Remembering Stan: A Family’s Decision to Give Back in His Honour

Remembering Stan: A Family’s Decision to Give Back in His Honour

When Stan Czajkowsky passed away suddenly in December 2025, his family was left navigating the shock and heartbreak that comes with an unexpected loss. In those early days, one decision felt clear and deeply instinctive: to honour Stan in a way that truly reflected who he was and what mattered most to him.

Stan is survived by his wife, Kim, and their children, Daniel and Emily, who joined her in choosing to honour his life through a memorial fundraiser in support of Cystic Fibrosis Canada.

A family grounded in purpose

For Kim, their children and extended family, that meant supporting Cystic Fibrosis Canada, a cause woven into their lives for many years.

Stan was the proud uncle of Mikayla and Maddy, who both live with cystic fibrosis (CF). When Mikayla was diagnosed shortly after birth, CF was unfamiliar territory. “We hadn’t even heard of CF,” Kim recalls. “There was a lot of research and asking, ‘What is this?’ Being around was how we learned about it.”

What followed was a family-wide commitment to action. Just months after Mikayla’s birth, they participated in their first Walk To Make Cystic Fibrosis History. Fundraising became their way of helping. “Our family believes the money we fundraise will one day lead to a cure,” Kim says. “We’ve seen the positive progress from research—fundraising is our role.”

Stan embraced that mindset wholeheartedly.

He wasn’t someone who sought recognition. “Stan liked to help others, but in a quiet way,” Kim explains. “In the background, he’d be a helper.” Whether filling a gas tank or picking something up for a friend. Small acts of kindness perfectly reflected how he showed up for the CF community. During CF events like the Princess Ball in Hamilton, he worked behind the scenes, setting up tables, managing supplies, picking up and helping with almost 300 frames for the craft, so others could focus on the moment.

A decision rooted in family values

When the family thought about how to honour him, choosing a memorial fundraiser felt natural.

“It wasn’t even a hesitation,” Kim says. “Fundraising was such a big part of our lives, and he loved those girls. He would want to do anything he could for them.”

Including a memorial fundraiser in Stan’s obituary was, for the family, a way to ensure his legacy reflected his values. “Donating to CF is how he’s being remembered,” Kim shares. “And that would make him so happy.”

The response from their community was both overwhelming and deeply affirming. Neighbours, friends, coworkers, and community members gave in his memory, many sharing notes of gratitude and remembrance. Nearly $1,000 was raised in a short time.

Giving back has always been part of the family’s story. They believe in research, because they’ve seen what progress can make possible. Today, Mikayla and Maddy are running distances that once felt unimaginable for someone with CF. Mikayla recently completed the 30k Around The Bay race – an amazing feat! And a challenge Stan did himself with Mikayla’s mom, Tammy. “He would have loved to be here to cheer her on,” says Kim.

There is still more work to be done for CF. But fundraising in Stan’s memory is a way to honour both progress and possibility.

For families considering a memorial fundraiser

Kim offers simple advice: “Think ahead to what’s most meaningful to you and talk to your family about it. Life can change quickly. If a cause is important to you, your family should know you want that as your legacy.”

For Stan’s family, choosing to honour him this way wasn’t about obligation. It was intention – turning love into action, and loss into hope.