Obituary

It is with shattered hearts that we tell you all that Brian has passed away after a short battle with pancreatic cancer on June 27, 2023 at the age of 66 years.  In true Brian style, he fought hard and fearlessly and kept his wit and sense of humor to the end.

Brian was born on August 3, 1956 to Eric and Louise Abraham in Scarborough, Ontario who predeceased him in 2002 and 2018 respectively.  Brian is survived by his wife Cindy, his son Jeremy (Leah), and son Matthew (Karen).   Most lovingly survived by 5 adored grandchildren Emily, Colby, Casey, Charlotte and Finley.  Also survived by his sister Sandra, brother Mark (Nicole), brother Ron (Delene) as well as nephews David, Austin, Lucas, Cole and niece Arissa.

It may surprise those who knew Brian after he moved to the Okanagan that he loved, and revelled, living in the big city of Toronto/Scarborough with all the amenities available to a young active boy.  Some sanctioned activities included joining the Boys and Girls Club, where they tested new games before they went to market, playing rep hockey for Scarborough and meeting iconic NHL players like Frank and Pete Mahovolich, and spending time at the indoor swimming pools year-round.  Some unsanctioned activities included “visiting” the Double Bubble factory at night and following the milk truck around the neighborhood to help themselves to the rare treat of a bottle of chocolate milk.  

Brian’s early years in the rep hockey program in Toronto gave him a technical perspective of the game that stayed with him his entire life and that he loved to share with his sons and grandsons later in life.  The family’s move to Oliver in 1967 was a huge shock when they found that there wasn’t even an arena to play hockey on – pond hockey only.  Penticton Minor Hockey declined Brian’s application to join their leagues (much to their chagrin later on, I’m sure) but Summerland Minor Hockey was happy to have him join their rep team.  Brian played for Summerland until 1969/70 when Oliver built their indoor rink.  He played a few years of hockey in Oliver but his new friend, and neighbour, Harry Kempf introduced the Abraham brothers to skiing up at Baldy and Brian found a new sport to love.  He eventually bought his first car, a 1958 Chev Biscayne, which gave them the freedom to hit the ski hills whenever they wanted. Brian always regretted selling his Chevy, and even in his final days talked about it being the best car he had ever had.

A close second of the vehicles he loved was his Lund fishing boat that he bought in 2017.  She was immediately named “The Mistress” and that she was!  Brian spent many happy hours trolling Skaha and Okanagan lakes and even rigged her up to tow the grandkids on tubes.  This was so much fun for all of us!

As much as he loved his Chev and his Lund, his real, and true love, was his family – there was no doubt that we always came first in his heart and his life. Brian spent most of his adult life in Kaleden where he and Cindy raised their sons Jeremy and Matt.  Brian was a minor hockey coach for both boys and he was a member of the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 25 years.  Brian was a truck driver for Canwood Furniture in Penticton and later, Unit Electrical Engineering in Okanagan Falls, until his retirement in 2021.

If so desired, donations can be made to Andy Moog Hospice House.  The staff treated Brian with the utmost compassion and dignity in his final days.  A Celebration of Life for Brian’s friends and family will be held on August 3, 2023 at Linden Gardens, 351 Linden Avenue, Kaleden, BC from 1 pm – 3:30 pm, with light refreshments served.  Please bring stories to share if you wish. This will be an informal event, as Brian would have wished.  It would be helpful to have an approximate headcount by RSVP to cmabraham59@gmail.com for light refreshments.