August 1, 1951 – October 24, 2025
It is with deep sadness that the family of Charles Gomez, age 74 years, announce his passing, peacefully in Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre on Friday, October 24, 2025, with family by his side.
Charles was born on August 1, 1951 in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. He grew up with his family in Malaysia. Charles was very dedicated to education. He went to Bombay, India as a young adult, where he graduated from the Ajanta Technical Institute in 1972. Ever the adventurer, Charles travelled across the world by foot, bus, hitchhiking, boat, plane and train, stopping for some time in Switzerland with his sisters Mabel and Julia, before he made his way to Canada in 1974. He lived with his brother Alex in Ottawa. That was where Charles met his ex-wife Sylvia, that same year while working as a chief. Charles liked to joke that he was a casa nova, who wooed Sylvia with his beautiful hair and his amazing cooking skills.
Charles and Sylvia moved to Regina to start their new life together, where Charles started his own business, Sharpline, detailing cars. Sylvia and Charles wanted to expand their family, and Charles said the best decision he ever made was to adopt his daughter Cynthia (Tiger) and start a family. They raised young Cynthia in Regina, and decided they wanted more children’s love in their lives so they adopted Angela. Charles would take his daughters on adventures out and about, in parks, teaching the girls about their surroundings, even getting a pet baby chicken for Cynthia to raise. Eventually, Charles and family moved to Thunder Bay, to be closer to family. It was there that they adopted their son, Jonathan. Charles continued with his business, car detailing here in Thunder Bay, a business that he was very proud of and made many of his closest friends. Charles, or Chuck or Chucky as many of his clients and peers (most of whom became his friends) in the car shops would call him, would always bring the jokes, laughter, and make people feel good wherever he would go. He had a reputation for being the joker, and the guys would anticipate his jokes as soon as they saw or heard he was coming by.
Charles was a devoted father, always stressing education, such as getting the kids to practice writing lines of cursive, or taking them to dance or Jon to hockey or numerous other activities. Being a hockey parent was one of Charles’ favourite things, as he truly enjoyed spending time with his son and having fun with Jon at the rink. They shared a special bond through this. This continued as Jon got older, and Charles would hang out around the bonfire with all the boys and be the life of the party, having Jon’s friends busting their guts with laughter. Charles was always there to help out his kids and grandkids. He turned a worrisome trip for his grandson Liam’s eye surgery in Toronto into a memorable family trip with his daughter Angela and sons Liam, Nicholas and Joshua. Charles’ energy and sense of humor provided the boys what they needed and they all had a blast. Charles just had such a zest for life, people loved being around him. Charles loved being a dad. Charles’ love of family would be a mainstay in his life, as his children would go on to have kids of their own. Charles always made himself available for his grandchildren, and had his own unique quirks such as bathing Mya, Mia and Ava in the bathroom sinks, or busting out jokes to Isaiah and his cousins, the Mendoza boys. He had a special bond with his first grandchild Natasha, who along with partner Cole, took great care of her Papa as he got older. He was always taking his grandkids on adventures when they were younger, taking Mya, Izzy and Mia to the river and teaching them about nature and their surroundings. Charles would also go on to spend a great deal of time raising his little sweetheart, Mia girl, the “apple of his eye.” He said his life goal after his kids had grown was to help Mia, taking care of her and often her grandmother Winnie as well, taking her to her events, becoming an equipment manager for her and Ava’s speed skating club Thunder Blades. He also loved to cook for his grandkids, and was always making his little Ava Bird her favourite Papa Guy specialty, his Shanghai Noodles.
Charles was a masterful cook, and would always cook for those he cared for, especially his Rice Pilaf. He was also passionate about politics, football and tinkering with cars. He was always helping out someone with this broken part or making his own stop-gap devices with duct tape, plastic, wood, cardboard…whatever it took until people could get their vehicle into the shop. He was very wise and an excellent problem solver. Charles loved helping people. He would help older people or people with disabilities or injuries in his building with tasks, he would drive people in need to get groceries or to appointments, he would help his landlord with errands to care for their building, and helped out neighbours and family whenever they needed.
Charles was a devoted husband, son, father, brother, grandfather, and friend who will be remembered for his kindness, dedication, and love for his family.
Charles will be deeply missed by his daughters Cynthia Gomez (Geoffrey Ritchie); Angela Nordstrom and son Jonathan Gomez; grandchildren Isaiah Miller, Mya Miller, Ava Ritchie, Natasha Fosty (Cole Chruszcz) , Nicolas Nordstrom, Joshua Nordstrom, Liam Nordstrom, Mia Gomez and Talen John Gottfred Gomez ; two great-grandchildren Luna Chruszcz and Elliot Chruszcz, his former wife and still friend, Sylvia Gomez (George Gallinger), sisters Mabel Brigante Gomez, Julia Gomez Colomb; brother Alex Gomez (ex-wife Lena); numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives also survive in Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, Switzerland, Germany & Canada.
He was predeceased by his parents in Malaysia; his father Manuel Gasper Gomez and his mother Helen Sakuntala Chandra Bai (daughter of Andrewsamy), as well as his brothers Philip Gomez and Gilbert Gomez.
Funeral Services for the late Mr. Charles Gomez will be held on Monday, November 3, 2025 at 11:00am in the WESTFORT CHAPEL, 420 West Gore Street at James. A private family interment will take place in Riverside Cemetery following the reception. Visitation will be held one hour prior to service time.
Should friends so desire, donations can be made in memory of Charles to the RFDA and this would be greatly appreciated.
Please sign the online condolences at everestofthunderbay.com
