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Woods, Albert (Ab) Leo - 2013

  WOODS, Albert (Ab) Leo
Resident of Prince of Wales Manor, passed away peacefully in his sleep, the morning of March 30th, at the Queensway Carleton Hospital, Ottawa at the age of 95, after a brief battle with cancer. He was predeceased by his wife Emily Elizabeth (Holmes), his brother George and sisters Eva, Mary and Irene. He is survived by his daughter Carol (Myron) Dashkawich and son Doug (Carol). Fondly remembered by his grandchildren Sean (Bina) Grainger, Marcy (Jose Fernandez), Jeff Grainger, Sue-Ellen (Peter) Johnston and Lionel (Kerri) Woods and his great- grandchildren, Alex and Chelsea Johnston, Jessica Nelson, Joshua and Owen Fernandez, Avery and Wyatt Grainger and Keenan and Reegan Woods. Born near Milestone Sask., Ab moved to a farm near Sovereign, Sask. with his parents, eventually taking over the farm and marrying Emily in 1939. As well as farming, this self taught gentleman wired almost all of the homes in the immediate area. He was an accomplished musician, forming a dance band called the Sovereign Silverton's who travelled throughout the area playing at country dances. In his "spare" time he worked as a mechanic, curled, coached a woman's hockey team, dabbled in amateur theatre, built two homes and even sold, installed and repaired the first televisions in the area. He was an active member of the Sovereign Masonic Lodge #192 and was a Life Member. In 1956 he took his family to Saskatoon where he soon found permanent employment as a Control Room Operator and subsequently a System Dispatcher with Saskatchewan Power. The subsequent 29 years saw him move from Saskatoon to Squaw Rapids, then Estevan and finally back to Saskatoon where he retired. He became a passionate student and user of the computer by which he communicated with and vicariously travelled the world. In 2003, he moved to Ottawa where he spent the last 8 years in relative good health. Of particular note is that he had a reputation amongst his family and in his neighbourhood as a "Mr. Fix-it". It didn't matter what he put his hand to, he could return it to working condition, untangle it, clean it, fix it or just plain figure out how it worked. This gentle, hard working man had an insatiable curiosity, truly believed in the Golden Rule and lived by the 10 Commandments. He will truly be missed by his extended family and the many friends he made along the way. The family wishes to recognize and thank the staff at the Prince of Wales Manor Retirement Home for their kindness and for making Albert feel at home for the last two years. Also we thank and compliment the staff at the Queensway Carleton Hospital (C4) for their limitless, around-clock-efforts making Dad comfortable, painless and at peace. He thought you all were "awesome". As in life, Ab did not want any "fuss", so there was only a private viewing for family and cremation followed Easter weekend. However, there will be a graveside memorial service in Sovereign this summer. For those who wish to remember, perhaps a small donation to the Canadian Cancer Society or the Queensway Carleton Hospital would be welcomed. 
Published in The Ottawa Citizen on April 1, 2013

Mr. Woods was the father of Doug Woods, an Old Foreign Affairs Retired Technician living in Ottawa.

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