. Also surviving Joe are his nieces Kathy Szabados (and her family in Dunstable, England), Zita and Zora (and their families in Veszprem, Hungary).

He was predeceased by his parents, brother Ferenc, sisters Kadalina and Mariska, nephew Ferenc, granddaughter-in-law Leisa (Veley) Hald, extended family in both Hungary and England, and most importantly his wife Dorothy of 60+ years. He was devoted to her care and visited her every day at Dawson Court unless he himself was in the hospital.

A celebration of Josef’s life will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 26, 2019 in the Chapel of Harbourview Funeral Centre, followed by a luncheon. Private family interment will take place at Sunset Memorial Gardens at a later date.

We are grateful to the staff at TBRHSC and St. Joseph’s Hospice. If friends so desire, donations in Josef’s memory may be made to the Alzheimer Society, as this disease greatly impacted the lives of Dorothy and Josef.