It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Jean Pierre ``JP`` Surkis of Bathurst, at the age of 77, which occurred at his residence on Sunday April 8, 2012, after a lengthy illness.
He leaves behind his loving wife of 57 years, Liliane; his son, Hymie (Diane Holt) of Bathurst; his daughter, Murielle of Montreal; his grandchildren: Aaron (Celine) of Toronto, Sabra Surkis (Kelly Sturgess) of Wainwright Alberta and great-granddaughter, Marlo Surkis.
JP was born in Romania and was the son of the late Clara and Chaim Surkis.
He eventually moved to Bathurst in 1956, worked many years for Sands Department Store before opening his own furniture stores, JP Furniture and Ameublement du Nord.
JP was a prominent businessman with a kind and generous heart, and a larger than life personality. Everything JP did, he did it in a big way and everyone expected it from him.
His baritone voice so loud and commanding, cigars, jewellery, drinks and merriment will all be sadly missed by his family and friends.
Funeral arrangements were managed by Elhatton funeral home (www.elhatton.com) in Bathurst and Paperman & Sons Funeral Home in Montreal.
Rabbi Micheal Whitman officiated the service on Tuesday, April 10, 2012 from the Papermans & Sons chapel, followed by interment in the Memorial Park Section, Baron de Hirsch Cemetery. The burial ended with the 23rd psalm "The Lord is my Sheppard".
A special thank you to the pallbearers. Aaron Surkis, Neil Donnelly, Bob DeGrace, Ian Oliver , Joel Silver, Olivier Meslage, Usher Nadler.
The family would also like to thank the extra mural staff for their wonderful care, his friend and physician Dr. Wade and devoted care givers Claudette, Yvonne, Marie, Liliane and Della.
Donations can be made in JPs memory to the Lewy Body dementia Association or a charity of their choice.
http://www.lewybodydementia.org/
