For Posterity's Sake         

A Royal Canadian Navy Historical Project

In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar

KANASEVICH, Maurice Theodore - aged 94 passed away in Camp Hill Veterans' Memorial Building, QEII, Halifax on September 12, 2019. Born in Eatonia, Sask., he was the son of Michal and Tillie (Kusznyrik) Konash. In 1943 his father changed the family name from Kanasevich to Konash. Dad had already joined the Royal Canadian Navy and he chose to keep his birthname. He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Alice (Robichaud); sons, John and Wayne (Janice); daughters, Wendy and Gail; 11 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild; sisters, Olga Mulawka and Sonia (Albert) Russell both of Edmonton, Alta. He was predeceased by son, Dennis; siblings, Mary, John and Billy. Dad left home in 1942 to work in a Forestry Camp in British Columbia. In 1943 he returned home and enlisted in the Naval Reserves. Shortly thereafter, he was called up and sent to Cornwallis for basic training and was then stationed at CFB Stadacona. His war time contribution as a Stoker on the Quatsino, a minesweeper, in Prince Rupert, B.C., lasted until the war ended. Post war he returned to Halifax where he served on various ships until his first retirement in 1950. He met mom in Saint John, N.B., in 1948, they married in 1949. They then moved to Edmonton and lived there for nine years. Dad re-enlisted in 1959 and moved the family back to Halifax. He then served from 1959 to 1978 with the Canadian Armed Forces. Retiring a second time, he served in the Canadian Forces Supplementary Reserve from 1978 until Honourable Release in 1981. His medals include; 1939-45 Star, Burma Star, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp, War Medal 1939-45 and Canadian Forces Decoration and Clasp. Dad was also a member of the Royal Canadian Legion, Eastern Marine Branch 161, in Gaetzbrook for over 30 years where he especially enjoyed playing darts and winning in the meat draws. He had a lifelong passion of books, learning, fishing, gardening, cooking, and food from many different cultures. This extended into his post retirement. He was extensively travelled worldwide through his Naval Service and also with mom. Dad had an exceptional memory and a gift for storytelling right to the end. He remembered dates, events and people all the way back to when he was six years old. He also loved to listen to other people's life experiences and could usually relate to them with a story of his own. We would like to thank the VMB's 4th Floor West Team of Drs., R.N.s, L.P.N.s, C.C.A.s, dining staff, and volunteers for the love and exceptional care he received for the past six plus years. The team of over 50 people became Dad's extended family and he had a personal relationship with each and every one. They were all his favorites. Dad had a long-standing respect for medical research and was registered with the Dalhousie Human Body Donation Program since the 1980's. The criteria is fairly strict and we were never sure if he would be accepted until the end. They are honoured to accept him into the program. Upon finishing their research with Dad's body, he will be cremated and buried at sea. His request was that there be no funeral service