Obituary of Michael (Mike) Ilnicki

ILNICKI, Michael (Mike) May 1, 1923-December 6, 2013. The true measure of a man is not his education, but his intelligence; not his fortune, but those who count themselves fortunate to know him; not by who speaks highly of him, but by how he speaks of and treats others; and not by his job title, but by how he does his job. By all these measures, Michael Ilnicki was a great man. Michael Ilnicki was born to Joseph and Apolonia in Mielniczne, Poland. He has a surviving sister Michalina and is predeceased by younger step-sisters Hanusia (Anna) and Marcella by step-mother Maria. At 19, he was taken to Germany to work in forced labour, to return home only once in 1993. Through his travels, Mike learned to speak 7 languages. In 1950, Mike decided that Canada was the land of opportunity. Though he did not have a formal education, Mike's strong work ethic and warm personality found him work and friends wherever he went. The work was often hard, but Mike didn't complain. A job was a job and a "piece of bread". He was a man of great faith and believed God had a plan to take care of him. In 1965, Mike met Alfreda Stoklosa through mutual friends, the Czudyjowyczes, and instantly fell in love. They were married less than a year later in Kitchener on a beautiful spring day on April 16, 1966. In 1971, Mike became a Tata (father) when they welcomed son Michael Wladyslaw, and in 1974 when their daughter Elizabeth (Lisa) Irene was born. Life was good for the Ilnickis. They spent summers at the cottage swimming in Lake Huron and singing songs around campfires with family from Kitchener and Michigan. Mike was a very proud GM employee and retired in 1988 with 25 years of service, and only owned GM vehicles. Through his work, Mike met many good friends, and car-pooled with one of his closest friends, Clem Faucher. In 1999, Mike and Alfreda were pleased when Kristina (Tina) Koziej became their daughter-in-law and in 2000 when Terry Stone became their son-in-law. Mike and Alfreda were ecstatic to become grandparents to Raymond (2002), his best buddy, and Danika (2007), his sweet little girl. Ray and Danika loved when Dziadzia babysat (Oreos, chocolate milk, and whatever TV shows they wanted). Mike loved music and dance. He would drive from St. Catharines to Kitchener to take Freda to dances when they were dating and loved to sing his grandchildren to sleep when they were babies. He was very proud to watch his grandchildren dance with the Dunai Ukrainian dancers and loved to watch Danika dance while Raymond played the viola. Mike had a tender heart and loved poetry, animals, and gardening with Freda. He loved to tell stories and jokes. His family was his treasure and he worked hard to make sure that his children had the opportunity to earn university degrees. Mike passed away peacefully surrounded by his family in his 91st year following a brave 5 year battle with cancer. Mike leaves behind a family who knows he loved them, friends who will miss his easy laugh, generosity, and kindness, and thousands of wonderful memories. Family and friends will be received at the GEORGE DARTE FUNERAL CHAPEL, 585 Carlton St., St. Catharines on Tuesday, December 10th from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Rosary will be recited at 8 p.m. in the funeral home. A funeral mass will be held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 5 Oblate St., on Wednesday, December 11th at 11 a.m. Interment to follow at Victoria Lawn Cemetery. The family would like to thank Dr. J.F. Adams, Dr. D. Heritz, and Dr. A. Delrue, as well as the staff in 3A at NHS-St. Catharines Site for their excellent care. Memorial donations may be made to Canadian Red Cross of Charity of One's Choice. Spoczywaj z Bogiem. Thank you Tata. We love you Dziadzia.