Community rallies for driver’s send off

JOHN “Custard Jay” Tscherkaskyj’s passing was a tragedy, but his touching send-off at his favourite ice rink was a heartwarming reminder of community generosity for the wife and 13 children he left behind.

The 56-year-old died at the scene of a car crash in Glenora on August 8 while working as a delivery driver for the Mercury.

His wife Kellie Jay said the aftermath has been difficult for her and the children.

“It’s been hard for the ones that have had no choice but to go to work,” she said.

The family was overwhelmed with the financial and emotional burden of organising a funeral, but hundreds of Tasmanian friends, colleagues, small businesses and strangers have stepped forward to support the grieving family.

Help first came in the form of Tracey Rusden, a doula from EOL Bucket List who has formed a strong bond with Mrs Jay and the kids.

“It was such a shock and often people don’t know where to start, and it was really evident a more contemporary funeral service just wasn’t going to work for these guys, especially the kids,” Ms Rusden said.

“It’s a vulnerable time. “But to know that there’s very little structural law around funerals, the world is your oyster.”

The family decided to heal and honour Mr Tscherkaskyj’s life by holding the funeral at Woody’s Skate and Play, and holding the viewing for John’s family at the Glenorchy Ice Skate Rink.

Both venues offered their facilities to the family for free knowing Mr Tscherkaskyj was an avid ice hockey player, and his teammates took him around the rink for a final lap of honour.

“Having the funeral where we had it, he got everything he would have wanted,” Mrs Jay said.

A GoFundMe page raised more than $15,000 for the family, with support flooding out from the West Coast where Mr Tscherkaskyj delivered papers, and from various organisations such as Tasmania Emergency Services, BTranz, Rokeby Primary School, Bayview Secondary College, Mary Eleanor Natural Funeral Care, News Corp Australia, Breadd, Cheesecake Shop, Lipscombe Larder, Pizzarazzi Moonah, Coles Eastlands, Super Dollars Warehouse, Shoreline Shopping Centre and Woolworths Community.

“If it wasn’t for everyone that pulled together, it wouldn’t have happened,” Mrs Jay said.

“I know ‘thank you’ is actually inadequate but I don’t have any other words for what everyone’s done for us.”

Amanda Jay, Mr Tscherkaskyj’s daughter, was grateful to know people cared.

“Even through the circumstances, it goes to show that there are kind and generous people,” she said.

Having the we funeral where had it, he got everything he would have wanted Tscherkaskyj’s wife John Kellie Jay