Dr. Kenneth (Ken) Sewchand passed away peacefully on Jan. 13, 2023, at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC), with his family by his side. Ken will be lovingly remembered and missed deeply by his wife of 55 years, Esther (née Peters); children, Ken Jr., Shem, and Shelley (Kurt); grandchildren, Ben and Maya; siblings, Wilfred (Genevieve), Joel (Kamalranie), Violet (Errol), Lionel (Lynn), Jasmine (Paul), Grace (Aubrey), Clifford; and numerous other family members and friends. Ken was predeceased by his parents, John and Esther (née Khublall), and sister, Lucy.
Born in Guyana on Sept. 26, 1940, Dr. Sewchand attended the University of London/University of the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica, where he earned a degree in medicine. Dr. Sewchand was a family physician in Guyana before emigrating to Canada in 1970, where he continued his practice in Toronto and then Winnipeg. As a lifelong learner, Dr. Sewchand furthered his studies at the University of Manitoba, where he completed his training in otolaryngology — ear, nose and throat (ENT). He practised as an ENT specialist and surgeon in Winnipeg during the latter half of the 1970s and then in Peterborough, Ont., from 1980 to 2020.
Dr. Sewchand maintained a strong faith throughout his life. Patients and their families would often ask if he was Christian because of his great kindness and attention to their care. In his final days, he would clap his hands as we played hymns for him and he thoroughly enjoyed listening to scripture. He recited from memory 2 Timothy 1:7 reminding himself that God did not give him a spirit of timidity or fear, but a spirit of power, love and sound mind.
Dr. Sewchand's faith and passion for medicine and helping others were only second to his love for his family. He truly enjoyed spending time with his wife, who was his best friend and the love of his life. He was an extraordinary father and grandfather who actively participated in the lives of his children and grandchildren. His wisdom, guidance and gentle nature will be dearly missed.
We, the family, would like to thank the staff at the PRHC for the exceptional care they provided to Dr. Sewchand and us. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the PRHC Foundation. Memories and condolences can be shared online.