<div itemprop="description">Varghese Pattara, 86, fondly called Joychan by close friends and loved ones, passed away on December 6, 2023 due to complications related to Alzheimer's. He passed peacefully with his family by his side. <br> <br>Joychan was born to Chandy and Thresiamma Pattara in Muhamma, Kerala, India on 1937.After his graduation from SD College, Alleppey, he served in the Indian Air Force as an officer. He came to Canada in 1967 and began working almost immediately for Air Canada from where he retired as a Technical Writer in 1994. <br> <br>Joychan was active in upholding Malayalee culture and language. He was a great example of how to blend into Canadian life without losing the cultural spirit of his homeland. He was instrumental in founding various cultural organizations in North America. He took pride in starting Malayalam classes in Montreal. As a voracious reader, he had eclectic interests in subjects such as history, literature and technology. He has authored many poems and plays in Malayalam under his pen name Varas, several of which were performed at Malayalee Association of Quebec (MAQ) events. For his outstanding contribution to the community, Joychan was specially honored by MAQ in 2018. We fondly remember him for his grace and generosity. <br> <br>Joychan was happily married to Thresiamma, a nurse at the Montreal Neurological Institute, since 1969. In addition to Thresiamma, he his survived by his three sons Alex, Mathew (Jamie) and George (Sonia); grandchildren Andrew, Lauren and Christopher; and siblings Katherine Chacko, Kurialachan (Rosamma), Achamma (George), and Chackochan (Mary). He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Fr. Savio and Thomichan. <br></div>
