Kowal, Anthony (Tony) (Died)

Born June 13, 1924, passed

away at his home with his

beloved wife, Vera, at his

bedside on January 12, 2021,

in his 97th year. Cherished

husband of Vera, beloved

father of Jeannette, Richard,

Christopher and Jacqueline

(Robert). Adored grandfather of

Krystian and of his predeceased grandson, Mark

Anthony. Tony immigrated to

Canada from Poland after

serving during WWII in the

Militia as well as in the British

army where he mastered his

command of the English

language. After working at

various jobs across Canada, he

settled in Oshawa and worked

at General Motors for 39 years,

first starting on the production

line and gradually moving up

to the Central Quality Control

Dept as an Engineering

Technologist where several of

his engineering ideas were

incorporated into new vehicle

production. Tony married his

soul mate and the love of his

life, Vera, in 1955. They were

absolutely inseparable and

completely devoted to each

other. They would have

celebrated their 66th

anniversary on February 12,

2021. Tony had a great passion

for learning. He completed his

high school diploma in Canada

as an adult and continued to

take college level courses

throughout his life. His dream

was to become a writer but

instead he devoted his life to

his family, putting his dream of

becoming a best-selling author

on hold. He honed his public

speaking skills by joining the

Toastmasters Club in 1969

where he remained an active

member for 52 years and

received numerous accolades

and awards. Tony was very

proud of his Polish heritage

and was very active in the

Oshawa Polish community.

Throughout the 1980's he was

a volunteer ESL teacher to new

immigrants from Poland.

During his 41 years as a

member of the Polish Alliance

of Canada Branch 21, he

received multiple honours. In

2008, at a ceremony at the

Polish Consulate in Toronto, he

was greatly honoured to have

bestowed upon him the

"Golden Cross of Merit" from

the President of the Republic

of Poland for outstanding

lifetime contributions to the

Polish community in Canada.

Tony was a devout Catholic

and found great peace and

solace in being a faithful

member of St. Hedwig's Polish

parish where he attended

weekly Mass without fail. Tony

was a self-taught pianist and

had a love for Classical piano,

a love which he nurtured in all

four of his children. Around the

house he was a master of DIY

projects. Tony was quiet and

gentle, humble and

unassuming, an intellectual

and an incredibly hard worker

who was always ready to lend

a helping hand. He had a

wonderful sense of humour,

loved to laugh, was always

ready with a smile and always

had a kind word for everyone.

Words cannot express how

truly loved he was by his wife

and children and how very

much he is and always will be

missed. A Private Funeral Mass

will be held at St. Hedwig's

Catholic Church with interment

to follow at Resurrection

Cemetery. Donations, in lieu of

flowers, may be sent to your

charity of choice.

Online condolences may be left at www.armstrongfh.ca