Shiraz Gowerali Jina Daya

Children

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Shiraz Gowerali Jina Daya, aged 77, of St. Catharines, Ontario, formerly of Mombasa, Kenya; Mannheim, Germany; and Scarborough, Ontario. Shiraz passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones on Saturday, January 4, 2025.

Born on April 7, 1947, in Mombasa, Kenya, to Gowerali and Dolatkhanu Daya, Shiraz spent his early years in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania before pursuing Mechanical Engineering studies in Mannheim, Germany. In the early 1970s, he returned to Kenya and worked as an Aviation Technician at Nairobi International Airport.

In 1975, Shiraz met Habiba, and together they immigrated to Toronto, Ontario, Canada, where they married in 1976. Over the years, Shiraz and his family embarked on multiple entrepreneurial ventures, including two automotive repair garages in Ajax and Rexdale and a newspaper delivery business over four-plus years.

In 1990, Shiraz moved his family to St. Catharines, where he founded Minit Auto Service. Over 35 years later, his vision and dedication to help others continues to thrive, with his three sons proudly carrying forward his legacy.

Shiraz will be remembered for his unwavering kindness, infectious humor, boundless generosity, and deep commitment to his family, staff, community, and clients. He was a man of principle, passion, and philanthropy, whose presence left a lasting impact on everyone he met.

A true music enthusiast, Shiraz’s treasured record collection featured artists such as Julio Iglesias, Bob Marley, and Ismaili devotional ginan singers. He was always ready for a spirited conversation about politics, economics, or world affairs, and cherished sharing his views. Soccer (ManU), cricket, and ice hockey (TML) were Shiraz’s favourite sports, and he always enjoyed a good sci-fi, action, or Bollywood film. Yet, nothing brought him more joy than sharing a meal surrounded by family and friends.

Shiraz is survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Habiba, and his three sons: • Irfan (Uma, Aleena (5)) • Imran (Aliya, Zidan Ali (6), Samir Ali (3)) • Zaheed

A funeral service will be held at 8:30a.m. on Saturday, January 11, 2025, at Morse & Son Funeral Home, 5917 Main Street, Niagara Falls, Ontario.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to the Niagara Health Foundation in Shiraz’s memory. The family extends heartfelt gratitude to the incredible teams at Marotta Family/St. Catharines General Hospital (Walker Cancer Centre) and St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton for their care, compassion, and support during Shiraz’s courageous five-year battle with esophageal cancer.

Shiraz will be deeply missed but lovingly remembered by all whose lives he touched.