In Memory of Eion Winston Richards
Sunrise: December 28, 1955
Sunset: November 17, 2022
Wrapped lovingly in the arms of thine Angels.
Gone too soon! Eion passed away peacefully in his home on Thursday, November 17, 2022 surrounded by his loving family by his side after a fierce battle with pancreatic cancer. His greatest pride was his wife, children and grandchildren.
He has left his rock, soul mate and loving wife Zybina (Zell), his daughter Gabriella who is the apple of his eyes; his son and best friend, Jason, his kind and dedicated daughter (in-law) Jessica; and his darling grandsons Christopher and Alexander; all of whom he adored and who will all carry on his legacy. Also survived by his parents Una and Mike, brothers Sean (Allison), Trevor (Danielle), nieces and nephews Ayesha, Darren, Luke, Solana, Noah; his aunt Evelyn, his cousins, very loving and supportive in-laws and his many nieces and nephews, his amazing work family, many extended family, friends and colleagues. Predeceased by his dearest and most beloved grannie ole tiger.
A bright star in our lives no longer shines. Eion lived an honourable and righteous life. A gentle guy with a kind soul, beautiful spirit, compassionate and kindest human being who gave unconditionally of himself in gigantic proportions. He was always the life of every party dancing the night away with his energetic and unique dance moves.
A gem to all whose lives he touched. He treated everyone with the utmost love and respect and always made one feel like family. He never failed to offer a helping hand, kind and encouraging words and reassurance whenever needed. Always caring for everyone. A calm and quiet presence, barely heard from but whose impact will remain for a lifetime.
The family wishes to extend their sincerest gratitude to the amazing medical team that took care of him – Dr. Goodwin, Dr. Jin, Dr. Lackman, Chemo nurses, Emergency Doctors and nurses, the phenomenal team on 5East TOH General Campus – Management, Doctors, Nurses, Staff, Aides, Housekeeping, Home Care Nurses – for treating Eion and the family with your love, care, compassion, kindness and inclusiveness.
Eion’s greatest desire was to find a solution for early detection of Pancreatic Cancer and has left his wife with a purpose to start the conversation and work towards this goal.
In memory of Eion and in lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations to fulfill his wishes. A Fund has been set up at Scotiabank where all donations (cash, cheque) will be deposited and go towards Pancreatic Cancer Early Detection Research.
Eion, your departure has left us with shattered hearts but we will fill them with your love and the beautiful memories that we shared.
VISITATION:
We invite you to the visitation on Thursday, November 24th from 5:00p.m. to 9:00p.m. as we remember, reflect, share stories and support each other. Prayers, Eulogy and reflection will be at 7:00p.m.
Heritage Funeral Complex, 1250 Trim Rd., Orléans,
1250 Trim Rd
FUNERAL SERVICE:
Please join us on Friday, November 25, 2022 at 11:00a.m. for funeral Mass as we bid farewell to Eion and ask that he be received into Heaven and rest peacefully amongst the Angels.
Divine Infant Catholic Church
6658 Bilberry Dr, Orléans, ON K1C 2S9
INTERMENT:
Internment will follow at
Pinecrest Cemetery
2500 Baseline Road
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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RECEPTION:
Following Internment, the family would be grateful if everyone can join them from 4:00p.m. to 8:00pm at the Heritage Funeral Complex Reception Hall for a Reception as we fondly reminisce, celebrate, honour, share and encapsulate the memories we have made with Eion. Bring your stories, memories, jokes, pictures to share. Let’s celebrate a fine, upstanding human being gone too soon!
Yes indeed Eion Winston Richards has left us way too soon, Eion was such a loving husband and always greeted you with a smile you could tell that Zybina and children was what mattered most to him. The community will miss Eion and we will miss him also for his friendship and smile that he always greeted us in his home.
Rest in peace dear Eion, and are prayers and thoughts are with Zybina, children and grandchildren, Orléans and Fallingbrook will not be the same without you.
Bob, Pat, Joanne Monette
Rest in peace Eion, my prayers and thoughts are with Zello, Gabriella, Jason, Jessica and grandchildren and also with Aunty Una and Uncle Mike, Sean, Trevor and the entire family. God Bless 🙏🏼🙏🏼
Dearest Zybina. I am so so sorry for your and your family’s loss of such a wonderful man. My most sincerest condolences to you. You have such a beautiful family and I know you will all miss Eion dearly. Much love dear Zybina. You are a wonderful and amazing woman and I treasure our times together. I’ll be thinking of you.
Zell, Gabriella, Jason,
My condolences to you all at this difficult time.
Rest peacefully my friend. Condolences to the bereaved family and relatives.
We are so sorry for your lost! Ian was a true gentleman, a real friend who never displayed any meanness to anyone. We will surely miss him.
