Peter Smiciklas, of Toronto, Ontario, passed away peacefully on Monday, April 6, 2020, at the Chartwell Grenadier Retirement Residence.

Born in Croatia, March 12, 1927, he emigrated to Canada on June 30, 1958, eventually settling in the Parkdale neighbourhood in Toronto in 1961. He married his wife Jela (Jurejevcic) Smiciklas in 1964.

He was a sweet man with a kind soul, always saying hello to both neighbours and strangers - and insisting on helping people whenever he could. If you visited his home, it was impossible to leave without being fed a hearty meal.

He also loved animals. All the neighbourhood cats knew where to go for an extra meal and he could often be heard whistling off his front porch calling them in for the night.

One of his favourite lines when asked how he was doing was “Still alive!” - and he will remain alive in our hearts forever.

His first career was as a cook Western General Hospital. His generosity when it came to food got him into a little hot water from time to time. He always insisted on giving every patient a very generous portion, regardless of what management had to say about it. He left the hospital after 6 years to go work in the auto industry, becoming a Shipper/Receiver for AP parts, where he worked for over 25 years, retiring in 1992.

Peter is preceded in death by his wife Jela Smiciklas and is survived by his son Mark Smiciklas; daughter-in-law Jean; grandchildren Alexander, Madeleine, and Emily; brother and sister-in-law Ilija and Dragica Smiciklas; niece Dragica Karlovich; friend Eva Charles; and nieces, nephews and other beloved friends and relatives.

A private service will be held. For those who wish, donations can be made to the Alzheimer Society of Canada.