Thor Kristian "Kris" Svela, aged 67, born in Stavanger, Norway, and a resident of Canada, passed away on April 4th, 2024, while on vacation in Spain. His last day was spent enjoying a tour through the village of Estepona with his beloved wife, brother, and sister-in-law.
Having moved from Norway to Elliot Lake, Ontario, as a child, Kris spent his public school years in Northern Ontario. He attended high school in Stavanger, Norway. In 1975, he travelled back to Canada to visit family, and it was there he met the love of his life and the woman he married, Cornelia Svela (née Monden). The couple have three children: Ian, Alex, and Kaylie.
He enjoyed an enriching career as a journalist for many local newspapers in Southern Ontario. Throughout his career, he built numerous cherished relationships with residents, town councillors, and politicians. He always knew almost everyone in town, and thousands of readers enjoyed his weekly columns.
Kris had a passion for fishing on Lake Lauzon, enjoying time with family and friends, and indulging in music and news, whether writing, reading, or listening to it. Kris's presence was marked by a soundtrack of humming tunes, reflecting his deep love for music. As his favourite musician, Neil Young, says, "It's better to burn out than to fade away," which best describes his approach to life.
He is survived by his wife, Cornelia; their children, Ian, Alex, and Kaylie; their partners, Rae, Jenn, and Andy; his grandchildren, Klara, Carter, Ivan, Stas, and Axel; and his siblings, Terry, Olav, Linda, and May; along with their partners Joerg, Joanne, Gunnar, and Arild; and their children Tim and Mel, Kim and Brent, Helge and Petter, and Cathrine and Marie.
A Celebration of Life gathering will be held for family and friends who would like to pay their respects on July 20, 2024, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Bergelt residence, 133 Spruce Avenue, in Elliot Lake, Ontario.
The family requests any donations on behalf of Kris to be made to St. Joseph's Hospital in Elliot Lake. They have also set up a GoFundMe page to collect donations.
Kris's legacy will live on in the memories of those he touched. To echo Young's lyrics, "Long may you run, Kris, long may you run."