GADZALA, A. Edward Gadzala

Dear father of Mary-Anne, Daniel (Kathy Donnell) and David. Cherished grandfather of Matthew, Stephen (Ashleigh Thompson and Amelia), Danielle (Michael Schmieder), DeAnna, Emily and Claire.

Predeceased by son, Daniel Gadzala and parents, Victor and Marjanna (Rudzka) Gadzala. Ed will also be greatly missed by other relatives and many friends.

Ed’s parents immigrated to Canada in 1929 from Poland and Ed was born in 1931 in Sudbury. By 1933 the family had moved north where his father worked in the gold mines, while his mother took in boarders. In 1939 they purchased a farm near Vineland. They later sold the farm and purchased the Grainger Hotel in Larder Lake. His mother ran the hotel and restaurant while his father continued to work in the mines. Ed often cleaned rooms, waited on tables and washed dishes as a young boy.

In 1948, Ed attended St. Michael’s College and played on the school’s hockey team. In 1949 his parents bought the Hillcrest Motel on Lakeshore Blvd. W. while Ed attended the University of Toronto.

He graduated in 1958 with his B. Sc. in Pharmacy. He married his wife, Jane, in 1958 and they lived at the Hillcrest Motel while Ed continued to go to school. Sadly, his mother died in 1960 just before he received his M. Sc. from U of T. The young family moved to Columbus, Ohio where Ed graduated with his PhD. in Physical Chemistry from Ohio State University in 1964. The family then moved to Suffern, New York where Ed worked as a research chemist for Avon from 1964-1973.

The family moved back to Oakville, Ontario in 1973 due to his father’s illness, to run the Hillcrest Motel and the newly acquired North American Motel. After 59 years of owning and managing the motels, and conflicts with the City of Toronto, the motels were sold in 2008.

Edward Gadzala and Jane travelled extensively; favourite countries included Australia, Kenya, Rwanda, China, Peru, England, Poland, Mexico, etc. Ed was a board member for Motels Ontario. He played in the Oakville Old Timers hockey league for many years. He enjoyed gardening and was featured in the home/garden tour for the Oakville Horticultural Society. Ed was an avid amateur photographer with over 100,000 pictures on his computer. He also enjoyed woodworking in his spare time.

The family would like to thank the staff and volunteers at Montgomery Village, Headwaters Hospital and Bethell Hospice for their care and compassion.

Visitation will be held at the Dods & McNair Funeral Home, Chapel & Reception Centre, 21 First St., Orangeville on from 1:00 to 4:00 on August 17, 2026. A private family internment will be at Park Lawn Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers memorial donations to Bethell Hospice or a charity of your choice would be appreciated by the family.

Bethell Hospice Foundation – foundation.bethellhospice.org to donate securely on line.

A tree will be planted in memory of Ed in the Dods & McNair Memorial Forest at the Island Lake Conservation Area, Orangeville.

Condolences may be offered to the family at www.dodsandmcnair.com