Obituary of Alojz Benko

Passed away peacefully at 88 years of age on Tuesday morning August 5, 2014 at Whitby Lakeridge Hospital. Loving and cherished husband of Maria (née Kirbis) for 64 years. Beloved father of daughter Slavica Alicia Benko & her husband Simon Bilodeau of Montreal, of son the late Frank Benko & his wife Kelly (née Lee) of Singapore, of son the late Robert Benko & his wife Tammy (née Dorman) and of son Edward Benko & his wife Heather (née Gilbride). Opa will be dearly missed by his grandchildren of whom he was proud and loved so much: Tayler and Nicholas (Edward), Joshua and Wyatt (Frank), and Jack, Natalie and Katie (Robert). Born June 19, 1926 in Domajince, Slovenia into a loving and deeply religious family attached to their beloved parents the late Janez and Helena (née Skraban). Survived by sister Marjeta Kvas, brother Leopolde Benko & his wife Tilika, sister Anica Mikolich and sister Ivanka Flisar in the greater Toronto area and in Slovenia by sister Tilika Zilavec, brothers Franc Benko and Vili Benko. Worked for General Motors, Oshawa from the Fall of 1961 to his retirement in July 1991. Deeply devoted to his family and faith. A lover of all things mechanical, Al could invent and fashion the tool as needed for any project. Always active, in his last years he best enjoyed being outside, in the garden, tending the vegetable patch and fruit trees. We love and miss you. Rest in peace - we shall all be together again in the presence of the Lord. -- We are grateful and wish to thank the family for their support during this difficult time. Sincere thanks to the kind nurses, staff and social workers at Lakeridge Whitby (4th Floor - Nurse practioner Michelle Acorn, social worker Christine Lanz) and Lakeridge Oshawa (5th Floor C Wing - Mary McAvoy, administrator, social worker Angela) who cared for him since May. Our appreciation and thanks to Father Manuel Duterte for the ministry to the sick at both Oshawa and Whitby.