Edward Sebulsky
November, 2023
Edward Sebulsky 1935 – 2023
It is with very heavy hearts that the family of Edward Sebulsky announce his peaceful passing after a brief, but valiantly fought illness.
Ed was born at Section 4, Township 30, Range 9, West 2 within the Rural Municipality of Insinger No. 275, Saskatchewan. He was the eldest son of three; Alvin (predeceased) and Garry, to John and Katie (Dorosh). Ed married his first love Lilian in Saskatoon in 1956. While they began their journey together in Saskatchewan, they continued west stopping in Alberta for four years and the past five decades in British Columbia.
Ed was very much a people person. Anyone who knew Ed well, knew of his passion for metal detectors, ham radios, motor homing, volunteering in the community and keeping connected to all of the special people he had met along his journey. The telephone became his closest buddy, especially after losing his dear wife Lilian. He was such a social butterfly; phoning his neighbour’s, family and friends on a weekly, if not daily, basis checking in on them to see how they were doing.
Given his love of electronics and telecommunications it was inevitable that his career would have some element of both imbedded in it. Ed proudly worked with the R.C.M.P. as a civilian member in the telecommunications department from 1957 to 1992 beginning in North Battleford then Calgary and finally at E-Division in Vancouver. He recently enjoyed the honor of being invited to share his R.C.M.P. telecommunication memories at their departmental 150th anniversary celebration. After retiring from the force, his hobbies and interests lead him to establish very close friendships with people from The Lark Group, ICOM Canada, SMI Electronics as well as numerous ham radio and metal detecting associations. His metal detecting journeys in particular nurtured countless friendships introduced to him from his relationships with White’s and Garrett metal detectors. He enjoyed decades of volunteering by giving to community causes such as the Abbotsford Airshow (20 years), BC Lifeline Emergency Radio (50 years) not to mention serving for many years as the Block Watch Captain for their neighbourhood.
Ed always enjoyed music and would sit for hours listening to Lilian play the organ or piano for him and he also loved his parades, especially the Rose Bowl Parade! For more than 20 years, prior to the pandemic, Ed found so much joy volunteering with Lilian to bring the gift of music and singing to seniors in assisted living and extended care home facilities throughout the lower mainland of BC. He was the unofficial equipment manager and head cheerleader for both Lilian and their dear friend Maggie’s Sing-A-Long’s.
It has not been lost on many of us how silenced our phones have been since Ed’s passing. It is comforting to know however that he is with Lilian now and will continue to look over all the special friends he has met along his journey as well as his son Greg, daughter Debbie (Brian) Schmaltz, daughter in law Brigitte, grandsons Rick (Nada) and Mark (Jessica), great granddaughters Roya, Mira and Brooke, his brother Garry (Jacqueline) as well as his many beloved cousins, nephews and nieces.
The family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to the medical team at the Langley Memorial Hospital for their professionalism and compassion, in particular Dr. Schemmer, Dr. Farag and Dr. Seundarajan.
At Ed’s request a small family celebration will occur at a future date honoring his life and his passions.
In lieu of flowers, if moved, a memorial donation in Ed’s name would be welcomed by the Langley Memorial Hospital Foundation https://lmhfoundation.com or a charity of your choosing. The family believes that one of the most generous ways to honour Ed’s memory would be to make several cheerful phone calls over the next month to check in on some of your own long lost friends and family, a simple act of kindness, the giving of your time to help brighten the day of another person.
Messages:
Ed was my cousin through my mother. He was a warm and friendly man and he bonded with my husband (now deceased) over their short wave radio interests and both worked in telecommunications in their past. They took turns catching up with each other over the years and Ed kept in touch with me after my husband passed away. I will miss those calls and our long chats.
Please accept our condolences on the passing of Ed. He was a very thoughtful person who regularly made the time to visit with our father Bud McPhee who always enjoyed their conversations. Our mother Maggie loved playing piano for Lilian’s Sing-A-Long’s at Seniors Homes for a number of years. Ed was always there as the sound man and to provide support. He will be missed. Gayle McPhee, Gary McPhee and Lois Butler
I worked with Ed through SMI Prospecting & Electronics and always enjoyed our conversations about Metal Detectors and Detecting. He was the go to guy for warranty repairs for Garrett and White's detectors. We will miss his smile and conversations, but we will meet again.
Sorry for your loss 73s ED Rip VA7RLB
Sorry to learn of Ed's passing. He hired me into the force back in 1979. He has stayed in touch with his regular phone calls up until about a month before. We would discuss technical topics or he'd update me on people who we both knew as well proudly mentioning his family. He seemed to keep himself busy servicing metal detectors in his workshop at home, which was good to overcome loneliness after he lost Lilian. My condolences to the family.
We will miss Ed’s phone calls. He always had lots going on, and stories to share.
We had the pleasure of being neighbours to Ed and Lilian for a few years. Ed would always take the time to chat with us, sometimes offering good sage advice and stories of his colourful life. After Lilian passed away, he would often phone to chat with us. We would bring him his favourite Tim Horton’s apple fritters. When Ari was hit with colorectal cancer, Ed made a point of calling to see how he was doing. He explained that he had had the same surgery 15 years prior and he offered an optimistic perspective that really helped. When the calls stopped, and there was no answer when we called…the worst news was confirmed. Ed lived his life to the fullest and despite mobility issues he always had a smile and a positive word for us. He will be missed. Ari and Laura Lahdekorpi
Dear Debbie and Brian, I am saddened to hear of your dad’s passing. I have very fond memories of both your mom and dad. Miss them both.
I am so sorry to hear of Ed’s passing. He and Lil were very special to me.
Deepest condolences I already miss his calls and words of advice. Ed was my second cousin. He nicknamed me Lindsay Wagner and we shared many laughs and discussions. He made me feel special and told me I was. What a wonderful gift to give someone. I was so impressed with his quest for knowledge and his deep pride of Lillian. He deeply touched my heart. I will honour his memory by making the same cheerful phone calls as he did, do simple acts of kindness and will give of my time like Ed. I feel blessed that we met and my heart is heavy.
ed was a great guy never met him in person but had a lot of metal detector meetings on the phone sure miss talking to him sorry
Ed will be missed terribly by the metal detecting community and has left a huge hole. Ed was a font of information and I enjoyed the times that Ed and I would talk together. I would like to extend my condolences to Ed's family and friends.
Dear Debbie & Brian, Our sincere condolences to your families and the many friends that loved and are missing your gregarious, and generous father. We didn’t have the pleasure of meeting Ed in person but having met you and reading the obituary I have a better understanding of who Ed was and how well he lived his life. We will continue to pray for you and your families to be comforted. Blessings and much Love, Yvonne & Dexter
My condolences to Ed's family. A sad day indeed. A truly sweet, caring example of a human. We crossed paths at Icom Canada and worked together a few times at his radio site. His generosity with his knowledge and time did not go unnoticed. Rest in peace friend.
Our sincere condolences for your loss. He was a great man of quite depth and yet was so wanting to inquire how you were doing and to know what was happening in your life. There are not many men like him. I know he was the rock for your mom and the family. He will be greatly missed but is now united with his love of his life. May God give you peace and comfort at this time as you walk this journey.
My wife Earla and I will miss Ed. Our deepest condolences to all his family. My involvement with Ed at the Dstar site and Icom led to a close fondness of him. I will see you soon Ed with our Lord!
I worked with Ed for a number of years and really appreciated his support and friendship. His historical knowledge of the way things were back when telecommunications first started were really entertaining and enlightening. We kept in contact all along until his passing. I’ll really miss him, he was a good man.