I met Chuck (Leonard Charles Skwarok) in 1983 in Brandon, Manitoba. His friendly personality attracted me to him. He was outgoing and I felt like I knew him for along time. We became good friends which developed into a partner relationship.

He lived with me and we had a baby girl together. He taught me some social skills without knowing it. He taught me how to be more outgoing and showed me other ways of communicating with my children. For example, I would automatically ground my children for being late, no excuses, but he suggested I listen to their reason for being late rather than being a rigid parent.

Chuck was also a handyman. He also showed me how to renovate my home and fix my car. He also loved to cook. He took over my kitchen and made meals that were different from what I was used to. Chuck loved the outdoors and during the summer we spent most of our time at Currant Park where he barbecued meals everyday. My children loved the attention he gave them. They loved the balance that every family should have and it was nice for them to have a father figure. This was a part that my family had lacked for sometime. Chuck loved kids and would become a kid himself especially when he played hide and seek. My children loved him for accepting them despite the fact that they were not his own blood.

Chuck had his own pain. He lost both parents in tragic deaths. His father died in 1983 and his mother died in 1986. His parents deaths were three years apart including himself. He died in 1989.

I had 4 children before I met Chuck and despite having them with another person, Chuck accepted them as his own. This is a good quality that they will always remember in their hearts. Today my children will accept anyone without prejudice because of this wonderful legacy he has left them.

Chuck will always be in our hearts. No one can take that from us. We will always defend his name. He showed us love and acceptance in a way that no other can replace. My family and I will cherish him in our hearts forever.