Obituary of Nicholas DARAWET

NICHOLAS DARAWET Nick Darawet passed away on April 29, 2009 after a difficult struggle with ALS through the final phase of his life. Nick was born on October 1, 1930 in Winnipeg and was christened in the St. Michael's Ukrainian Orthodox Church on Disraeli Avenue. He grew up in the depression and the war years with his mother, Irene Bezruchak. His father had left the family and returned to Ukraine in 1931 when Nick was only a year old. He attended Argyle School, David Livingstone School and Strathcona High School in Winnipeg's legendary north end. Being resourceful and independent by nature he started earning a living from a very young age. From 1947 to 1950 he worked as a bellboy in the then famous Royal Alexandra Hotel. Later from 1950 to 1969 he was employed by CPR Telegraph at Portage and Main. He soon became an expert, and accomplished teletype operator, able to decipher rapid Morris Code and type out the messages simultaneously. Later, from 1969 to 1980, he was employed by the New York Daily Racing Form. Finally, from 1980 to 1995, he worked at Bay Bronze as a lathe operator from where he retired. While at Bay Bronze he was elected president of the local union. Nick was an accomplished musician able to play the violin and a versatile dancer. He loved sports and especially enjoyed bowling and playing golf. He also enjoyed traveling and visited: Vancouver, Calgary, Banff, Toronto, Montreal and Chicago. Nick was married once and divorced in 1974. His mother had passed away on January 13, 1993 and he was also predeceased by his partner and companion, Adeline Stemkowski, who passed away on April 6, 2008. He is presently survived by one son, Nicholas William (Darawet) Okenko and three cousins; George Duravetz and Mariene Moore of Winnipeg and John Duravetz in Toronto. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends. The family would also wish to extend a special thanks to the staff and administration at Brunnitt-Feasby ALS House for their compassion and kindly assistance in his final days. Nick will be interred at the Glen Eden Ukrainian Orthodox Cemetery in West St. Paul.