We pray that his family and friends will have the strength to overcome this tragedy and carry on his legacy!
RIP Ian, so long until we meet again on that distant shore as was promised!
What can one say about such a good man?
Eion was a stand-up guy who had a quiet confidence about him.
I was fortunate enough to work with Eion for 12+ years. During that time, Eion proved to be one of the best DBAs I’ve met, but was the first to offer help when one of us experienced any difficulties.
He worked hard, was an amazing team player, was a wizard with a soccer ball, had dance moves that would make Fred Astaire jealous, was generous of heart and was fiercely loyal.
I am thankful that I could call you my friend.
Rest easy Eion, you are missed by many.
Tania and I send our heartfelt condolences to Zybina, Jason, Gabby and the rest of his family and friends.
Our thoughts are with you, Zybina and family, at this difficult time. Please accept our sincere condolences for your loss and know that we will always keep fond memories of Eion from the many gatherings that we shared.
Our prayers are with you Z, J and G in these trying times. Sending you love and strength and will be with you to have heaven take on one of the most courageous, dedicated family man anyone can ask for. Xox
Condolences to the entire family. I’m a nurse who works with Zaefa, Safi always spoke so highly of Eion. my thoughts and prayers are with you all
On behalf of the High Commissioner and Staff of the Guyana High Commission, please accept our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Eion Richards. It is our prayer that God will comfort you all during this time of grief. May He richly bless you even as you mourn, and may the light of His presence be a continual source of consolation. May the soul of Mr. Richards rest in peace.
Zell I am soo sorry for your loss. May Eion rest in peace
My deepest condolences to the family of Mr. Richard on his passing from this life. May he rest in peace, and rise in glory. May you find consolation in the cherished memories you created with him.
Our deepest condolences to the family during this difficult time. Our family’s thoughts & prayers are with you. Rest In Peace. 🙏🏾
“Reds” as l call him had a warm, quiet, kind personality, a welcoming smile and an easy laugh. I always admired and was amazed by his innovative ideas that he implemented in solving various issues. Like making ear phones in the 80’s for listening to the tv in bed without interrupting Zello or his many space saving storage solutions that he built in his kitchen. He was equally innovative in his software design such as the menu system for the first application we developed together in Guyana. We had many, many late nights and early mornings working and laughing together with wonderful discussions on various topics. I truly treasure those memories.
He was always willing and enthusiastic about helping in any way he can. I remember when my family moved into our new home in Toronto he and Zell drove from Ottawa to help while we were renovating.. I especially remember we all slept among boxes in our basement,
Gone too soon, my friend, Our sincere, heartfelt condolences to Zell, Gabby, Jason and his family. A gem is taken from us.
To a true gentleman and kind soul. Eion, you will be missed dearly.
My deepest condolences to Zybina and her family.
May Eion rest in peace.
Salome Fung
Ms. Z, Thank you for allowing me into your home to get to know your beautiful family; Eion was a humble and always very kind and welcoming, his love for you his Queen Zybina, Children (Gabby, Jason and Jess) and his grand babies was apparent in his proud smile while amongst you; to the extended family my deepest and most sincere condolences. I know he will be greatly missed and my heartaches for you all. May God give you peace and strength and may you find some comfort in all your memories. Eion May your soul Rest In Peace 🙏🏾
Words are failing me. When I came into the house the first time after I got the message that Eion left us, I kept waiting for him to emerge from the basement or the kitchen or the living room with his easy smile, saying “Hey Joyce!”, stressing the y in my name. Everywhere I look in the house, I remember when Eion would excitedly describe in detail the current home project he’s working on. I keep thinking about all the times I was there at odd hours, too early or too late, and Eion would be there with his smile and warm welcome as if it was normal for one of Zello’s daughters to be around at any time. For the few years I’ve known him, in comparison to his family and longer time friends, my heart is aching in a way I didn’t realize was possible. All I keep thinking is, “If my heart is aching so, how much more is everyone else’s who has even more memories with him? The people who were blessed with his presence in their lives longer?” I love how Eion loved singing and dancing, playing dominoes so passionately. There are not enough adjectives to describe what a wonderful human being he was. He might not be shining here with us on earth anymore, but I believe he is with the stars shining brightly in the sky. His light will never stop shining because it lit up so many others. We will all shine a bit brighter because of him. Sending you all, family and friends, love and light. May we have the patience to accept the pain that is in our hearts for this premature loss. I cannot list all the family members that I want to list, but to each of you, I love you very very much and I’m so sorry. Thank you for being the best family I could ask for.
I met Eion through his cousin Simone when I was a teenager. I will always remember his quiet personality, always with a smile and a kind word for his younger cousin and her friends.
