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Marek Kowalczyk

January 20th, 1962 - June 8th, 2024
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Marek Kowalczyk, a considerate soul known for his vibrant spirit, kind heart, and love of life, passed away suddenly on June 8th, 2024. Born on January 20th, 1962, in Nowogard, Poland, Marek moved to Canada in 1989, where he built a life filled with love, laughter, and accomplishment. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

For 35 wonderful years, Marek shared his life with his devoted wife, Patricia. Their enduring love and partnership were a testament to their commitment and deep affection for each other. Marek was a proud and loving father to his daughter, Marta, who was the light of his life. He is also survived by his two brothers, Wes and Richard, and his sister, Ela, along with their families. He cherished the time spent with them and valued the strong bonds they shared. Additionally, Marek supported his wife in carrying for his father-in-law and mother-in-law as they grew older.

Marek was known for his sharp wit and dry sense of humor. He wasn't one to sit around, always staying active and engaged in life. He had a profound love for the water, finding solace and joy in fishing. Many of his happiest moments were spent by lakes and oceans around the world, casting a line and savoring the tranquility of nature. An avid cook, Marek delighted in preparing meals for his family and friends, always adding his special touch to each dish. His passion for the Vancouver Canucks was well-known; he rarely missed a game and proudly cheered for his favorite team through every season.

As the owner of a flooring installation company, Marek was a dedicated and considerate employer known for treating his employees with respect. His hard work and commitment to quality were evident in every project he undertook. Additionally, Marek and Patricia owned a boutique hotel in Costa Rica, where they created cherished memories and welcomed guests with warmth and hospitality. They shared the dream of retiring there together one day.

Marek's warmth, generosity, and zest for life will be remembered by all who had the pleasure of knowing him. His memory will live on in the hearts of his loved ones and all those whom he touched forever, a testament to the impact he made on the lives of those around him.

A celebration of Marek's life will be held at John MS Lecky UBC Boathouse, 7277 River Rd, Richmond, BC V6X 1X5, from 2 to 4 PM on June 20th.

Rest in peace, Marek.


Tributes

Brandi
July 3rd, 2024

Merek was clearly such a kind loving man. I wish your family peace at this difficult time.

Mike Mcmurray
June 20th, 2024

I had the pleasure of working with
Marek for about fourteen year's.
He was a perfectionist in his work and always finished massive projects on schedule. I learned a lot from him.
Marek became a very good friend and the best boss anyone could hope for.
I will miss him dearly.
He’s busy walking Charlie right now.
Rest in peace my dear friend.

Michael McMurray

Wall Centre Hotels
June 20th, 2024

On behalf of Wall Centre Hotels please accept our deepest sympathies during this very difficult time. We hope that the memories you have with Marek comfort you. We are so sorry for your loss and we are keeping you in mind. Marek has worked with us for so many years and it was an absolute joy to have known him; the great person he was, always there to lend a helping hand when needed. Wishing you and your family strength for today and hope for tomorrow. Warmest condolences from the Wall Centre. Rest in peace Marek, you will be missed dearly.

Esteban Arce
June 20th, 2024
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Marek meant for me, an example of a good man, a good husband, a good employer, with a humble and sincere heart ❤️.
I can't find words to describe how much l"ll miss you.
In these wonderful years working together I will never forget our fishing tours, the shopping trips and cooking together, always happy with a big smile.

Rest in Peace my dear friend.

Jackie and Mike
June 19th, 2024

I’m an so sorry for your loss. Marek was a fun loving spirit that had a huge personality and we loved his sense of humour He will deeply missed by all. Big hugs ❤️❤️❤️

Mike and Jo Ann
June 19th, 2024

We will miss you Marek, our brother. It’s difficult to imagine the future without you. We are comforted by the knowledge that you are in heaven now and all pain is gone. Your guardian angels said “no more suffering. , it’s time to rest”
We love you and will never forget you.

Jayson Heaney
June 17th, 2024

Marek,

I had the pleasure of working with you Marek over the last 10 years, always smiling , always had a great story to tell.
He blessed me with a few of my last work projects.... Breaks my heart to know you are no longer with us.
I hope the ocean in heaven has lost of fish, tight lines until we meet again brother!

Mary Gwilt and family
June 17th, 2024

Patricia,
Sending you our thoughts and prayers on the loss of your beloved Marek.
We hope all the memories of special times shared with Marek over so many years will bring you comfort and strength at this difficult time.
Un gran abrazo.

