Obituary of John Gross

With great sadness we announce the peaceful passing of John Gross, on April 11th in his sleep. He was surrounded with the love of his family, and in their presence. He was born 106 years and ten months ago in the village of Kaibing, Styria, Austria. Predeceased by his caring wife Mary in February 1990. He will be lovingly missed by his son Carl and wife Dianne, and their sons Andrew and Stephen; and by his daughter Peggy Anne and husband Paul Eichinger, and their children David and Michaela. He is survived by a niece Elfie Kruger of Florida, and family in Austria. John came to Canada in 1929 with his brother Joe to help support their family back in Austria. He settled in Waterloo, but spent some adventurous years hopping freight cars to work in the fields in Lethbridge, and in logging in Waldhof in northern Ontario. He started a shoe making business in Waterloo in the early 1930s, had a children's shoe store in the 1950s and 60s, and retired from his shoe repair business in 1999 at 93 years of age. He had been in business in Uptown Waterloo for 67 years, and enjoyed sharing his business with Carl for the last 10 of these years. He spent his final 12 years living with Peggy Anne's family and could be found shovelling snow, raking the lawn, maintaining the gardens, raising flowers, doing dishes - anything he could find to keep busy. He enjoyed his life entirely, was always content, appreciative and never had a bad day. He was an amazing inspiration to all of us. He enjoyed daily visits from his many community caregivers, most especially Marie (#1), Vilma and Gisela in the mornings, and Tante Betty and Paul's mom, Herta, and Cindy and Veronika in the afternoons. We thank you all for your loving care and support in our home. John was an original member of Our Lady of Lourdes parish, and enjoyed weekly mass for so many years. We very much appreciate the always kind support of Monsignor Sheridan and Sister Barbara - he so looked forward to seeing you each week. Friends are invited to share their memories of John with his family during visitation at the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King St. S., Waterloo, on Sunday from 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. Parish Prayers will be offered at funeral home Sunday evening at 8:45 pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Our Lady of Lourdes R.C. Church, 173 Lourdes St, Waterloo on Monday, April 15, 2013 at 11 a.m. with Monsignor Edward Sheridan as Celebrant. Interment at Parkview Cemetery, Waterloo. Reception to follow in the Church Hall Condolences for the family and donations to Our Lady of Lourdes R.C. Church may be arranged through the funeral home at www.erbgood.com or 519.745.8445.