F. D'Arcy O'Connell

It is with sad hearts we announce the passing of D’Arcy O’Connell on December 16th, 2022. He was predeceased by his father, Thomas D’Arcy O’Connell, his mother, Gertrude May Lohmann, and his two brothers Brian and Paul. He is survived by two sisters, Wilma and Lois, along with many nieces and nephews.

D’Arcy grew up in Outremont and became a gifted ski enthusiast at an early age. His dream was one day to ski the mountains of Peru. However, the gods had different plans for D’Arcy and at 21 years old, he had a serious car accident and became a paraplegic confined to a wheelchair.

Although his new life was difficult at the outset, with will and determination he later graduated from Loyola College and McGill University. For many years he worked for Via Rail and Transport Canada where he received special recognition by Transport Canada for his contributions to the transportation of the underserved.

Throughout his life, D’Arcy never gave up his joie de vivre, nor did he ever complain about the life he had been dealt. He loved playing the guitar, hosting sing-alongs, and delighting many with his BBQ skills. His favourite music was western and he enjoyed evenings at the Wheels Club where he joined others with similar interests. He was also an avid bridge and poker player. He was a friend to many and could be counted upon to lend support when the need arose. Likewise friends were always there for him.

The family would like to thank the staff at Bayview Centre in Pointe-Claire for the care and support they offered D’Arcy in his final years.

He is now at peace.