I am Sarah Howell, John’s daughter. It is with great honour that I am able to stand before you all – clergy, family, and friends. Dad was the pillar of our family and a guiding light in our church community. I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to share with you some of the defining features that represent dad and his life.

Dad was born on August 25, 1946 in Binghamton, New York to Father John and Matushka Helen Margitich. His sister, Illona, now had a baby brother. He and his family lived in Binghamton with his grandparents until he was about two years old. From Binghamton, dad then moved to Passaic, New Jersey with his family when Father John was appointed to serve as an assistant priest at St. Peter and Paul’s Russian Orthodox Cathedral. Despite the distance when living in Passaic, dad visited his grandparents regularly in Binghamton. He especially was fond of the family cabin along the Susquehanna River. During the summer or after church on Sundays, his family and him would hop in the car and drive about 180 miles from Passaic to go to the cabin to congregate with family. All the kids in the family would be all together to play or perhaps get into some trouble. While at the cabin, dad and his sister, Illona, befriended a Doberman Pinscher that would come and visit. Dad and auntie did not know where she came from but whenever they were at the cabin, Gypsy, the name they gave the dog, would appear. Another childhood memory of dad’s that I heard recurrently was how he would go to the bakery in the morning before school to grab jelly donuts and cheesecakes for him and his sister to devour. Moreover, dad was quite creative. He enjoyed drawing and oil painting, as well as creating battle scenes with his toy knights.

In 1956, at the age of ten, dad moved again with his family to Edmonton when Father John accepted a position to be a temporary priest at St. Barbara’s Russian Orthodox Cathedral. Father John was a young and vibrant priest and became very well liked by the parishioners that he was asked to become the rector of the Cathedral. This is where dad’s roots in Edmonton and St. Barbara’s became firmly established.

Dad was quite the intellectual and thoroughly enjoyed learning. He was always reading books, magazines, and newspapers wanting to know more about the world. He earned a Diploma of Applied Arts in Distributive Technology from NAIT in 1969. He also attended the University of Alberta and earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1974. He then worked for the Provincial Government, specifically with the Auditor General in a variety of positions from January 5, 1976 to March 22, 2012 with over 36 years of service.

As a young man, dad was known for his paisley designs, brill cream, baby blue suit, and blue car. His striking blue eyes, noticeable style, and suave charm definitely caught the attention of someone special. On February 26, 1983, Father John officiated the marriage ceremony of dad and Caroline Gorgichuk. Mom and dad were married for over 36 years. They enjoyed travelling to Hawaii, Victoria, Vancouver, Kelowna, Banff, Calgary, Montreal, Charlottetown, and Halifax. Mom and dad also regularly attended the Mayfield dinner theatre shows. Mom, dad loved you with all of his heart as his wife, friend, confidant, and caregiver. Even in his final moments, you were his everything. Dad had two children with mom – me on February 26, 1988, and Jacob on April 15, 1992. Both of us are lucky in that our father was the first to hold us when we were born and the first man in our life to love us unconditionally. He also very much loved his niece, Barbara, and godchild and nephew, David. On October 11, 2014, dad lovingly welcomed another member into our family, my husband, Murray.

As a child, teenager, and adult, dad was a sports enthusiast. He played basketball, hockey, soccer, and baseball in his younger years. When my brother and I played competitive soccer, he was one of very few parents, rain or shine, that would come to every game and practice. He always came prepared with his lawn chair, umbrella, and green Auditor General jacket in hand. Jake and I were always psyched up for our games and got the post-game analysis on the car ride home. As he grew older, dad became more of a spectator. He looked forward to watching the Edmonton Eskimos and Oilers, and supporting the NFL teams that matched my brother’s fantasy football players.

Dad was also an amazing cook. I will miss his touch when we have chop chop salad, the aroma of his homemade chicken soup, and his patience to let the sizzling steaks rest. Even when his appetite was suppressed during his treatments, he watched countless food shows. Dad, I will make sure that there is enough salt on the table and gravy to be had for you.

Faith, Church, and God were foundational components of dad’s life from the moment he was born to his passing on November 9th, 2019 and, even in his eternal splendor, these foundations continue to guide him and his soul. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not into your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path.” (Proverbs 3:5-6) Dad came from a family of cantors, singers, choir directors, and priests. From a young age, he helped in the church office licking and stamping envelopes for Christmas and Easter bulletins, he served as an altar boy until the age of seventeen, and he attended Russian and Sunday school. When he asked his mother to help him with a song that he had to learn for his junior high music class, it was in that moment that Matushka Helen knew he had a beautiful voice. Dad’s knack for singing morphed into his passion for liturgical music. He joined the St. Barbara’s choir and was a devoted member for over 55 years singing Tenor for church holidays, funerals, and weddings. Dad was highly motivated to gather musical scores for upcoming services. His colored markers have forever left an imprint on our choir music and somehow we all understand the various slashes, triangle inserts, and underlines.

Dad will forever hold his spot in the tenor section of the choir loft and it will not be the same looking there. Furthermore, dad was the choir treasurer for over 40 years. He willingly stepped in to direct the choir on various occasions. With pride, dad also led the pro-liturgy service for many years to encourage parishioners to come to church with a condensed liturgy. He would sing at midnight mass at Easter and then wake up earlier to shine his shoes to lead the Easter morning service only a few hours later.

As a young boy, dad would go to graveside services alongside Father John to celebrate Easter Pascha with families and departed family members. This continued into his adult life as he went from cemetery to cemetery to support clergy in the graveside services. Dad was the man in black with his sunglasses wandering around the graves and at times was even mistaken for being the priest. Dad even conjured up the strength to make the trip out to Nisku this past May to lead the graveside services for his parents and other families despite being weakened by his cancer treatments. Dad’s passion and devotion to the church has been recognized by both past and present parishioners and clergy.

“…I am the Resurrection, and the life: he that believes in me…shall never die.” (John 11: 25-26) The last three years of dad’s life were trying in terms of health challenges. In 2016, dad was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease that attacked his blood cells. In 2017, dad underwent a major surgery to repair aneurysms in his body. In April 2019, dad was diagnosed with an aggressive form of stage 4 T-cell lymphoma cancer. Mom, Jacob, and I assured him that the three of us would be there for him in this journey no matter what. It was indeed a difficult process to witness dad decline in his health before our eyes. Even though his disease was relentless, dad never gave up. Dad courageously battled this disease with several rounds of chemotherapy at the Cross Cancer Institute. Despite these physical struggles, dad’s faith was unwavering. It was strong and constant. At one point he stated, “I have been a man of faith my entire life and I am a part of the church. I am not afraid.” This emotional and spiritual vigor was astounding and so reassuring to myself and my family. “I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:33) Dad received holy communion and holy unction before departing this life.

Dad passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 9, 2019 at 5:37pm surrounded by prayer and his family. “Lord, give rest to the soul of Your departed Servant, John Margitich, in a place of brightness, a place of refreshment, a place of repose, from which all sickness, sighing, and sorrow are no more. Pardon every transgression which he has committed, whether by word or deed or thought. For you are a good God and the Lover of Mankind.” Вічная Пам’ять. Memory Eternal.

Sarah Howell, at the Funeral and Prayer
(Panachida) Services on November 15 and 16,
2019 at St. Barbara‘s Russian Orthodox Cathedral