Tribute

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Jack Costa,
beloved father, grandfather and great-grandfather on Friday Jan. 25,
2013 at Kelowna General Hospital.

Jack was born in Ourondo, Portugal on Nov. 20, 1923 to Joaquim Costa
and Palmira Dos Santos. Here he met and married the love of his life,
Amelia Gaspar in 1947. This union was blessed with four children.
Jack worked in Ourondo as the local shoemaker, making and designing
leather shoes for the townfolks. In 1955, Jack emigrated to France.
In 1956 Amelia and the girls joined him. Jack excelled in a variety
of different trades while in France. His skills included, working in
a sugar mill, a farm, then the railroad work laying tracks where he lost
the ring finger on his left hand. He then took up masonry, later
building roads using picks and jackhammers. He became a detonation
expert clearing the way for new structures. In 1960, in search of a
better life, the family emigrated to Osoyoos. Jack and Amelia started
a new chapter in their lives in orchard work, which led him to
purchase his own orchard in 1965.

Jack enjoyed a fun life with music, song and laughter. He was often
heard singing or whistling a tune while working, or telling stories
and jokes at the two hour Sunday meals. Jack and his family lived and
operated their orchard on 107th Street where they worked until their
retirement in 1994. After selling their beloved orchard, they moved
into a house across from the Sun Bowl arena where they both enjoyed
gardening. Both Jack and Amelia were avid hockey fans, enjoying the
local teams and watching their grandsons play hockey.

Jack will be deeply and sadly missed by his loving daughters, Olinda
Ferreira (Andre) of Osoyoos, Candida Bothe (Frank) of Kelowna and
Carnation St. Amand (Robert) of Kelowna; grandchildren Neil and Leigh
Ferreira, James Bothe, Amanda Armstrong (David) and Marc and Sean St.
Amand; great-grandchildren Lindsay and Joel Armstrong, and Cash and
Ari Ferreira; sisters Candida Ferreira of Osoyoos and Maria Dos
Santos Costa of Portugal; sisters-in-law Virginia Ferreira of
Victoria, Encarnacao Rodrigues of Osoyoos, Beatriz Ferreira of
Ourondo, Portugal, Olinda Gaspar and brother-in-law Porfirio Gaspar of
Lisbon, Portugal. He had numerous nieces and nephews as well as good
friends. He really appreciated his nephew and niece, Alfredo and
Amelia Brazinha, who spent much time with him, as well as his dear
friends Jim and June Harrington, whom he considered part of his
family.

Jack was predeceased by his loving wife, Amelia in 2006 and son Jose
in 1950, three brothers, three sisters, ten brothers-in-law, and two
sisters-in-law. He was extremely close and devoted to his daughters,
sons-in-law, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Jack's happiest
times were when he was surrounded by his family.

Good bye Papa Bear until we meet again.

A Mass for the late Jack Costa will be held on Saturday Feb. 2, 2013
at 10:30 am at St. Anne's Church in Osoyoos, B.C. with Father David
De Souza the celebrant. Interment will follow in the Osoyoos Lakeview
Cemetery with a reception held afterwards in the lower church hall.
Prayers will be held on Friday Feb. 1, 2013 at 7:30 pm at St. Anne's
Church.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Milt
Stevenson of Kelowna and Dr. DeVries of Osoyoos as well as the nurses
at KGH.

Donations gratefully accepted to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

Condolences and tributes may be directed to the family by visiting www.nunes-pottinger.com

Arrangements entrusted to Nunes-Pottinger Funeral Service & Crematorium, Oliver & Osoyoos.