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Book of Memories
Alexander Yorkston
In Memory of
Alexander
Yorkston
1929 - 2018
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Guenette Funeral Home
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Guenette Funeral Home
108 Byng Avenue
Kapuskasing, Ontario
CANADA
P5N 1X2

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Obituary for Alexander Yorkston

Alexander  Yorkston
Alexander Yorkston passed away on Thursday January 11, 2018 at Extendicare Kapuskasing in his 89th year after a ten year battle with dementia.
Alex was born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario. As the eldest of three boys he temporarily became the head of the household when his dad joined the Canadian Army in September, 1939. Much to Alex’s disappointment, he had to miss choir practice the day this duty commenced.
During the war, as a very young teenager, he began his full-time working life to supplement the family income; his formal education ended in grade 8, yet his natural gifts for arithmetic, figures, and salesmanship eventually landed Alex a life-time career with Canadian Floortex in Hamilton where he was a distinguished, valued, and trusted employee of the Latner family.
Alex joined the Royal Arcanum Lodge in Hamilton as a young man and rose to the position of Grand Regent of the Ontario Grand Council where he continued to oversee and perform benevolent acts in the community and province at large. As well, Alex’s life-long dedication to the Anglican Church of Canada held great prominence.
Although he was not able to fulfil (officially) his life’s ambition to become an Anglican priest, he served proudly in numerous roles at his dearly loved All Saints in Hamilton and eventually rose to the highest position possible for a lay member as Chief Warden of Lay Readers for the Diocese of Niagara. Later, once he joined St. Mark’s in Kapuskasing, Alex would declare that he “just wanted to sit in the pew”, but he could not help himself from providing guidance or taking on roles within the church. Liturgy and music were his main passions; everyone he met throughout his life soon learnt this about Alex.
Alex’s other passions included watching NFL and NCAA football, especially the New England Patriots and Notre Dame; listening to, watching, buying, and showcasing all things Christmas; playing mind games with his beloved collie, Rylee, or games of all sorts, particularly cribbage and euchre. He also enjoyed the summer rituals of camping at Neys and Selkirk Provincial Parks as well as caring for his rose gardens and garden gnomes (unfortunately). Finally, Alex was always known for talking up a storm whenever the opportunity transpired.
During the last year of his dementia, Alex would announce proudly that he was finally an Anglican priest; moreover, he needed to get ready for his major debut service. And as his last moments on Earth involved listening to his all-time favourite music – Handel’s Messiah – Alex, it is sure, in his new celestial surroundings will waste no time in organizing, critiquing, and participating in the most amazing Messiah production Heaven has ever seen!
He will be missed by, yet live on in, his daughters Lynda of Hamilton and Suzanne (Len); grand-daughters Tara (Josh), and Melanie (Jeremy) all of Freelton; great-grandchildren Carter, Hunter, and Harper; his wife, Dianne; and extended Kapuskasing family.
There will be a Celebration of Life when the weather is warmer as Alex’s final wishes were for a gathering that allowed remembrances of happiness rather than of sorrow.
Memorial donations may be made to: Alzheimer’s Society of Canada, Extendicare Kapuskasing Resident’s Fund, St. Mark’s Anglican Church, Kapuskasing, or a charity of the donor’s choice.
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