Obituary of Frank John Joseph Semco

November 8, 1951 – Drummondville, Quebec

October 21, 2024 – Calgary, Alberta

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Frank J. Semco, beloved husband of Thelma for 26 wonderful years. He passed away, surrounded by his loving family, on Monday, October 21, 2024, at the age of 72.  

Frank was born on November 8, 1951, in Drummondville, QC. He attended Polytechnic in Montreal and Mount Royal College for Environmental Studies. He moved in 1974 to Calgary and started his career working for Chevron for fifteen years. From there, he became part owner of the restaurant BJ’s Bar and Grill (32nd Ave NE, Calgary), where he successfully managed the bar and enjoyed bringing in live music. He finished his working career at Shaw Communications.

Frank loved to experiment with photography, play golf, go fly fishing, camp, and any chance he could get to be out in nature. He loved watching movies, especially with his family.  Frank was a chef at heart and loved creating meals for his family and flipping pancakes on Saturday mornings. He enjoyed treating his grandchildren to Marble Slab for ice cream (and eating it too!). Frank loved music and was always sharing his new favourite songs. He was even known to DJ his daughters' school dances as “DJ Daddy Cool.” 

In retirement, Frank enjoyed the company of his loyal dog, Finnegan, who was always close by his side. He also enjoyed trips to Vancouver Island to visit family and explore the ocean coast. Frank was a lover, and anyone who had the pleasure of meeting him knew that he loved to laugh and strike up conversations with everyone around him. He would certainly make anyone close to him feel like they mattered. Frank was incredible at sharing his heart and often told people what they meant to him. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

He is survived by his three daughters, Amanda (Chris) D’Arcy, Jessica (Geoff) MacKay, and Corrina (Curtis) Ann-Poss (daughters of Lilianna, his first wife); and two stepdaughters, Nicole Sloan, and Erin (Derek) Field (daughters of Thelma). Additionally, he leaves behind eight grandchildren, Toni Anne, Bennett, Jasper, Emerson, Laure, Lily, Olivia, and Nathan. He will be greatly missed by his sister Joan Semco, brother-in-law Rick Dollard, sister-in-law Laura Silvestre, along with many other members of his extended family. He was predeceased by his parents, Francis and Ann Semco, and his younger brother, Gary Semco.

A private family commencement ceremony will take place on Friday, October 25, 2024. 

If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Canadian Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, 3250 Bloor Street West East Tower, Suite 600, Toronto, ON, M8X 2X9, www.cpff.ca.

A special thank you to the incredible staff of the emergency department, the ICU, and the unit 66 team at the Calgary South Health Campus Hospital. 

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Frank’s family here.

In living memory of Frank Semco, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Fish Creek, 14441 Bannister Road SE, Calgary, Ab t2x 3j3, Telephone: 403-256-9575.