Obituary of Mark Francis Zwolak

ZWOLAK, Mark Francis

Mark Francis Zwolak, of St. Catharines passed away on May 17th, 2018. He was born November 20th, 1978, also in St. Catharines and since that day his golden heart shone brightly throughout exchanges with loved ones and those he met through a broad array of interests and fascinating life experiences.

He completed an Honors Degree in Geography, achieving highest standing at Brock University, followed by both formal and informal study and apprenticeships across various disciplines including GIS, Historical Restorations, Home-Building and Philosophy among various other areas. Mark was also a talented writer and put this gift to good use in both academic and personal contexts, being known for his most thoughtful and moving notes to loved ones on birthdays and other celebratory occasions. He was always an extraordinarily generous man who loved to give thoughtful gifts and to assist others however he could, including working as a counselor to those in need.

Mark led a life full of adventure including extensive travel across the globe for both vocational and leisure purposes. Following a period spent in the British Virgin Islands, he was recruited as a trusted crew member in a sailing voyage across the Atlantic. He also explored Ireland, Italy, the Azores, South Africa, Egypt, and other countries and swam in the Dead Sea. He travelled thousands of miles with a suitcase full of soccer shoes for children at a school in Namibia and joined them in playing the game. One of his most meaningful sojourns was to Poland to spend time with his babcia.

Since his youth, Mark was also a gifted athlete, a talent channeled into distance running, track & field, soccer, volleyball and cycling, among other activities, winning many awards along the way, often supported in earlier years by his adoring family and impassioned cheers of his loving mother. Later, he cycled extensively throughout Canada including an endurance challenge that took him from the Pacific coast all the way back to his home province of Ontario.

Mark will always be remembered with infinite love by his family & friends including parents Jennifer & Richard, sister Monika (James), maternal grandmother “babcia”, Uncle Marian (Renia), Uncle Jozef (Halina), Aunt Ellie, all his beloved cousins and his dear friends. He was predeceased by his paternal grandparents, his maternal grandfather, his Aunt Sabina, cousin Casey Jr. and recently by his beloved Uncle Ed.

Family, friends and guests are welcomed to the GEORGE DARTE FUNERAL HOME, 585 Carlton St., St. Catharines on Tuesday, May 22, 2018 for visitation from 12:30pm-2:30pm, followed by a service in the funeral home chapel at 2:30pm.