MATTHEW ZARICHNEY

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MATTHEW ZARICHNEY It is with great sadness the family announces the sudden passing of Matthew Zarichney on July 27, 2003. At the time of dads passing he was down by the creek where he loved to be. He had a great passion for the water. He would often tell how as a young boy he would be swimming or ice skating and later on speed skating on the Red River. Later on he would spend time trapping, fishing or just going for a boat ride. Matt was born in East Selkirk, October 29, 1914. Dad lived most of his life in East Selkirk, except when his work took him and his family to Red Lake, Starretolson and Warner Lake, ON to work in the gold mines. As a young fellow dad helped on the farm cutting wood, helping with the haying and feeding the horse and chickens. He would tell us as a young man how his brothers and him would ride the box cars looking for work at harvest time. Dad and his brother cut pulp in Pine Falls for Abitibi, his son Arnold later joined them. Dad worked in the mines at A.G. Young, Couchner, Dumbarton where he was a lead hand and then a shift boss. Dad also grew cucumbers for the Catelli plant and tried mink ranching. Dad, his brother John and son Arnold went to work at Eskimo Point and Ranklin Inlet to build roads for the dew line. Dad self-educated himself by correspondence and his love for reading to become a diesel mechanic and 5th Class Engineer. He worked in Selkirk at Foam Form and Plasti Fab. When dad retired he just enjoyed life, his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren because now he had more time for blueberry picking, boat rides and ice cream. If you were one of the lucky ones who went berry picking with dad, you had a hard time to pick more then dad. Dad was always there for anyone who needed help, be if to fix something, chop a tree or just to tell a story. Dad loved to sing, he had a beautiful voice and he is now singing with the angels, and he could brighten up anyones day just by listening to him sing. Dad always had a good word for everyone, if you did something wrong, he would say you have to learn by your mistakes, he never complained and found the good in everything. Matt leaves to cherish his memories daughters, Nancy (Ted), Bonnie (Ken), Adelina (David) and daughter-in-law Eleanor (Jim). Grandchildren, Matt (Kathy), Sheldon (Theresa), Debbie, Andrea (Ron), Earl (Darlene), Colleen (Darren), Heather, Marlene (Dan), Dean, Kenneth and Samantha. Great-grandchildren, Heather-Ann, Brittany, Zachary, Terry, Wayne, Jessica, Kristine, Amber, Jeanine, Brittany, Taner, Jack, Megan, Kirsten, Khylie. Dad is also survived by brother Peter (Betty) and special brother-in-law Nick and numerous nieces and nephews. Dad was predeceased by wife Gertrude; parents, Michael and Mary; sons, Bertie and Arnold; daughter Mary-Anne and grandson Matthew and Gilbert; brothers, Nick, Steve, Andy, Mike and John; sisters, Annie, Katie and Mary; and cat Blackie. Dad, you may have left us, but you leave behind many memories, our love for nature and animals and a great many who will carry on what you lived your life for, your family. Dad is in a far better place with his loved ones playing jokes, telling stories and singing. Heaven has a new shining star. A memorial service to celebrate Dads life will be held September 6 at 2:00 p.m. at his residence, on Ferry Road in East Selkirk, down by the creek with Pastor R. Settee officiating. Rain location Selkirk Aboriginal Redemption Center, 209 Dufferin Ave., Selkirk. Gilbart Funeral Chapel in charge of arrangements.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 03, 2003