Darcy Oliver

Darcy Oliver

On April 26, 2025 at his residence, Darcy Oliver, aged 62 years of Selkirk, MB passed away.

Memorial service was held on Saturday, June 7, 2025.

Eulogy

Hi, I’m Tanyia, As Darcy would say, “This is my house mom”.  His mother Marian, has written this Eulogy for Darcy Thomas Oliver, from Jan. 19, 1963 -  April 26, 2025.  

Marian has asked me to read it for her, to Celebrate Darcy’s Life!  

Spending the last fourteen years in his Hearthstone home created a permanent dream of happiness for him, and a real feeling of security.  He loved his house mom dearly, his caring staff and his roommate (Ashley).  He loved his property and his deck, where he would sit outside for hours enjoying the sun. 

 Darcy had many challenges in life, from an infant to his adulthood.  Darcy was diagnosed with Prader Willi Syndrome, an eating disorder. Darcy also had other issues that made his life more challenging than others.

 Darcy inherited his love of fiddle music from his mother’s side; from generations back to Norway, where there was a statue of Olie, his great grandpa’s grandpa, the fiddler. 
His love of Icelandic coffee came from his Granny Oliver, made in her traditional boiled homemade cotton bag.  Darcy enjoyed regular weekly coffee outings with his mom to socialize, to problem solve, and to eat “his favourite Barney’s Liver & Onions.  

Darcy was quite smart, and Mr. Peak, the Principal, said Darcy was the only student in the class, who could do Grade 4 math!  Darcy has always enjoyed math, especially counting his money.
 

At 18, he left school, and attended the ARC workshop, where he got teased about his weight by his peers.   He took his frustrations out on his glasses (so you can imagine how many glasses he went through).  He had gotten pretty good at stealing food, life was tough.  And delivering fliers was very hard.  Darcy finally retired from ARC Industries.  He liked that a lot.

Unfortunately, for a few years, Darcy lost several favourite aunts and uncles, on his dad’s side, especially his “Godparents”, Aunt Edith, who he watched soaps with after his work, and then his favourite Uncle Doug.  Coping with deaths became very difficult for Darcy.  Uncle Doug would ask Darcy during weekend respite visits, “What kind of a job do you want, Darcy?”  He would say, “I wanna be the boss!”  “But what kind of work Darcy?”  And he would repeat, “I wanna be the boss...... like you!!”  Uncle Doug really enjoyed that a lot!! 
Darcy was a believer in God, and after joining the Lutheran Youth Group, he loved spending time with Pastor Terry.  He picked Darcy and his walker up monthly, to go to Tim’s for coffee. 

Darcy loved to travel with family, and camping across Canada to Ottawa; from Disneyland in California up the west coast with the big logging trucks, his brother and him listening to their C/B’s.  And two years later to Disney World in Florida.  And all the regular quarterly trips to Grandview, to stay with loving family.

Darcy loved it when the Selkirk Mayor’s name was also Oliver, but not related. 

After Smitty’s Family Restaurant came to town in 1989, Darcy and his mom went to offer a couple of volunteer hours, to show he could do the job.  He was hired for Sunday afternoons when it was less busy, from 1:00 - 3:00.  Then later, he worked both Wednesdays and Sundays.  He would ditch his walker for the busboy cart, and Hearthstone paid him a token $5.00 for the two hours work for 12 1/2 years!  It was very, very tempting not to eat a piece of leftover toast.  Darcy learned if he poured the RCMP a second cup of coffee he could earn a $5.00 tip.  Darcy loved everything blue, like his bedroom, and of course the $5 bill.  Bill Eckford & him became fast friends!! 

Darcy enjoyed going out in the Hearthstone van, touring around enjoying a cup of coffee.  Lots of time was spent out at Birds Hill and Winnipeg Beach enjoying strolls on the boardwalk and watching the concerts. Darcy also enjoyed going to the arena and listening to the fiddler music, and catching Elvis at A&W.

 Darcy went to Winnipeg to spend a few nights in the motel and loved their big breakfast; went to the zoo, the park for lunches, and of course, the casino where he won $11 and told the house mom to cash out & let’s get out of here.

Darcy’s brother and family were coming to have a special private Christmas meal at Smitty’s last December.  I said to Darcy....”If I give you a McDonald’s Apple Pie, will you dance in your wheelchair for your brother??”  He said, “Ah...How about 2 apple pies??”

Even though Darcy’s health was declining he was still very happy, smiling, laughing and enjoying visits from friends and family.

At ten days old, his Paediatrician said he didn’t know if Darcy would live or die.  His family was happy to have him for 62 years and three months.  And very thankful for the caring Palliative Care and the comfy electric bed.  It allowed very happy, enjoyable, close visits with him. 

We had a unique kissing pattern, where he got three touch kisses with my two fingers on his forehead:  1, 2, 3, then his choice to give me a small kiss on my cheek, with one final big kiss on his forehead.....and always, “I love you....Bye for now....See you tomorrow!!”  

We were very fortunate to have Darcy for 62 years and 3 months. 

We will love him forever in our hearts. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Darcy Oliver, please visit our floral store.