Petras LUKOSEVICIUS

OBITUARY PETRAS LUKOSEVICIUS - May 19, 1920 - December 20, 2007 Any community would be lucky to have a person like Petras. Immigrating to Canada from their native Lithuania following World War II, he and his wife Irena quickly became pillars of the Lithuanian community in Montreal. Like many eastern European immigrants, Irena and Petras had a vision to establish a strong cultural community within their new country to ensure that their children would know and understand their beautiful homeland. Petras was defined by his selflessness and outstanding work ethic. After arriving in Canada he obtained a Doctorate in Agronomy from McGill University and held various senior positions within Agriculture Canada. Notwithstanding his busy career and family duties, he always made time to serve the Lithuanian community in Montreal and abroad. He served as President of the Lithuanian Canadian Community, which organized cultural activities through its chapters in Canada. He was also the founder and President of the Academic Society of Lithuanian Canadians in Montreal, which established a prestigious annual award for Lithuanian writers which continues to this day. Following retirement, he and Irena tirelessly volunteered their time to various academic and community programs in Lithuania. In 1992, he founded the World Lithuanian Community Bureau in Vilnius and served as its first director. He was devoted to Irena, their children Rasa Kuras (Paul) and Ina Sungaila (Mark), and especially to his six grandchildren: Tomas, Daina, Vaiva, Darius, Matas, and Nerija. When his health began to ebb, the opposite was certainly true - they were all exceptionally devoted to him. Friends are invited to call at the Turner and Porter Butler Chapel, 4933 Dundas St. W. on Thursday, December 27, 2007 from 5-9 p.m. Funeral Mass will take place at the Church of the Resurrection, 1 Resurrection Rd. on Friday, December 28, 2007 at 10 a.m. Interment will be at St. Johns Lithuanian Cemetery, 2185 Stavebank Road, Mississauga. If desired, remembrances may be made to the Resurrection Parish, ULK Sielovada, or the Alzheimer Society of Ontario. Published in the Montreal Gazette on 12/22/2007