Obituary of Paul Zolnierczuk
Paulo (Paul) Zolnierczuk, of 106 Carlton Street, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, passed away in his 79th year at his residence on April 05, 2024, following a lengthy illness.
Paul was an only child, born to Ukrainian parents on August 18, 1946, in a concentration camp in the Ukraine. Following their discharge from the camp, the parents immigrated with their infant son to Canada, settling in Ontario on a farm near the Fort Erie Racetrack. Paul’s father worked his farm, and also did odd jobs at the racetrack. Paul grew up on the farm and took his elementary and secondary schooling in the area.
Paul was divorced from his only wife, Maggie, whom he had met while touring PEI in the late 60’s, and helped raise her daughter Lisa. They had settled in Toronto, Ontario, where they lived until their divorce. Paul remained in Toronto, and Maggie, with her daughter, returned to PEI.
Paul led an adventurous life to be sure. During his twenties, he became a dramatic actor, appearing in a couple of small roles in Toronto based TV productions, Wojeck, and Quincy M E. Paul also took operatic voice training, and became an accomplished tenor, performing in assorted operatic productions in the Toronto Arts’ scene. Paul once shared his portfolio with me and it was exciting to view his accomplishments.
During his thirties, Paul travelled to Alberta where he worked in the oil fields for a time. He learned the construction trade and worked in the cement and masonry parging trade.
Paul’s broad interests took him throughout the United States, as well as Mexico. He often spoke about the adventures he had enjoyed.
Paul returned to Toronto. His father had died years earlier, but his mother, with whom Paul was exceptionally close, became terminally ill with cancer. She owned the house at 106 Carlton Street in St. Catharines where she lived alone. Paul kept commuting to St. Catharines as often as he could until he moved there to take care of his mother until her death. Paul’s mother left her house to him.
As he was now living in St. Catharines permanently, Paul purchased two properties in St. Catharines of which he rented out to supplement his income, and he continued this course until he sold them in the mid-1990’s. He then worked at a couple of factories in St. Catharines.
When personal computers became the norm in the 1990’s, Paul, then in his late 40’s, took computer classes during the evening at the St. John Adult Learning Center. Upon graduation, he began working at Merge (Mergetel) Internet on Ontario Street in St. Catharines until the business closed. Always one to stay positive, Paul opened his own computer programming and website building service out of his home. Paul continued to service several areas, one being the Dressel’s Jordan Valley Campground, until the developing illness of C.O.P.D. around 2012 became so advanced that he could no longer sit at his computer for long periods of time.
Paul was a stanch conservative in his political views, as well as the way he conducted his life. He loved dogs and cats, and had both in the early 2000’s, giving a home to a golden Cocker Spaniel for a short period of time, as well as a grey tabby cat. He was always giving open affection to neighbouring dogs and cats as if they were his own. He adored my Husky/Shepard named Shadow as if he were his own, calling him by the nickname Shadow-in-ski. Paul was well respected by all of his neighbours in the surrounding area of his home.
Paul has been laid to rest at 1 pm on Monday, July 29th, 2024 at Victoria Lawn Cemetery.
Paul was a fine, upstanding, trustworthy next-door neighbour, and a most stellar friend to me and my family for thirty-four years. I knew him well, and we shared many happy times on each other’s back patio, as well as our front porches. It has been difficult coming to terms in knowing he is no longer there, in body, but I take comfort in knowing he is at peace, and his soul has gone home. I would invite anyone who wishes to honour Paul’s memory, to donate to the charity of your choice in his name. Paul always believed in making the best of any situation, and moving forward the best you can. He did, he never quit, and I will remember him with fondness for the rest of my days.
Paul’s longtime friend, and neighbour,
Carol Weir
