Horace De Barros

Horace is survived and missed by his loving wife Deanna (née Tikaran) of 54 years; and his children, Candace (James), Yolande and Brandon. Forever treasured and remembered by his two grandchildren, William and Ashley. And by his brothers Lennox (Jenn) and Alex (Shirley) and brother-in-laws Lloyd (Neshaw) and Wayne (Marina), will cherish his memory along with the Colinet, Alphonso, Tikaran, Vieira, and Peters families.

Horace was predeceased by his mother Evelyn, his father Alphonse, his sisters Lizzie and Donna (Mike). His in-laws Paulyn (David), Winston, Margaret (Deen), Jean, and Keith (Julie) and his son-in-law James.

His memory lives on with his nieces and nephews; Adrian, Sharon & Sean, Leonard & Andrew, Natalie & Jared, Andrew, Reagan, Lovie, Rose, Yolanda & Onica, Ingrid, Edgar & Debbie, Tammy & Sandy, Danielle & Chelsea, Gavin, Jeanette, Daryl & Danielle and predeceased by Sharon and Lorraine.

Great nieces and nephews; Anthony, Jonathan, Marcus, Isaiah, Ava, Jayden, Rylan, Robert, Kyle, Ryan, Phoebe, Hakim, Adrian, Malia, Rhianna, Sarah, Joshua, David, Gabriella. Bentley, and Adalynn.

Horace was born in Georgetown, Guyana and grew up in both Georgetown and Bartica. He would make many friends in Bartica and Georgetown and have a good childhood with his siblings.

Professionally in Guyana, Horace had a couple different roles. He taught mathematics for a short time at St. Anthony’s Roman Catholic School in Bartica. He worked for the Forestry Department in Bartica as a clerk. He also worked for the Guyana Inland Revenue Department – Ministry of Finance, in Georgetown as an account clerk from 1965 to 1968. While in Guyana Horace had already begun doing courses in technology, he completed a computer programming course in 1967.

Horace met Deanna Tikaran in Georgetown, Guyana, who he would marry on September 21st,1969.

Horace and Deanna migrated to Canada in 1969 and sponsored many of their family members so that they could come to Canada as well, all staying at their home for periods of time. Prior to starting a family, Horace and Deanna travelled a lot with family, doing road trips all over North America. They then started their family with the birth of their first child, Candace in 1976, then Yolande and Brandon.

When Horace first came to Canada he wanted to do work associated with the human brain. Instead, his focus got directed towards technology. Horace worked in a variety of companies as a System Programmer during the seventies and eighties before settling into his 17 year career at the Toronto Stock Exchange as Senior Systems Programmer running the trading mainframes.

Horace was ever involved in his community, supporting community groups and young people. He played for a variety of soccer teams himself. He loved soccer and drove players to their games. As he got older, he supported different teams and clubs as a Level A Coach, in roles on the clubs’ Boards of Directors, as President and various administrative roles.

Horace did a lot of charitable work sending computers, books, and clothing back to Guyana, regularly donating them to local schools. He collected soccer balls and equipment and donated them to local Guyanese sports teams and schools. He always said all a young boy needs is a soccer ball and a pair of sneakers to play soccer. For all his charitable work, he was recognized in the local Guyanese newspaper.

Horace was an excellent father who always supported his children, helping them with homework, offering advice, giving them rides to places they wanted to go, and getting them involved in extracurricular activities like sports teams. He took an active role in the lives of his grandchildren, helping teach William how to ride a bike and helping babysit while Candace and James participated in Dragon Boating in Toronto.

Horace had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. He was often spending his spare time researching topics of interest or reading books. He enjoyed watching soccer and was an avid Brazil fan. He enjoyed the outdoors, gardening and kicking the soccer ball around with his grandchildren. He had a sweet tooth and would never turn down an offer of a vanilla ice cream cone or milkshake … he would be willing to do almost anything for one. Horace loved driving and never turned down a reason to take a ride with his children. He really enjoyed his trips to Guyana and travelling for work to New Orleans and Chicago.

Horace was never scared to take on new adventures and opportunities and did everything with honesty and integrity. Horace had incredible patience, and always made time to help others. He was always willing to drive people places, listen to their problems, and help them with everyday errands like picking up groceries, going to work, and driving his children around.

His legacy will carry on forever reminding us that we control our attitudes. We choose to live a life of meaningful acts of love and service.

There are no words that can express how grateful and blessed we are to our friends and families who were there for us over the last few months. Also a heartfelt thank you to the Scarborough Health Network – doctors and nurses, at General and Grace for doing everything they could to help Horace get better.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer Society of Canada ( www.Alzheimer.ca ) in support of dementia research and treatment or to Heart & Stroke ( www.heartandstroke.ca ), who support research and treatment options for heart & stroke patients.

Ancillary information:

Soccer Horace was involved in:

- In Bartica Guyana – started Wolves United and played for Wolves United In Toronto Canada – Played for the Government League, SDL, Ministry of Revenue, & Toronto Gauchos

- Iere Soccer Club Board of Directors member in various roles such as Manager and President. And played with the Old Boys in tournaments in Ottawa, Washington D.C. and the annual Iere Tournament for North American Caribbean teams.

- With the Toronto and District Soccer League, Horace was their first Caribbean Board member, bringing awareness to the talent of the Caribbean players and teams, to the higher and more competitive soccer division. He was on the Board of Directors in roles of President, Director of Scheduling, Director of Discipline, and Player Recruiter.

- With the Scarborough Soccer Association he was a Discipline Board Member.

- Administrator for the Guyanese Canadians’ team who played in the OSL.

- For North Scarborough Soccer Club (NSSC), he had roles of President and various administrative board roles and coached as well.

- He was an Administrator and coach with North York Hearts working with Flynn.

A visitation for Horace will be held Tuesday, January 3, 2023 from 2:00PM to 5:00PM and from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Paul O’Connor Funeral Home, 1939 Lawrence Ave. E, Scarborough, ON M1R2Y8. A chapel service will occur Wednesday, January 4, 2023 at 11:00 AM, 1939 Lawrence Ave. E, Scarborough, ON M1R2Y8. Reception to be held following the Chapel service at Ellesmere Community Centre at 12:30pm; 20 Canadian Road, Scarborough, ON, M1R 4B4.

A committal service will occur Thursday, January 5, 2023 at 12:30 PM at Innisvale Cemetery, 7551 5th Sideroad, Innisfil, ON L9S 3S1.