Uliran Alcaparas Marquez

Uliran Alcaparas Marquez, 76, lived in the city of Calgary, passed away on Monday, November 30, 2020 @ 9:15 AM. Uliran was born to Teotimo Escasa Marquez and Francisca Alcaparas Marquez, on March 24, 1944 in Atimonan, Quezon, Philippines and is the first born son of 10 children aswell as an identical twin. 

 Uliran worked as a Heavy Duty Mechanic and started his career with Philippine Airlines and came to Canada in 1974 via the United States and worked for Canadian National Railway out of Toronto. 

 In 1975, he met the love of his life, Vicky Mejia Aquino. It was just a casual acquaintance for a few months and in 1976 Uliran and Vicky went on a double-date. Vicky was visiting her best friend in Toronto. Vicky’s best friend was on a date with Uliran’s co-worker. Uliran and Vicky and a brief yet very romantic Long Distance Relationship between Toronto, Ontario and Thompson, Manitoba. Their courtship consisted of the occasional visit, many long distance phone calls, and even more cards and love letters. Uliran and Vicky got married on November 12, 1977 in Thompson, Manitoba. Shortly, after being married Uliran and Vicky both accepted positions with Syncrude Oil in Fort McMurray, Alberta, as a Heavy Duty Mechanic and Occupational Nurse, respectively.  

 In 1978, their oldest daughter, Marivic, was born. In 1986, the Marquez family chose to relocate to Edmonton, Alberta. In 1988, Uliran and Vicky welcomed their youngest daughter, Vickie Marie. Uliran worked with Echo Bay Mines (Gold) that flew out of Edmonton, Alberta to Lupin, Northwest Territories.  

 In 1999, the family relocated to Yellowknife, NWT while Uliran worked at Royal Oak Mines (Gold).  In 2002 he worked with Diavik Diamond Mines - Rio Tinto and retired in 2004. After retiring, Uliran, Vicky, and Vickie Marie moved to Fort Smith in 2003 and then back to Yellowknife in 2006.

 Throughout Uliran’s life he enjoyed fishing, as well as caring his huge  aquarium (215 gallons) filled primarily with Pacos and Oscars. Uliran also had a gifted green-thumb and maintained stunning flower beds first at his home in Edmonton, and then at the common landscapes areas of the apartment buildings where he lived in Yellowknife and Fort Smith. Many of Uliran’s family and friends would also remember his delicious dishes he would make. He had many specialties such as Beef Steak (a favorite of his daughters), escabeche, Pancit, Dinuguan, Pusit Adobo, anything Ginataang, and BBQ skewers marinated in 7-up.  Uliran enjoyed playing Mahjong on a weekly basis with family friends, he also loved going to “school,” a.k.a the casino.  Uliran’s favourite game show was Jeopardy, and during his last days of life he loved watching WWII documentaries on Netflix. 

 Uliran is lovingly remembered by his wife, Vicky; and his daughters, Marivic (Mark) and Vickie Marie (Sheldon); and his granddaughter, Francisca “Kikay”;  his sisters, Lucita, Evelyn (Carmelo), Eudosia (Orlando), and Adelina; his brothers Zigfredo (Virgina), Ramon (Yoly), and Jaime (Remy); also his nieces and nephews. 

 He was preceded in death by his parents, Teotimo Escasa Marquez and Francisca Alcaparas Marquez; his twin brother, Bayani (Cefirina); and his sister, Zenaida;  granddaughter, Isabel. 

 In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Alzheimer’s Society of Calgary www.alzheimercalgary.ca or The Kidney Foundation of Canada www.kidney.ab.ca.