In addition to the service at the Pardes Shalom Cemetery, 10953 Dufferin Street, Community section 5E, the funeral will also be live-streamed. To view the service virtually, please go to https://smclive.ca/ on November 13th, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. 

 

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Harvey Siegel, beloved husband of 59 years of Malka Siegel z”l, proud father and father – in-law of Ori z”l, David and Leslie, Josh and Susan, and Ken z”l and Susie, devoted grandfather of Zachary, Ellie, Emma, Shauna, Daniel, Julia, Derek, and Carly, loving brother of Herbie Siegel and Marylin Bunis z”l.

Born at the beginning of The Great Depression in New York City, sometimes claiming to have caused it, Harvey spent his formative years amongst a large and colourful family who arrived at Ellis Island near the turn of the century to build new lives in America. A member of Habonim, he relocated to the State of Israel where he worked as a mechanic on Kibbutz Urim, met and married Malka Abella in 1952 and where Ori, the first of their four sons was born. The young family moved to Malka’s home town of Toronto, where she worked as a teacher while Harvey earned his B.Eng. and M.Eng. at U of T and qualified as a mechanical engineer. In 1961, now with 3 sons, the family relocated yet again to the United States where Harvey worked at Texaco Research Center in Fishkill, New York, and returned to settle in Toronto in 1968 with 4 sons where Harvey had a long career dealing with the large and varied fleet of vehicles at Ontario Hydro.

In their marriage of 59 years, working and raising 4 sons, Harvey and Malka shared a full and rich life. They were open minded and passionate about books and the arts, classical and popular music, dedicated patrons of live theatre and movies. They travelled the world, and while Harvey loved Paris, Budapest and Istanbul, his absolute favourite destinations to which he returned many times were Cranford, New Jersey, Columbus, Ohio and Las Vegas, Nevada. That is because family was Harvey’s lifelong passion and priority, and he visited his beloved siblings Herbie and Marilyn as often as he could. Devotion to family grew as his family grew, welcoming 3 beloved daughters-in-law and 8 grandchildren who he spoke of often, taking endless pride and joy from their growth and achievements, but mostly, recognizing and celebrating who they were as individuals. He will be well remembered and greatly missed.

 

Memorial donations may be made to the Conestoga College Ori Siegel Memorial Graduating Award ( https://www.conestogacommunity.ca/ori-siegel-memorial-award) or the charity of your choice.