Ricki Chandarana
June 17th, 2024

To Marek's family our deepest condolences go out to you. He was a good man and will be missed.

Sophie Crosby Coulson
June 17th, 2024

Patricia un gran abrazo a la familia. Con mucha pena por uds. Pensando y rezando por ti.

Bianchini Quirós Family
June 16th, 2024
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Marek!
You will be missed!  Thank you for all your good vibes, humor and overall qualities of a great human being. 

Marek, graciasss por permitirnos haber estado en tu y nuestro plan de vida; graciasss  por todo lo compartido, reído, aprendido y disfrutado!   Gracias!

Vuela alto Marek! Vuela alto!

You earned the merits of an early graduation, guess you are enjoying the fruits of all your earned credits.

Till our next adventure!!!

Paul and Ethel
June 16th, 2024

It's hard to find the right words to express the sorrow we feel at the sudden loss of our dear friend Marek. I've had the privilege of knowing Marek and his brother for over 20 years, and in all that time, he never once complained about his workload. No matter how tough the task, Marek faced it with a positive attitude and a smile.

To me, Marek was more than a friend—he was like an older brother. He was always there to lend a helping hand with installations at our company, and his kindness extended beyond work. He showed incredible warmth to my wife and made sure everyone felt welcome and valued. We'll never forget the boating and fishing trip he treated us to, along with our other friends. His generosity knew no bounds, as he always extended an invitation to visit his beautiful place in Costa Rica.

Marek would often update us on the progress of his hotel construction in Costa Rica, sharing his excitement and dedication. We are incredibly proud of him for building a stunning hotel resort over there, a testament to his hard work and vision.

We also had plans to visit Poland together someday, a trip we both looked forward to with great anticipation. Although we won't get to make that journey, the memories and the laughter we shared will stay with me forever. His legacy will live on in the memories of those beautiful moments and the lives he touched.

Zawsze będzie nam Ciebie brakowało, Marek.

Lorna Rasmussen
June 16th, 2024

Marek was such a loving presence. He felt like the rock on which your relationship was built, Patricia. He was your support, champion, and ever-present cheerleader. I grieve that you weren't able to experience a retirement here in Costa Rica with him. And he will be missed very deeply by everyone who loved him.

May the memories of Marek bring you comfort.

I am sending you love and light as you navigate this loss and start a new life. I am here for you in any way I can
Lorna.

Bianchini Quirós Family
June 15th, 2024
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Marek!
You will be missed!  Thank you for all your good vibes, humor and overall qualities of a great human being. 

Marek, graciasss por permitirnos haber estado en tu y nuestro plan de vida; graciasss  por todo lo compartido, reído, aprendido y disfrutado!   Gracias!

Vuela alto Marek! Vuela alto!

You earned the merits of an early graduation, guess you are enjoying the fruits of all your earned credits.

Till our next adventure!!!

Alejandro Lopez
June 14th, 2024

I have known Marek for my entire life. He has watched me grow from boy to the man I am today. He taught my father and a good portion of my family in the flooring trade. His skills and techniques will continue of through us and on to the next generation. Rest in peace Mark.

Toni and Gib Ramirez
June 14th, 2024

Where to start..... I have not known Marek for a long time, but this is how I viewed him through my eyes. First and foremost, I saw a man who deeply loved his wife. He was devoted to seeing her dreams fulfilled. His smile, whenever he greeted you, was beautiful and genuine. Warm, yet so strong, Marek was a man who loved life. He worked hard and had an unbridled passion for fishing, especially fly fishing.

Marek's love for fishing took him to extraordinary places, including Costa Rica, where he sought out something I didn’t even know existed. His enthusiasm for the sport was infectious. Gib was fortunate enough to go fishing with Marek—a day he will never forget. I had hoped to share a similar experience with Marek, reminiscent of the times I fished with my dad so long ago. Unfortunately, I never got the chance to experience that with him.

Marek will be deeply missed by his Costa Rican friends, but he will never be forgotten. His legacy of love, strength, and passion for life and fishing will continue to live on in our hearts. Gib and I send our deepest condolences to Patricia, who we care so much for, and for the rest of the family.

Karin Ucci & Dahveed Attal
June 14th, 2024

Sincere condolences to Patricia and family . Heartfelt sympathies extended to family and friends in Poland , Vancouver, and Costa Rica . We were very saddened to hear of Malek’s sudden passing.