My deepest sympathies to Zello and the rest of the family, especially Aunty Una and Uncle Michael.
May his soul rest in eternal peace.
If any bureaucracy is asked what I have lost here today it will consult its records and answer: a cousin. If any member of our family is asked what I’ve lost here today they will look in their hearts and tell you: a brother.
This was how we all grew: leaves stuck to the one tree rooted in the soil of old Thomas Street in Georgetown, Guyana.
I want to travel back now to our early childhood years there, when we dubbed you Danny Kaye for your shock of hair, the color of flax then; for your irrepressible high spirits; for the astonishing architecture of those extravagant ears. I used to imagine that if I hopped on your back while you flapped those ears in an updraft we would have such airborne adventures as would provoke the envy of Aladdin. Well, such are childhood fantasies, idle but lovely. All gone now.
Ah, Danny Kaye, you have taken quite a bit of laughter with you. But someday when the ones left behind are gathered around a kitchen table or counter, in a livingroom or a den, sharing our memories of you, incline your ear a little and you will hear the laughter that remains. Keep listening and over time you will hear that laughter grow fuller as the privilege of having known and loved you begins to erode the grief your absence has loaded us with. On behalf of Cales, Mike, Ray, and myself, fare thee well, Danny Kaye, our own bright spirit.
Nigel
Zybina, Gabriella, Jason and family: Our hearts are heavy thinking about you dealing with your tremendous loss. Eion was a loving and obviously caring husband, father and friend. Our deepest condolences.
Dear Zybina and family,
Our sincere condolences on your loss. We are thinking of you in the difficult time, and wishing you strength as you celebrate Eion’s life and mourn his death.
While we did not know him personally, he sure sounds like he was a very special person, which our staff, young moms and their babies all know Zybina (our PJ Elf & Youville Angel) is!
Lots of love from your Youville Centre family
I have been privileged to know “Reds” since in Guyana. It was always a happy experience when we were at work and when we were not. He was and still is one of the fantastic four.
Zello, my family and I sympathize with your loss.
I first met Eion (“Reds”) in the mid 1980’s at NDMA in Guyana. His great sense of humour coupled with his effervescent smile, always made our work days pleasant and enjoyable. Along with Tony and Jai, we spent many hours brainstorming which always resulted in very lively exchanges and on many occasions with Eion’s unique trend of thought being the focus of our discussion. These memories I will always cherish.
Zello, my family and I offer you and your family our deepest sympathy.
Words cannot describe the pain that I feel on the loss of my beloved cousin Eion. He was a gentle giant, a humble, quiet, kind and unselfish man. He loved unconditionally, and was dedicated to his family, sacrificing himself for their utmost wellbeing and happiness. I have fondest memories of Eion picking me up from my hotel, whenever I would travel to Ottawa for my job training, and taking me home to visit with him and his family. And he would proudly show me his latest home improvement project that he was working on every time.
Sincerest condolences to Zello, Jason, Gabriella, Jessica, Christopher and Alexander, his parents Aunt Una and Uncle Mike. May the memories of his beautiful life comfort and sustain you all as well as the extended family. Much love and prayers from Billy, Joseph, Courtney and I.
Zell,
My heartfelt sympathy to you and the rest of the family.
My deepest condolences to Zello and the entire family on the loss of your dear Eion. may the Divine Lord give you all the strength to cope with this irreplaceable loss and my heart is with all of you at this time
Our Brotherinlaw was a gentleman with a heart of gold.
A precious brotherinlaw was taken away from us suddenly leaving us with broken hearts but has now joined his fatherinlaw peacefully in heaven
Eion was a loving caring Son, soninlaw, brother and brotherinlaw.
He never uttered an unkind word to anyone but was always there to protect, and love everyone.
His smiling way and pleasant face are a pleasure to recall. He had a kind word for each and died beloved by all. Some day we will meet him, someday we know not when. to clasp his hand in a better land, Never to part again. Rest PEACEFULLY Eion.
Our deepest condolences to you Zello and all the Family . rest in Peace Eion .
Eion was a valued colleague and most importantly a friend of mine at ESDC.
I will always cherish our lunch times together and his sense of humour combined with his professionalism.
He will be missed.
My deepest condolences on his passing.
Zello, my condolences to you and your family for the loss of your husband Eion. May he rest in peace🙏🏽
Zello and family: we pray that Eion is now resting in peace and may he be granted paradise. We pray that at this difficult time, cherished memories will help you through the days ahead. Please, accept our deepest and sincere sympathy .
A great person he was, a wonderful colleague at ESDC. Always smiling and providing help to those who asked.
May his soul rest in peace.
Happy heavenly birthday wishes Eion! Hope you are the dancing with all the beautiful angels!
We miss you.
Loretta, Kaeli and Karyse