January 31, 1941 – December 16, 2023
Phil passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on the ice at the Kelowna Curling Club in Kelowna, BC at the age of 82, doing what he loved best.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 55 years, Elaine Stewart; his 2 sons Bill (Cheryl) and Bob (Susy); and his 4 adoring grandchildren Matthew, Dana, Cameron, and Alex; along with an abundance of family and friends from across the country. Phil was predeceased by his parents Arthur Wood & Lois Savage and his only sister, Margaret Hawthorne.
Born at the old Barrie Memorial Hospital in Ormstown, QC, Phil lived the first 76 years of his life in the Chateauguay Valley, until retiring to Kelowna in 2017 to be closer to his family. This move gave him a new lease on life. Not only did he re-learn the game of curling by using a stick, but he also became an instructor in the stick league, teaching folks how to extend their time with the sport like he had done. When not on the ice, he was introduced to the game of bocce where he ended up as a Director of the Kelowna Bocce Club. None of this will come as a surprise to anyone who knew him well.
Phil’s working career spanned seven decades. He was proud to hold a First-Class ticket as a Stationary Engineer working in power plants throughout Valleyfield and Montreal. He retired from the New Frontiers School Board after a 20-year career managing the maintenance of all the English schools in Southwestern Quebec. Upon his retirement, he went back to his second passion. Phil was a born driver and could drive anything he put his mind to. He spent 14 years driving for Tannahill Transport and in true Phil fashion with every job he had, he treated that company like it was his own family business.
Family and friends have lost a handyman, a taxi driver, a coach, and a wealth of knowledge of Quebec history and politics, where stories could be told fluently in Canada’s both official languages.
The funeral was held at the Little White Church at Russeltown Flatts (252 rue Notre-Dame, Saint-Chrysostome, QC) on Saturday, August 3, 2024, followed by the burial in the Wood Family plot.
To honour Phil’s memory, donations may be made to the Russeltown Church and Cemetery Fund, 479 Covey Hill, Havelock, QC, J0S 2C0 where he was a director for 25 years.