Obituary for Dr. David Zak
We, the family of Dr. David J. Zak, are saddened to announce his passing in Colchester East Hants Health Centre, Palliative Care Unit, Truro on January 17, 2019.
While David’s death came as a great surprise to all of us, both his life and his death have been a testament to the unbounding love of God.
David was born in LaFleche, Saskatchewan on August 23, 1950 to Andrew and Dora Zak. He entered a family full of love, surrounded by his brothers Mike and Edward and his sister, Helen.
While the farm and Saskatchewan skies held a special place in David’s heart, he left the combine behind to pursue dentistry at the University of Saskatchewan, developing lifelong friendships along the way. After graduation, he practiced in Saskatoon with his brother Edward at his side for over 20 years.
His combined love of people and God then pushed him to follow a different path. The family packed up and moved to Otterburne, Manitoba, where David obtained his Master of Arts in Biblical Counselling.
Following that degree, David felt drawn back to practicing dentistry with renewed enthusiasm, and the Zaks moved further eastward to Valley, Nova Scotia. David took up and built a family dental practice at the end of College Road, marked by the blinding dentist sign and his deep care for his patients.
David’s heart for his family, his friends, and those in need, was beyond explanation. He always had a joke in mind to share a laugh, a ready smile to brighten a day, and at least one roll of kolbasa in the freezer that he’d happily share.
David leaves earth-side, the love of his life, Patricia, the most beautiful and kind woman he’d ever met. Anyone who ever met the two of them knows how profoundly in love he was with her. Their children, Krystle and Christopher, were his greatest source of pride and will miss him beyond belief. Krystle is joined by her husband Aaron and their daughter Astrid, and Chris is joined by his wife Crystal and their daughter Emma. David loved the dickens out of his two granddaughters. He is enveloped by the love of his wonderful extended family as well, from all across the country; Edward and Marj, Mike and Annette, Marilyn and Bob, Paul and Shelley, and a wealth of nieces and nephews who all share ridiculously fond memories of Uncle Dave’s playful nature and love of good food. We will all miss him desperately, but as David would readily say, “I know where I’m going.” We all find peace and comfort knowing that he is now with his Heavenly Father, who loves him and all of us so very much.
We would like to thank all who were involved in David’s care over the past month, the incredible doctors and nurses of both the Jupiter Medical Clinic and West Palm Beach Trauma Centre in Florida, of the Neurosurgery Unit of the QEII (especially Dr. Mo and Nedjma), and everyone at the Palliative Care Unit in Truro. We must say a special thanks to Dr. Courtney Smith and Janet, two of the most incredible and caring human beings we’ve ever met. Thank you all so much.
A celebration of David’s life will be held at Crossroads Baptist Church, Valley on January 21, 2019 at 2:00pm. All are welcome to attend and share in the memories of this beautiful man. In lieu of flowers, we ask that donations be given to either Colchester East Hants Hospice Society or the Wounded Warriors Project, both causes very close to David and our hearts. Please come and celebrate his brilliant life with us.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Colchester Community Funeral Home, 512 Willow St., Truro. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.ColchesterCommunity.com
While David’s death came as a great surprise to all of us, both his life and his death have been a testament to the unbounding love of God.
David was born in LaFleche, Saskatchewan on August 23, 1950 to Andrew and Dora Zak. He entered a family full of love, surrounded by his brothers Mike and Edward and his sister, Helen.
While the farm and Saskatchewan skies held a special place in David’s heart, he left the combine behind to pursue dentistry at the University of Saskatchewan, developing lifelong friendships along the way. After graduation, he practiced in Saskatoon with his brother Edward at his side for over 20 years.
His combined love of people and God then pushed him to follow a different path. The family packed up and moved to Otterburne, Manitoba, where David obtained his Master of Arts in Biblical Counselling.
Following that degree, David felt drawn back to practicing dentistry with renewed enthusiasm, and the Zaks moved further eastward to Valley, Nova Scotia. David took up and built a family dental practice at the end of College Road, marked by the blinding dentist sign and his deep care for his patients.
David’s heart for his family, his friends, and those in need, was beyond explanation. He always had a joke in mind to share a laugh, a ready smile to brighten a day, and at least one roll of kolbasa in the freezer that he’d happily share.
David leaves earth-side, the love of his life, Patricia, the most beautiful and kind woman he’d ever met. Anyone who ever met the two of them knows how profoundly in love he was with her. Their children, Krystle and Christopher, were his greatest source of pride and will miss him beyond belief. Krystle is joined by her husband Aaron and their daughter Astrid, and Chris is joined by his wife Crystal and their daughter Emma. David loved the dickens out of his two granddaughters. He is enveloped by the love of his wonderful extended family as well, from all across the country; Edward and Marj, Mike and Annette, Marilyn and Bob, Paul and Shelley, and a wealth of nieces and nephews who all share ridiculously fond memories of Uncle Dave’s playful nature and love of good food. We will all miss him desperately, but as David would readily say, “I know where I’m going.” We all find peace and comfort knowing that he is now with his Heavenly Father, who loves him and all of us so very much.
We would like to thank all who were involved in David’s care over the past month, the incredible doctors and nurses of both the Jupiter Medical Clinic and West Palm Beach Trauma Centre in Florida, of the Neurosurgery Unit of the QEII (especially Dr. Mo and Nedjma), and everyone at the Palliative Care Unit in Truro. We must say a special thanks to Dr. Courtney Smith and Janet, two of the most incredible and caring human beings we’ve ever met. Thank you all so much.
A celebration of David’s life will be held at Crossroads Baptist Church, Valley on January 21, 2019 at 2:00pm. All are welcome to attend and share in the memories of this beautiful man. In lieu of flowers, we ask that donations be given to either Colchester East Hants Hospice Society or the Wounded Warriors Project, both causes very close to David and our hearts. Please come and celebrate his brilliant life with us.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Colchester Community Funeral Home, 512 Willow St., Truro. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.ColchesterCommunity.com