Obituary of Reverend George Shotaro Tomita

It is with great sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of Reverend George Tomita on January 15, 2017, at the age of 95. Born in Vancouver, he was the eldest son of the late Shozo Tomita and Yuwa Watanabe. He is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Amy Yamamoto; his children Rodney (Ruxandra Vlad), Laurie (Gerald Potter), Pam (Alan Marjerrison), and Percy (Wendy); grandchildren Glen (Kerri Fenoff), Sara (Dylan White), David (Teresa Wong) and Christopher; and three great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother Frank (Lorraine). George will also be greatly missed by his cousins, nieces and nephews and his many friends. George relocated to Montreal during the Second World War where he met and married Amy and raised his children. Called by God, he first served as a student minister in Apple Hill, Ontario. After he was ordained in 1976 as a United Church minister, he served in the three-point charge of Kazabazua-Maniwaki-Low in Quebec, and then at the Japanese United Churches in Toronto and Montreal. When he retired in 1988, he and Amy moved to Cumberland where he served as Volunteer Associate Minister at St. Andrew’s United Church. He also continued a phone ministry that included more than 900 annual phone calls. The family will receive relatives and friends at Heritage Funeral Complex, 1250 Trim Rd., Orléans, Ontario on Thursday, January 19 from 7 to 9 p.m. and on Friday, January 20, at St. Andrew’s United Church, 2557 Old Montreal Road, Cumberland, Ontario, from 10 to 11 a.m. immediately before the funeral service at 11 a.m. Reception to follow. Sincere thanks to Johanne Forget and her staff at Besserer Place at Bruyère Village in Orleans for their outstanding care of George. Donations to St. Andrew’s United Church (standrewscumberland.ca) or to the Bruyère Foundation (bruyere.org) would be greatly appreciated. Memories or condolences may be shared at www.heritagefh.ca.