Phil Abela

1942 - 2018

Philip Abela, beloved husband of Linda Abela, passed away peacefully in Taber, surrounded by his family on Saturday, November 10, 2018 at the age of 76 years.

A celebration of Phil’s life was held at the Royal Canadian Legion, 5205 – 48 Avenue, Taber on Saturday, November 17, 2018 at 2:00 P.M.

Besides Linda, his loving wife of fifty four years, Phil is survived by their two sons Graham (Angeline) Abela of Taber, Christopher (Morgan) Abela of Medicine Hat and by his grandchildren Brennan, Kaden, Abigail, Evan and Gavin.

Phil was born and raised in Wallsend, on the banks of the river Tyne in the northeast of England in 1942. After completing school, he apprenticed as a millwright with Swan Hunters and was hired to go to sea as a merchant seaman, ship's engineer, where he sailed from England to the south pacific for several years. On September 19, 1964, Phil married Linda Clemitson in the High Howden Methodist Church in Wallsend and a few years later had two children, Graham and Christopher. Phil’s sense of adventure and hopes for providing a brighter future for the family prompted emigration from England to Canada in 1974, first to Cambridge, Ontario and then to Taber. Phil was very proud of his work in helping to establish and subsequently manage Hostess Foods, eventually rebranded as Frito Lay, for almost ten years. After Hostess Foods, Phil tried his hand at a few different careers, finishing his work life as a mechanical engineer at Maple Leaf Foods in Lethbridge.

Phil enjoyed many things in life, but especially loved spending time with his grandchildren and fishing, be it at the spillway at Stafford Lake or Salmon Fishing in the Pacific Ocean on Haida Gwaii. He loved the outdoors and travelling the world with Linda.

No flowers by request. If friends so desire, memorial tributes in Phil’s name may be made directly to a charity of one’s personal choice.

The family would like to especially thank Dr. Ireland and nurse Christine, Dr. Smuts, Dr. Armstrong, Dr. Hughes, Dr. Yamabe and the wonderful nurses at the Taber Hospital including Jane, Connie, Kim, Bobbi and Mel, who helped at the start and those who were there at the end. It’s hard to believe that a sixteen year old young man, doing his job, would die from a disease caused by the powder he innocently applied to insulate pipes on a ship.