John Charles HANVEY

JOHN CHARLES HANVEY It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of John Charles 'Jack' Hanvey, on January 15, 2019. Jack leaves his wife Georgia Sandra Hanvey (née Brown), eldest son Kevin Scott Hanvey, daughter-in-law Helen Joanna Goodland, granddaughter Leah Clare Hanvey and grandson Charles Thomas Hanvey; daughter Shauna Lee Hanvey; youngest son Tod David Hanvey; daughter-in-law Judith Hanvey and granddaughter Allie Hanvey; brother Paul Hanvey; sister-in-law Louise Hanvey; nieces Ali and Katie Hanvey and many devoted friends and colleagues. Jack was born in Winnipeg where he spent his early years before departing for Toronto to study Dentistry at the University of Toronto. He and Sandra married in 1958 and spent the first three years of their married life in Toronto before returning to Winnipeg where Jack established his first dental practice. In 1967, at the invitation of a former university classmate, Jack relocated his family to the west coast to establish a dental practice in Tsawwassen, BC where the family was to live for over 30 years. For a kid from the prairies, Jack became profoundly attached to the ocean, whether sailing upon it in the multiple boats he and Sandra owned over the years or living beside it in two beachfront houses in Tsawwassen followed by the False Creek condo he and Sandra shared after Jack's retirement. In recent months and years, Jack's favourite spot at the False Creek condo was a wicker sofa on the north-facing patio where Jack could watch the setting of the sun reflected on the waters of False Creek (preferably with a martini and crossword puzzle close at hand). In the face of serious illness, Jack never lost his sense of irony or humour. His family was fortunate to be able spend a great deal of time with him over the final days and weeks. He approached the end of his life with strength and dignity in the face of the ravages of the diseases that took his body but not his spirit. Finally, the prevailing mood for Jack in the final few days was one of sadness. As ill and tired as Jack was, he found it profoundly difficult to say goodbye to friends and family knowing that he was doing so for the last time. In the end, he chose the time of his passing and left this life surrounded by people that he loved and who loved him. Jack's family is profoundly grateful to both the staff at St Paul's Hospital Palliative Care Unit and the staff at Vancouver Hospice Society where Jack spent his final days. You enriched the end of his life and made his passing more bearable for his family. Jack requested donations in his name be made to the Vancouver Hospice Society. A Celebration of Life will be held in Jack's memory on St Patrick's Day (Sunday, March 17, 2019) in the Lounge at the Granville Island Hotel from noon to 3pm. Please RSVP to celebratejackhanvey@gmail.com When faith is firm, and conscience clear, And words of peace the spirit cheer, And visioned glories half appear, 'Tis joy, 'tis triumph then to die. When trembling limbs refuse their weight, And films, slow gathering, dim the sight, And clouds obscure the mental light, 'Tis nature's precious boon to die. -WH Auden