Obituraries: Joel Brennan Zahara
Our thoughts and prayers are with Danny Zahara, Publisher of the Rycroft Central Peace Signal and family.
– from the Grande Prairie Herald Tribune, Nov 6/09
Joel Brennan Zahara
Joel Brennan Zahara was born December 16, 1991 in Fairview, Alberta. He passed away at the University of Alberta Hospital on Tuesday, November 3, 2009 at age 17.
At three months of age he moved to Rycroft where he lived until his untimely death. He started school in Rycroft from playschool until Grade 9 where he made his lifelong friendships. Grades 10-12 were in Spirit River where he continued to expend his social life.
Joel decided at age four that he wanted to be a carpenter, and like anything else Joel put his mind to, that became a reality when he went to work for Bob Deley the summer of Grade 10. Joel continued working with Bob’s Carpentry and had planned to go to school in March 2010 for his first year of apprenticeship.
Joel loved hockey and baseball excelling at both sports and helping his teams win many league and provincial championships over the years. He graduated from minor ball to become the Rycroft Rage’s center fielder and continued his love of hockey by trying out and making the Sexsmith Vipers Junior B team. Yet more friends to be made.
Joel is survived by his mom and dad Denise and Danny Zahara; brother Morgan and sister Stefanie; grandpa, Willie Zahara; and uncles, aunts and cousins that were so important to him: Bob and Sandi, Ryan, Blair (Leann and Devon) Zahara, Amanda (Mike, Tanner, Hunter and Colten Howrish); Mike and Marge, Craig, Rory Collins, Matt, Kelly and Jasper Eskerod; Peggy and Doug, Adam, Eric, Ian and Courtney Hollingworth; Jim and Julie, Kent, Braydon and Jace Zahara; David and Judy, Ryan (Tracey), Willis, Amanda (Dallas Donis) Young, Calida, Dave, Miller and Karly Burkinshaw; Jim Sr., Jim Jr. and Duncan Young, Katherine, John, David, Rebecca and Danny Hann; Beth McLane, Christine, Lee, Liam and Lorah Compton; Carol and Glen and Bryan Grover, Kenda, Chris, Aidan, Guerin, and Marcus Jackson; Allan, Jillian (Jimmy Flett) and Aaron young; Diane Cordingley, Richie Boivin, Brett and Kaitlyn Cordingley; his girlfriend Sam Salmond; and hundreds and hundreds of friends.
He was predeceased by his grandma Della Zahara, grandma Eva Young; and infant cousin Megan Young.
Memorial service for Joel will be held on Monday, November 9, 2009 at the Rycroft Agriplex at 2:00 p.m.
Memorial donations may be made to STARS or Northern Alberta Brain Injury Society.
Condolences may be sent by visiting www. oliversgrandeprairie.com
Oliver’s Grande Prairie Funeral Chapel & Crematorium.