The death of Ivan Hubert Pavelich of Aldergrove, B.C., (formerly of Kenaston and Davidson) occurred at a local hospital on March 29, 2015. He was surrounded by his family as he passed away peacefully after brief illness. Ivan was born on August 15, 1931, the youngest son of Fabian “Nick” and Martha (Sarich) Pavelich. He was born on the family farm, near Bladworth. As a child of the Depression, Ivan learned from his experiences and from his parents that with courage, hard work and perseverance anything is possible. He attended Briggs School, and then Kenaston High School. He then moved to Regina and attended Barber School. He worked as a barber in Melfort and Lloydminster and then assumed ownership of the Barber Shop and Beauty Salon in Davidson. It was here that Ivan met his wife, Jan, when she became the hairstylist at the salon. They were married in 1955. After a few years, they moved to Kenaston where Ivan worked with his brother Milton at Pavelich Farm Equipment and later became the Bulk Agent at Kenaston for Imperial Oil (Esso). In 1973, Ivan and Jan sold their home and business in Kenaston and headed west with their four children to the Pacific Coast of British Columbia where they settled in Surrey. Ivan worked at various places of business in the area and ultimately served as custodian in Scottsdale Mall Surrey.
After 22 years, Ivan and Jan retired to Aldergrove. In his retirement, Ivan continued, as always, to tinker with little projects — those that required creative thinking he liked best. Perhaps this all began in his elementary school days, when he acquired a fret saw and soon was creating game boards, bird houses, and hand painted wooden ornaments —some that his appreciative mother kept for many, many years. Whatever Ivan was doing, he could be tracked down by his “whistle.” He was continually whistling or humming, this again a trait that he carried forward from his youth. When he wasn’t tinkering, cutting the lawn or doing other household tasks, Ivan was pursuing his enjoyment of knowledge for the sake of knowledge itself. There was hardly a day that he wasn’t reading a newspaper or working on a word puzzle or listening to the news. Ivan will also be remembered for his sense of humour. He was quick with a quip and a master of the “one-liner.” To the very end he was making those around him laugh and teaching life’s valuable lessons. He was a strong man who taught his children and grandchildren about commitment, how to be a good person, and that family and a sense of humour are the most important things one has. He will be missed forever by his loving family and all who knew him.
Ivan is survived by his loving wife Jeanette (Jan) of almost 60 years; their children Sandra, Barry (Michele), Duane (Raylynn), Trevor (Theresa); and their grandchildren Jennifer (Mike), Joseph (Brieanne), Heather (Rob), Mathew, Craig, Chelsea, Abigail and Makayla; great grandchildren Olivia and Ethan. Ivan is also survived by his sister Barbara of Saskatoon, several brothers and sisters-in-law, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Ivan was predeceased by his parents, Nick and Martha, sisters Pauline Tracy and Kathryn Posey, and brothers Milton and Fabian.
The Mass of Christian Burial was held at St. Joachim and Anne Catholic Church in Aldergrove on April 11, with interment to take place at the Garden of Gethsemane Cemetery in Aldergrove.