Malek possessed an immensely endearing smile… always such a sincere and warm welcome when we saw him at LaPazul . Kind , humble , happy . Those will continue to be our memories of Malek .

Rest in Peace gentle man . You will be missed by many .
God speed 🙏

Ed Tjipta
June 14th, 2024

Marek is a kind soul and a very good person.
Always greets and treats people with respect and always ready to help.
We will miss you.
Rest in peace my friend 🙏

Pietro Nardone
June 14th, 2024

I still can't believe that you are gone. Marek was the guy that always had a smile on his face and was always positive. I have known him for over 30 years and he never changed, always humble, friendly and helpful. Never shied away and would be there to help. He is a great loss to all of us. My sincere condolences to his wife Patricia, his daughter Marta and all his family.

You will be dearly missed. You will always be in my heart and in my prayers.

R.I.P. my dear friend.

Love always,

Pietro, Yvonne, Daniel, Marcello, Raffaele, Stan and Alicja.

Robert and Shirley Goldyn
June 14th, 2024

We are very saddened by the sudden passing of Marek, our condolences go out to the entire family.

Raj Bhan
June 13th, 2024

I have known Mark for more than 15 years and during this time we became more of a very close personal friends than just business relationship. He had that smile and laughter that I will cherish forever. A very genuine person who will never let you down. When he started his Costa Rica project he was extremely proud of it and whenever we met he was so passionate about what he and his wife’s dream to have it become an international attraction. He would show me the pictures of the initial start off, during and after construction of the entire project. He was extremely so excited about it.
Once I remember him being very upset when his dog was very sick.
I called him a few weeks ago for some flooring project not knowing that he was sick in the hospital. He assured me that he will call me once he gets back which he did on May 30th at 12.49pm and told me that he was back, feeling better and available to help me with my project.
It was indeed the most shocking news I received from Salim on Monday that my dear friend had passed away on Saturday.
Rest in peace buddy, you will be missed dearly..
Our sincere condolences to the families and friends.

Ricardo,
June 13th, 2024

Conocí a Mark en 2005, fue siempre una persona muy amable y siempre con una sonrisa, aprendí mucho de él sobre la instalación de pisos, agradezco a Dios por avernos conocido, lo voy a extrañar.
Todos los que tuvimos la oportunidad de compartir con Mark tendremos algún recuerdo bonito que tendremos siempre en nuestra memoria.
Resignación a su esposa y familia.
Asta siempre mark amigo,

Robert Pate
June 13th, 2024

A great person who will be so missed by all who knew him.

Maciej Dembek
June 13th, 2024

Oj Marku,
Gone way to soon. As my latest Polski friend you filled a unique space in my life. Fiona and i are so happy our paths in life crossed with yours.
Rest in Peace.

Fiona Ross
June 13th, 2024

I first met Marek as part of a group I referred to as ‘the dog people’, which included my husband, Maciej and friends Judy and Rob. They would walk their dogs religiously at about the same time every evening for over 10 years.
I came to know Marek and his lovely wife, Patricia after the dogs passed and the walks stopped and we would get together over drinks and dinners. In that time I came to know Marek as a very kind and gentle soul. He was the type of man who would be there to help in any way if needed. You could always count on him. I will miss his quiet humour and gentle way. Rest in Peace dear Marek. ❤️🙏

Teresa Thomas
June 13th, 2024
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My heart is heavy to hear of Marek’s passing. While I only met him briefly at Lapazul, I have a lasting memory of him being a gentle soul with a soft smile, an appreciation for the beauty of Lapazul and a sweet glimmer in his eyes for dear Patricia. My condolences to everyone who knew him.

James White
June 13th, 2024

Marek was such a beautiful soul. He always had a smile on his face. That dry humour was there all the time. I had the pleasure of going fishing with him and he taught me how to drive his boat. I will always treasure the memory of that day we spent together laughing catching salmon and just chilling. Will miss you my dear friend! Peace and Love James White

Janis Schram
June 13th, 2024

George and I are so very sorry for your loss. Love and Hugs

Shelley & Steve Sweeney
June 13th, 2024

Patricia and all of Marek’s family

We met you as next door neighbours and became friends as well. Marek always had a smile on his face and was ready to lend a hand for anything.

Shelley and I are shocked to learn of his passing and know it leaves a huge whole in the hearts of all his family and friends.

Patricia we can only hope that the great memories of the life you built together will provide solace and strength as you work through the difficult times ahead.

The world was truly a better place with Marek it.

Our sincere condolences.

Shelley and Steve

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