Ignacy (Gene) Sandecki
April 23, 1929 - May 10, 2009
Sadly we announce the passing of our dear husband, father and grandfather, Ignacy (Gene) Sandecki May 10, 2009 at Mills Memorial Hospital following a long battle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Born April 23, 1929 in Czernowicz, Poland, he was predeceased by his parents, Maria and Josef, and three younger brothers.
At age 11 World War II separated him from his family and also ended his education. He fought in the Polish underground during the war, mined coal, and cooked aboard merchant ships until becoming a longshoreman in Hamburg. In 1960 he emigrated from Germany to New York City where he met and married Claudette Baldwin in 1961.
Gene became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1965 after they moved to Missoula, Montana where their two daughters were born.
In June l968 the family moved to Terrace where Gene became a life long member of Tunnel and Rock Workers Local 168. He helped build Northwest Community College, the Terrace Arena, the Sande Overpass, Thornhill Elementary School, the new Skeena Bridge, Methanex in Kitimat, the Prince Rupert Grain Terminal, and Highways 16 and 37.
During seasonal layoffs he gained Grade Ten equivalency at Northwest Community College, as well as numerous trade tickets including flagging, asbestos removal, Survival First Aid, slinging and rigging, rakerman, boning, and pipe laying.
He enjoyed fishing, gardening, landscape painting and creative cooking for his family.
He is survived by his wife Claudette, daughter Claudette (Terry) in Vancouver, and daughter Doina (Russ ) and granddaughters Keri and Erin.
Gene chose cremation. A family farewell will follow in mid-summer.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the B.C. Lung Association.
The family wishes to thank the many dedicated hospital staff for their gentle caring, including nurses, doctors, admissions and lab personnel, as well as ambulance attendants and Thornhill Volunteer Firefighter first responders.
Don’t grieve for me for now I’m free
I’m following the path God laid for me
I took his hand when I heard him call
I turned my back and left it all.
Perhaps my time seemed all too brief
Don’t lengthen it now with undue grief
Lift your hearts and peace to thee
For now I’m free.