THOMAS LOUIS PIDBORCHYNSKI

November 22, 1925 - January 24, 2026

Surrounded by his family, our Dad, Gigi, and great-Gigi passed away on January 24, 2026, at the age of 100. 

Tom will be lovingly missed by his children, Debbie (Chris), Cyndi, Gerry (Tammy) and Kathy (Peter); grandchildren, Breanne, Rayna (Jay), Justin (Kaitlyn), Kaitlin (Andrii), Tanner, Haley, Grace, Jesse (Krista) and Brooke (Brett); and great-grandchildren, Stella, Arlo, Flora, Ellis and Etta. Tom was predeceased by his wife of 72 years, Christine, their first-born son, Joseph Thomas, sister Phyllis, and brother Steve (Eileen) and is survived by his sister Anne and many nieces and nephews. 

Tom was born into a family of pioneer farmers to Justyna and Michael Podborochynski in Meleb, MB. After school, Tom worked on the family farm, and once he finished Grade 8, he worked on the farm full time. Until his final days, Dad spoke of the hard work cutting cordwood, cutting wheat with a sickle, using a thresher and working with a team of horses in the field. 

In 1947, Dad left the farm to work at Garson Mine, a nickel mine in Sudbury, ON. In 1951, he returned to Manitoba to marry Christine and purchase her father’s farm in Silver. In 1960, the couple and their daughters Debbie and Cyndi moved to Home Street in Winnipeg, where Tom and Christine would later welcome their son Gerry. 

Tom worked for Canada Packers and Building Products before beginning his 26-year career as a pipefitter at CPR Weston Shops. In 1965, Tom and Christine built their house on Alfred Avenue, where their daughter Kathy was born. They owned this home for 55 years. Tom walked to and from work every day, which seemed to extend both Tom’s life and the life of his car. Throughout his 36 years after retirement, he’d comment how well CPR looked after him for all those years, both in the shop and as he carried out his life as Dad and Gigi.

He provided well for his family, taking camping trips and a train trip and spending summers at their Winnipeg Beach cottage. Tom enjoyed travelling with Christine, especially to Hawaii.

He loved to forage berries and mushrooms and was a skilled gardener. He was particularly an expert with garlic, tomatoes, geraniums and the apple tree that he grafted to feature multiple varieties. He was proud of his Polish heritage and passed on traditions to his family.

Dad had a mechanical aptitude, even though he didn’t have an engineering degree. He found a solution to everything. He knew the precise location a tree would fall when cutting it down. He invented his version of “the club,” or steering wheel lock, for cars. We marvelled at his repairs to our boots, purses, and everything else, from toys to toasters. 

It took a lot of faith, resilience, strength and unwavering determination to reach 100 years of age. He had a solid mind and was so proud of his family. Gigi’s eyes lit up every time he saw his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He saw many changes in the world throughout his 100 years, and while we can’t predict the future, we know that his legacy and his family’s love for him will live on for the next 100 and beyond.

The family would like to extend our gratitude to the staff at Holy Family (St. Martha’s Unit) for the exceptional care they provided Thomas. 

Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church, Petrus Hall (2624 Inkster Boulevard), with viewing at 10 a.m. Internment will follow at All Saints Cemetery (4535 Main Street). Pallbearers will be Gerry Pidborchynski, Tanner Pidborchynski, Jesse de Rocquigny, Justin Vitt, Jay Meakin and Clifford Skibinski.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Holy Family Home and St. Peter’s Church. The family also encourages blood donations to Canadian Blood Services in Thomas’s honour.

Vichnaya Pam’yat. Eternal Memory.