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It is with great sadness that our precious Joey passed away peacefully at Vancouver General Hospital after a brief illness on March 9, 2013 with his family at his side.

Deeply missed by his parents Sue and Dave, Sister Sara, his brother Caleb, his Special Mother and Sister, Heather and Alysha Skarbo and Grandma and Grandpa Furiak. He leaves behind his large extended family of Aunts, Uncles and Cousins and his Special Needs Family.

Joey met his parents on January 13th, 1995 when he burst into the world like a shooting star. Joey was known exclusively by his sister and brother as the “Velociraptor” and “Potato”. Joey was an athlete with the BC Special Olympics actively participating in skiing, swimming, bowling and bocces. He was a student with Heritage Christian Online School. He loved to ride the horse “Sonny” at Harding Heights Ranch with Shauntelle and Irene. Joey enjoyed gardening with Dad at the Fruitvale and Montrose Post Office, helping at Nipkow’s Greenhouse with Kim in the spring and delivering newspapers in Montrose with Evelyn. Joey loved to bake chocolate chip cookies with Heather, waking Lysha up in the morning, going for long walks and swimming with Stephen, having his feet rubbed by Chelsea and bowling with his long-time friend Buster. Joey loved to go camping and travelling with his family – his footprints can be found on Mount St. Helen’s, Crater Lake, Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone National Park, Vancouver Island, and the Redwood Forest and at every campsite in the Slocan Valley. Joey loved to spend his leisure time swinging in his hammock, spinning in his cuddle swing, snuggling for hugs and kisses with his Mom, going for ATV rides with Sara and Caleb and racing down the highway in the sidecar with his Dad.

Joey’s spirit will live on through his donation of organs.

Special thank you to Dr. Stanley, Dr. Van Vliet, Dr. Krampl, Dr. McCarroll, Dr. Okwonko, KBRH Emergency and ICU staff especially Alexis and Tannis, the Lab Staff, Air Ambulance and to those loving arms that opened up and cared for our precious son and our family during this difficult time.

As an expression of sympathy, donations to BC Special Olympics – Trail Chapter would be appreciated. BC Special Olympics, P.O. Box 34, Trail, B.C. V1R 4L5.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, April 20, 2013 at 1:00 pm at the Fruitvale Memorial Hall. Jordan Wren of Alternatives Funeral and Cremation Services™ has been entrusted with arrangements.

You are invited to leave a personal message of condolence at the family’s online register at www.myalternatives.ca

“God doesn’t give children with disabilities to strong people; He gives them to ordinary, everyday people, then He helps the parents to grow stronger through the journey. Raising a child with special needs doesn’t TAKE a special family, it MAKES a special family.”



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