Obituary of José Gutauskas

Suddenly, but peacefully, at the Arnprior and District Memorial Hospital after having performed his final surgery on Wednesday afternoon, March 26, 2014, José passed away. Forever in our hearts, he will be remembered as a kind, generous, loving man of great dignity and fortitude. José leaves behind his loving wife and soul mate, Anna Gibbons (née DeFalco), his daughter Andrea (Martin Plante), son Paul; step-children Francis (Samantha), Michael, Cathy (Jennifer Presley), and Andy (Elizabeth); sister Aldona (Vladimir Sykora), nieces, nephews, step-grandchildren and extended family. Born in Panavežys, Lithuania, on September 26, 1940, to parents Elena Urbšys and Dr. Vladas Gutauskas, José fled communist rule to grow up in Venezuela in the foothills of the Andes Mountains. There, he was mentored by his father, a practicing surgeon. At the young age of 17, he moved alone to Ottawa, where he was welcomed by Dr. Agatha Sidlauskas and the Lemay family. Ottawa has been his home ever since. He enjoyed a distinguished career as a respected general surgeon in the Ottawa area for over 40 years. He was a graduate of the University of Ottawa School of Medicine (1968). He completed his internship at the Toronto General Hospital and his residency at the Ottawa Civic Hospital. He practiced at the Salvation Army Grace Hospital, the Queensway Carleton Hospital, and the Arnprior and District Memorial Hospital. Since 2009, he drew great joy and comfort from sharing his surgical practice with his daughter, Dr. Andrea Gutauskas. José will be missed by family, colleagues, patients, and all who were blessed to know him. A private Funeral Mass is being held, followed by cremation. Family and friends are invited to attend a memorial in his honour to be held at the Pinecrest Visitation Centre, 2500 Baseline Road, Ottawa, on Saturday afternoon, April 12th, from 1 until 4 pm. In memory of Dr. Gutauskas, a donation to the Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation or the Arnprior and District Memorial Hospital Partners in Caring Foundation would be appreciated by his family.