GRDEVICH, Joseph Joe, SR. -Died peacefully on November 23, 2017 at the age of 94, surrounded by family.
Joe was born in Slovenia in 1923.
At 19, he fought for Tito's army in World War II, an experience he remembered with vivid clarity for the rest of his days.
Arriving at Ellis Island in 1953 and unimpressed by the American sensibility, Joe opted for Canada, starting as a lumberjack in Thunder Bay, where he met the beautiful young Santina Mancuso, who soon became his wife.
Moving to Brampton to work for American Motors, Joe and Santina had four children - Francis, Walter, Joe Jr. and Sabrina - who grew up with the sounds of Joe's accordion, the sight of the grafted fruit trees he cultivated in the backyard, the scent of his homemade wine and grappa and the many, many exotic birds which Joe bred, raised and sold to bird lovers all over the Golden Horseshoe for decades.
Joe had great character, a disarming bluntness and a mischievous sense of humour that informed the love and admiration his children felt for him till the end. He was predeceased in 2015 by his loving son Joe Jr. He leaves behind 5 wonderful grandchildren, PJ, Joshua, Maisie, Audrey and Miranda, all of whom brought out his great joy for life.
Family and friends will be received at the Ward Funeral Home "Brampton Chapel", 52 Main Street South, on Tuesday, November 28, 2017 from 5-9 p.m. A service will be held in the Chapel on Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. Entombment to follow.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Cystic Fibrosis Canada or the Good Shepherd Centres.