Jan SEBESTA

SEBESTA, Jan 2008-01-07 Mr. Jan (John) Sebesta age 83 passed away peacefully at Pioneer Ridge in the early morning of January 5th, 2008 with family at his side. Jan was born in Mokry Haj, Slovakia on April 28th, 1924. Jan apprenticed as a bookbinder in Slovakia at which time he met his wife Anna. They were married on February 2nd, 1947 and celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary this past year. Jan left his wife and 2 children in 1948 to travel to Canada where he joined his father Marek who had left his family in the 20’s to prepare a better life for his family. In late 1948, Anna, Paul and John, and mother-in-law Rosalia emigrated from Slovakia to join their husbands. Jan’s first job was with the CNR section in Port Arthur during the winters and on the Ore Dock in the summers. In 1967, Jan left the railroad to begin a new career in his bookbinding profession at Lakehead University retiring in 1989. In 1974 he and his son Frank started Thunder Bay Bookbindery. After his retirement, he continued to work on specialty leather binding especially old bibles and books. His greatest passion in life - after his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren - was singing. He was an actor and singer in Slovakia. Upon arriving in Canada, he joined the choir at St. Andrew’s Roman Catholic Church. He was a first tenor and frequently sang solos especially Ave Maria at weddings and funerals. He later joined the Corpus Christi choir when the family moved to Anten Street. Throughout his almost 60 years of singing his most memorable time was spent with the Fort William Male Choir where he spent over 30 years, retiring due to poor health. His greatest pleasure included the many concerts and trips he participated in with the Male Choir. He attended his last concert on November 30th, 2007 at which time he participated during the audience sing- a-long. He also sang one season with the Lakehead Symphony and one season with the Lakehead Choral group. It was in the production of the Gondoliers that Norman Kleven noticed Jan’s talents and asked him to join the Male Choir. Jan’s other great passion was his devotion to the creation of a Slovak State. He was secretary of the Canadian Slovak League for many years. He strived to maintain the Slovak culture in Thunder Bay and Canada. His greatest dream was to see the realization of and independent Slovakia. Jan is survived by his wife Anna, eight children: Paul (Lois), John (Lu-Anne), Eve (Ken Johnson), Frank (Nancy), Peter (Jill), Tony (Dawn), Michael, Rob (Nathalie): 15 grandchildren: Pamela (Peter Wilke), Paul (Melanie), Mark Sebesta (Dalys); John, Michell Sebesta; Ken (Laura) , Kris (Kim) Johnson; Ian (Christine), Danielle (Chris) Sebesta; Paula, Alexander Sebesta; Jason (Jamie), Rachael Sebesta; Tiana Sebesta; Nicholis and also 15 great-grandchildren. Also survived by nephew Stan Zolna and niece Barbara (Ernie) Zolna-Daykin. Jan was predeceased by his parents Marek and Rosalia Sebesta, his twin brother Florian in infancy, his sisters Antonia Vesela in Slovakia, and Anna Zolna. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, January 8, 2008 when family and friends will gather in Corpus Christi R.C. Church for the Funeral Mass beginning at 10:00 a.m. celebrated by Rev. Alan Albao. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday January 7th in the Sargent and Son Funeral Chapel, 21 N. Court Street, where the Vigil Service will begin at 7:00 p.m. If friends so desire, donations may be made to the Ontario Heart and Stroke Foundation, the Alzheimer Society of Thunder Bay or the Canadian Diabetes Association. On-line condolences may be made at www.sargentandson.com.