Ernest Petro Ochitwa

Ernest (Orest) Peter Ochitwa was born on April 14, 1929, to Michael and Anna (née Rollick) Ochitwa. He was the second son and middle child, with Edward being the older brother and Alice the youngest. Orest held many interesting employment positions in his youth, ranging from teaching to construction. Eventually, he took up farming with his brother. It was during this time that he met the love of his life, Marion Dowling. On May 3, 1957, they married and started their life together. Their daughter, Catherine May, was born on January 17, 1958.

In 1964, they purchased their farm, where they worked side by side, enjoying their life together through the good times and the bad, for 14 years. They then moved to their home in Quill Lake until the passing of Marion. After leaving the farm, Orest started doing carpentry work from his garage and eventually built his shop in the backyard. Working with wood was truly his passion, and over the years, he built everything from homes to intricate scroll wall hangings.

Orest has two grandchildren: Tanya May Coleman, born in 1977, and Todd Charles Coleman, born in 1979. He spent the last chapter of his life living in the same yard with his daughter Cathy and her husband Bob, enjoying the freedom of driving around on his golf cart, visiting the neighbors, or simply sitting on his deck and contemplating life, probably while having a smoke!

Over the span of his life, he had many interests that he enjoyed to the fullest. One of the pleasures that he and Marion enjoyed was square dancing, through which they forged many long-lasting friendships that endured until Orest passed. He still had one couple that he would call, and they would reminisce about days gone by. His one big love was fishing, a hobby he was able to enjoy until the last couple of years.

Orest will be remembered and missed by his daughter Cathy Kavalench; granddaughter Tanya (Chad) Tomaschefski; grandson Todd (Kaly) Coleman; great-grandchildren Taylor, Nixon, and Emma; sister-in-law Jean Ochitwa; sister and brother-in-law Gladys and Bud Tetro; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his beloved wife Marion; parents Ann and Mike Ochitwa; son-in-law Robert Kavalench; brother Edward Ochitwa; sister and brother-in-law Terry Nykiforuk; and nephews Terry Ochitwa and William Nykiforuk.