elevated CnFfd March 24, 1927 – April 30, 2021

elevated CnFfd It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Walter Rider on April 30 in Toronto, at the age of 94. Beloved husband of 62 years to Janina Szwarc Rider and loving father to Son Gregory and his wife Marcella Lalonde Rider. He is also survived by his sister Maria and her family in Poland, Norway & England.

elevated CnFfd Walter was born in Kamionka Strumilova, Poland. He was a veteran of the British 8th Army, 2nd Polish Corps in Italy in World War II. After the war, he was able to come to Canada, conditional upon a 3-year contract to work as a farm hand in Ontario. The first 2 years of the contract were spent near Ottawa, and thanks to his Aunt Katherine, he was able to work the 3rd year in Grimsby. Because of this move, Walter was able to connect with his relatives in Dundas and Hamilton, Ontario. After the 3-year contract, he found work picking tobacco and met people who helped him move to Toronto. With the assistance of Michael & Aniela Strecker, he got a job at Smith Transport, where he worked as a truck mechanic for 43 years. He obtained his Machanic’s diploma attending night classes at Danforth Techical School. In 1958, he purchased a house on Gainsborough Rd in Toronto. As well, Malgosia Szwarc, Aniela’s mother, introduced Walter to his eventual wife, Janina. They were married in Kolobrzeg, Poland in 1959. Their son Gregory was born in Toronto in 1961. In 1973, the family moved to North York. Walter retired from CP Transport in 1992.

elevated CnFfd Walter was always interested in history, and loved swimming and skating. Summer holidays were spent in Barry’s Bay, Lake St. Peter, Buckhorn Lake and Meaford. He enjoyed March break trips to Cuba, Miami and the Bahamas. In retirement, he loved spending time at the cottage at Sawlog Bay, near Penetanguishene on Georgian Bay. He was fluent in Polish, English and Ukranian, and managed to speak some Italian with the neighbours on Gainsborough.

elevated CnFfd Due to Covid, a private mass and funeral will be held on Saturday, May 8, 2021 at The Holy Cross Cemetery and Funeral Home in Thornhill. If desired, flowers are welcomed, or donations can be made to the North York General Hospital Foundation (Cardiology).

elevated CnFfd For those who wish to view this service, please click the link below. It commences at 12:00 EST on Saturday, May 8, 2021. Online viewers, please be advised that the link will only go live 10 minutes prior to the service time.

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elevated CnFfd CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE SERVICE

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