Obituary of Paul Harry Holubowsky

Paul Harry Holubowsky

June 17, 1939 to February 9, 2021

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our husband, father and grandfather, Paul Holubowsky at the age of 81. Paul is predeceased by his parents Michael and Matrona Holubowsky. Mourning his loss is his wife of 55 years, Ricki (Henrica Vanschyndel); his daughters Cathy Hamm (John+), Christine Holubowsky, and Carolyn Muir (Kevin); four grandchildren Jake (Elizabeth), Rachel, Sarah and Hunter; sister Irena (Gerry+), twin brother Peter (Dora), sister Maria (Garry), brother Joe, and many nieces and nephews; relatives and friends.

Paul was born in Montreal, Quebec, and in 1946 at the age of seven, moved to the Beamsville Bench on Thirty Road where the family purchased the original Jacob Beam homestead. Paul attended Upper Thirty School and later went to Beamsville District Secondary School. 

 Paul started his career driving an ambulance in Hamilton and also drove a truck for the local Cooperative in Winona. He caught the eye of a bright-eyed beauty named Ricki while delivering pears and tomato plants to her home. Shortly after that they married and started a fulfilling life together. He later drove a transport truck for Direct Systems and eventually took over the Holubowsky family fruit farm, which became Thirty Valley Farms.

Paul lived the life of his dreams fruit farming. He started in the wholesale industry and quickly realized the potential of selling his fruit on the retail farmer's markets. He purchased a second farm and rented several other farms, while employing migrant workers, who became his friends.  In his retirement he maintained the farming lifestyle, creating a daily chore list over coffee and reading the newspapers. He recently created a large garden growing Dahlias.

He enjoyed fishing trips in the summer when the farm permitted and ice fishing in the winter. He was always keen on planning the “next trip”. Since age eighteen, Paul and his identical twin brother Peter enjoyed annual spring fishing trips to Lake Nipissing for walleye and in later years fishing charters on Lake Erie (many people didn’t know them apart, hence the name “Pete and Repeat” in high school)

Paul had a love of ice cream and there was always plenty to go around, even for Dash and Pepper his trusty Dachshunds. Anyone who entered the Holubowsky home knew there was a strong bond shared between Paul and his pups.

Throughout his life he enjoyed travelling with family and friends, stock car races, horse racing and was a season ticket holder for the Hamilton Tiger Cats for years. Many of these activities were shared in the family RV where memories were made!

 Paul was an amazing husband who would do anything to support Ricki in life, including her health struggles.  He was a dedicated family man who showed his love for his wife, daughters and grandchildren every day.

 Paul was an active member of St. John the Theologian Ukrainian Catholic Church in St. Catharines where he was a past president of church council and was a member of the church choir.  He enjoyed helping at various church fundraisers like Pysanky Bingo, selling apples at the church bazaar and helping organize dinner dances.  He had many wonderful and lasting friendships within his church community.

Many thanks to Niagara Health and his health care team during his recent stay in the PCU at the St. Catharines Hospital where he received exceptional care!

Visitation will be held at St. John the Theologian Ukrainian Catholic Church, 91 Lakeshore Rd, St. Catharines, on Friday, March 5 from 9:00a.m - 12noon. Visitors must pre-register at 905-562-5454.  Private family funeral service to be held at the church with Live Stream available at 2p.m.  To view Live Stream, please click the following link www.facebook.com/stjohnukrainian/

If you wish, donations can be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada or St. John the Theologian Ukrainian Catholic Church in memory of Paul.

He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend and he will be greatly missed!