Obituary of Ryszard Henryk Rydygier

RYDYGIER, Ryszard Henryk (Richard) Born in Pabianice, Poland on December 27, 1917. Richard passed away at the St. Catharines General Hospital on Thursday March 12, 2009, in his 92nd year, after a long life well lived through the worst of times and the best of times. Richard was the very dearly loved husband of Joyce (nee Lee) for 58 years. Loving father of David Ryszard of Toronto and Janet Maria Campbell. Loved Poppa of Jason (Cindy) Campbell and Lee (Jason) MacLean and great grandfather of Emily and Jeremy. Survived by his sister-in-law Ida Greenwood and her children Robert and Ann in England. Predeceased by his parents and three brothers in Poland. Richard worked for nine months on the "Avro Arrow" project in Toronto then at TRW in St. Catharines for 25 years, retiring in 1982. Richard was a dedicated and Past President of Polish Branch 418 of the R.C.L. Also a member of the 1st Polish Armoured Division Association, Toronto, and the Virtuti Militara Order Club, Warsaw, Poland. He was a life member of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME). We extend our grateful thanks to Dr. Alexander Maend, our compassionate doctor for 52 years and Dr. Peter Fernandez for his dedicated care for many years and Dr. Michael Torigian. Mr. Rydygier is resting at the GEORGE DARTE FUNERAL CHAPEL, 585 Carlton St., until Monday at 10:30 am. A Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated in Our Lady Of Perpetual Help Church, 5 Oblate St., on Monday, March 16, 2009 at 11:00 am. Followed by burial at Victoria Lawn Cemetery in the Veterans' Plot. Visitation will be held on Sunday, March 15, 2009 from 2 - 4 pm and 7 - 9 pm. Vigil prayers will be offered in the funeral home Sunday afternoon at 3 pm. Following the prayers there will be a Legion Service. If desired, donations may be made to the McMaster Children's Hospital, Lincoln County Humane Society or the charity of one's choice.