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Wallace Michael Darichuk
January 29, 2017
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<div itemprop="description">Wallace Michael Darichuk <br>May 29, 1938 - January 29, 2017 <br> <br>It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, Gigi, brother, uncle and friend Wally Darichuk. On Sunday, January 29, 2017 surrounded by his family, Wally Darichuk, age 78 of Winnipeg passed away after suffering a debilitating heart attack. Wally’s memory will be forever celebrated and cherished by his soul-mate and wife of 57 years Veronica (nee Mandzie), his two devoted daughters Coreen (David Kieser), Michelle (Tim Cuthbert); brothers Bill and George; sisters Jean (Myron Paulyshyn) and Betty (Bob Friesen) and sister-in-law Stephanie Mandzie. Uncle Wally is also lovingly remembered by James, Susan, Alan, Leanna, Krissy and their families. Gigi will forever be loved by his grandchildren Brody, Adam, Daniel and Gabrielle. <br>Wally was born in St. Clements, MB to Michael and Lena Darichuk (nee Huculak), both of whom predeceased him. He received his primary and secondary schooling in a one room, rural school in East Lower Fort Garry (Kitchener School). He attended High School in Gonor, MB and the Selkirk Collegiate Institute. His strong work ethic developed early in life, as he contributed to daily life on the family farm. While attending U of M, he lived at home and travelled daily by bus from Selkirk to Winnipeg. To help pay his tuition, he drove a gravel truck and played accordion in a band. Upon completing his second year of his B.A., he attended Law School and at the age of 21 graduated with his Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree. He articled in Selkirk, MB with the late F.W Newman Q.C. <br>He received his Call to the Bar on September 21, 1960 and on August 1, 1963 he became the youngest person in Canada to be appointed a Provincial Court Judge (Guiness World Book of Records, 1979 Ed.) and the first full-time, rural, Provincial Judge. He received his Private Pilot’s License and Radio Operator’s License in 1965 and frequently piloted his own aircraft while on circuit. In 1972, at age 33, he was one of the youngest persons to be appointed Queen’s Counsel. <br>Serving continuously for 50 years, he was the longest serving member of the judiciary in not only Canada, but the entire Commonwealth. His career included serving as a judge of the Provincial Court of Manitoba and he was the first judge of the Provincial Court of MB to be elevated by federal appointment. In 1977, he was appointed a County Court Judge, Surrogate Court Judge and Local Judge of the Court of Queen’s Bench for the Dauphin and Northern Judicial District. He served in this capacity until 1984 when he was appointed a Judge of Her Majesty’s Court of Queen’s Bench of Manitoba. On December 4, 1997 he was appointed a Deputy Judge of the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories and the Supreme Court of the Yukon Territory. <br>At the time of his retirement (age 75), Wally was the only judge to have presided in all courts of Manitoba. His judicial career ended on May 28, 2013, in its 50th year, by reason of mandatory retirement. <br> Colleagues consistently note sentiments in line with the following, “He was such a gentleman who always had complete control of his courtroom, not by raising his voice, putting the lawyer down or bullying them, but by his respectful demeanor and knowledge of the law. Irrespective of the outcome, those who were fortunate to appear before him, always left his court knowing they had a fair and impartial hearing by someone who was attentive to the evidence and kept an open mind until the trial had concluded. We lost a good one.” Even after retirement, he was still able to recite by memory, the laws and specific wording of every legal text he read. His photographic memory was legendary, a true blessing in the days before computers and the internet were invented. <br>Wally was a very active and dedicated member of his community on a personal and professional level. Some of these short and long-term appointments included but were not limited to provincial director of the Society for Manitoban’s with Disabilities, member of the Board of Directors of Cancer Care Manitoba, director of Saint Paul’s Nursing Home in Dauphin, MB; director of Holy Family Nursing Home in Winnipeg, two terms as President of the Provincial Judges’ Association of Manitoba, as well as member of the Association of Superior Court Judges of Canada. He was an Executive Board Member of the Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice and accepted an invitation from the Peoples’ Republic of China to participate for three weeks in 1981 to help rebuild a legal and correctional system. In 2012 he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal. Recently, he was nominated for the Order of Manitoba as well as the Order of Canada. <br>His love of law was only second to the love of his family who treasured him for the tremendously sentimental, fun loving and generous spirit he always was. He unfailingly attended his daughters’ every concert, dance recital, birthday, school musical, and special occasion in spite of frequently travelling hundreds of miles during their childhood to cover the geographical area his job entailed. Annual family vacations, camping trips and time at the cabin at Singush Lake in Duck Mountain Provincial Park were treasured and prioritized. He and Veronica continued to travel the world together, then with their grandchildren, sharing their love of adventure with them going on vacations such as Mexico and Disney Cruises through the Caribbean. He always said, “family first” and he lived his life according to this principle. <br>In his younger days, Wally loved to go on hunting and fishing adventures with his friends. When he could no longer do this, he took up making “Wally wine” and baking Easter breads, holopchi, jams, jellies, and lemon pies from scratch. <br>Gigi’s grandchildren were the apple of his eye and they adored him! He loved them unconditionally and left them with the legacy of believing in themselves. He encouraged each of them to use their unique gifts and talents to make the world a better place…and they will, because Gigi said they could. Everything Gigi did with his grandkids had that special touch: “oopick” pancakes, fishing adventures, board games, card games, spoons, and go-carting to name a few. <br>One of his most endearing qualities was his ability to speak to anyone about anything. He had an exceptional ability to make every person feel special and important. He always remained humble and touched the hearts and lives of everyone he met. <br> On Sundays parishioners will miss hearing him read prayers during the Mass with his deep and commanding voice that many lovingly referred to as “the voice of God.” <br>When he is called to heaven, God will welcome him home and say, “How are you my good and faithful servant?” To which Wally will reply, with a twinkle in his eye, his favourite response -“I’m not telling!” <br>The Family would like to thank the nurses and doctors in the HSC Medical Intensive Care Unit for their respectful and sensitive care. <br>The Funeral Mass will be held on February 4, 2017 at 11:00 am at St. Basil’s Ukrainian Catholic Church, 202 Harcourt St., Winnipeg, MB at 11:00 a.m. <br>Donations in Wally’s memory may be made to Heart and Stroke Foundation or Cancer Care Manitoba. <br>ETERNAL MEMORY - VICHNAYA PAMYAT <br></div>