Georges Moussa Ferzli passed away on October 13th, 2021 at the age of 74 in Edmonton, Alberta. George battled to the very last day with cancer showing his heart and strength. Dad was surrounded by his loved ones who will continue to honor his legacy. 

We now want to celebrate Georges’ life with a few stories from his kids, and nephew. Georges’ was dependable, a hard worker, a family man first, took a light-hearted approach to life and had an amazing work ethic.

Coming to Canada – Getting Married

George completed his service in the Lebanese Army and he wanted to create a better life for himself, so to the great white north he came, to Canada.  Growing up my brothers often joked with my parents, “why did you end up in Edmonton AB, and not LA, or Miami somewhere with warm weather?” Dad would say, well my family was here, so that’s it.” Dad was a family man, through and through! 

He immigrated to Canada in 1976 and discovered the challenges of moving to a new country and learning a new language. Dad was not intimidated by the challenge. George came to Canada in the heart of winter! But this did not discourage him. He worked hard in Canada for  years before going back to Lebanon with the hopes of returning to Canada to start a family of his own. 

Part of Georges’ pursuit of a better life included getting married to Mireille in 1979. Even the story of their wedding is one that required George and Mireille to persevere as the wedding day changed 3 times! At first, Mirelle’s grandfather was not happy that the Rachya al fakhar priest was not presiding over the wedding so that caused the wedding to be postponed by a day. The next day, George’s mother had an issue with the wedding because of the location of the church, thus another day postponed. This is where Georges’ resourcefulness shines through. Whether he was navigating immigration, wedding hiccups or raising a family George and Mirelle always persevered and found a way forward.

From Shadi

George was a life saver, a dependable problem solver and someone who always had our back. As kids we were rough and wild – and there were five of us! We would break everything in the house from the windows to glasses. To lights, to bikes to cars. We would damage them and dad would find a way to fix them. Phillip once drove my Cadillac into a snowbank and smashed the bumper, no problem Dad fixed it. Another time Gaby got in his Oldsmobile and could not start the car. So Gaby called Dad and said: “ Dad, the ignition is broken! I can’t start the car!”  So George drove down to Concordia and once he got into the car he started it up first shot. Gaby asked: “how did you fix it?!” Dad said: “Gaby, you need to jiggle the steering wheel to unlock it!” 

Dad, you created a beautiful family legacy and we will continue on your legacy! Rest in peace. 

From Mike

Dad was a very hard worker, he worked as an auto body mechanic and provided for his family. Dad was always in the garage, usually fixing one of his cars. He worked in sun or snow, warm or freezing weather, he would just get it done. It was very convenient to have a dad as a mechanic. He taught all of us to do oil changes, change tires and spark plugs. Together he would take the lead. Whenever I needed my car or truck to be fixed,  dad came to the rescue. Dead battery, engine won’t start dad would be there. 

One time we were changing the shingles on the roof, the ladder snapped in half and Shadi fell off the ladder.  Dad was so upset at Shadi for getting hurt but was more concerned about getting the proper help for Shadi first. With the help of neighbours dad took him to the hospital. It was at this moment, that dad realized it is the best idea to get professional help! But that was Georges, he loved to do things for himself, he was proud! 

In dad’s later years we would watch the Edmonton Oilers regularly. Even if I was at my own house I would call dad after a goal. He liked Lucic and McDavid. Even dad took a liking to baseball. We would watch the Blue Jays on my day off. Once he understood the game he took a liking to it.

When I was in hospital, dad was my biggest support. He would visit me all the time. Dad gave me hope and never gave up on me. He would always help me, even in his last months.

Dad, you were a great example of how to help and love your neighbour.  I love you! 

From Phillip

As a father, dad always was very committed and he did what he could to make sure we were taken care of. When Georges was in charge of the boys for the night, while mom was at work he would take care of us by driving us down to Meadowlark Kmart and visiting mom at work! Every night! Whenever it was too cold to go out and play hockey at Woodcroft rink, he would drive us down, tie our skates and wait for us to finish, then he would do a few donuts in the parking lot on the way home just to have some fun. Dad made sure that we could have rich experiences by taking us to places we loved. We would go to the lake, the mountains and swim at Coronation Pool every Friday night.

Dad, you showed me how to be a great father. Christ is Risen, al-misah qam.

From Gaby

My father Georges was a disciplined yet, light-hearted man. He loved giving us one liners No better line summarized this about dad than, “you are donkey you ass, you are lazy in the class”  While he enjoyed dancing, singing and other peoples company he always remained diligent to his work, family and Sunday’s Divine liturgy. Even after a Saturday night full of dabke, games or conversation he still would be ready for the Doxology at 10 minutes to 11am. One of the happiest memories that Jana and I have is when dad and mom played us in the card game of basra. Jana says she never has seen my parents laugh as much as they did. 

Another story I would like to share is when dad first taught me how to drive. He took me to an empty parking lot and he gave me my first driving lesson. But the lesson was how to reverse! Georges said: “you don’t learn to drive forward, It’s easy! If you can drive backwards, then, you can drive!

Dad, we know you are gone but you will never be forgotten. We love you. 

From Moussa

My uncle Georges is remembered for many great things, including his amazing morning work ethic. When my father Elias (George’s youngest brother) and I moved to Canada, we lived with Uncle George and the family for a bit and I got to see George’s morning work ethic in action!  

As a fellow early bird, I would see uncle spring out of bed to start breakfast, start to warm up the car, and gently begin to wake up the other kids. Uncle could juggle multiple kids and stay cool as a cucumber. An example of this was one cold winter morning before the invention of the remote car starter. Shadi was a few years old and uncle left him in the car for a second while he ran back to grab Mike. Unexpectedly, Shadi put the automatic car in drive, but luckily there was so much snow that the “heavy chevy” only spun it’s tires and barely moved an inch.

Uncle George, again cool as a cucumber, rushed back to the car with Mike in hand, got into the car and got on with his day like nothing happened. 

As you have heard from my cousins and I, Georges was very dependable, a hard worker, a family man first, took a light-hearted approach to life and had an amazing morning work ethic. God bless you uncle.

Later years

After retirement, dad loved watching TV. We would say to dad, “ you need a hobby” “What for? My hobby is TV!” He could recite an entire show to mom once she came home from work. Dad was very simple yet very complex at the same time. He absolutely loved having visitors come to the house and chatting with them. But then loved to be at home alone with his wife and boys. 

During the final months of his life, dad loved when his sister Salma came to visit and enjoy visits on the patio, or eating meals together. He was beyond thrilled to see Elaine, Christina and Miraim when they visited. He had his niece Sanna and our Uncle Joe also visit although unfortunately he only got to see them through a window but I know there was comfort and joy in his heart. I know many people didn’t know he was sick with this illness, and wanted to come and visit him but this is the complexity of dad, he would bear a lot without burdening others. He didn’t want pity or people to feel sorry for him. He was proud, strong and he always kept us on our toes. 

Also, always so hospitable, at times there was more then 10 people sleeping in his 2 bedroom house. He always took in people as they needed. He would call mom “Imme Karam” whenever mom would make kaak’ and give it ALL AWAY. Well dad, it looks like mom learned that from your hospitable ways! 

In the final month of Georges life, he was in the hospital battling to the very end. He wanted to go home to the very last day. Well dad, you are now home in heaven!