William Vorvis
1927-2022
William (Basilios) Vorvis, BA, LLB,
QC
May 19, 1927 – April 17, 2022
Father, devoted husband, “papou”, chorister,
angler, amateur chef, Archon (Maestor) of the Ecumenical Patriarchate,
lawyer, tennis player and friend – affectionally known as
“Bill” but also as “Vasili” and sometimes even
“Liam” – passed away under the attentive care of
the staff of the Guelph General Hospital.
Born and lived his life in Guelph, his parents emigrated to
Canada from Sparta, Greece. Called to the Bar in 1951, he
was one of the first Ontario lawyers of Hellenic descent. The Law
Society of Ontario helped him obtain his employment as a young lawyer.
Never forgetting this start to his career, he hired numerous
students-at-law of diverse ethnic backgrounds before the concept of
diversity in the workplace became in vogue. Loving his work as a
solicitor, Bill happily practised law well into his late
80’s.
Bill also contributed, often in leadership roles, to a wide
range of community, multi-ethnic, political, religious and fraternal
organizations. Sundays were church days, requiring a road trip
out-of-town to the nearest Orthodox Church, in Hamilton and Waterloo.
Bill faithfully exercised his calling to serve the church, frequently
staying very late after Liturgy to provide legal counsel to the church
communities of St. Demetrios, Dormition of the Theotokos and Sts.
Peter & Paul, while Helen occupied their three impatient and
boisterous boys.
The centre of Bill’s life was family and friends.
For six decades and until the end of his life, he resided in his
beloved family home in Guelph’s St. George’s Park
neighborhood. The door was always open at Parkholme and it was here
that welcome visitors would experience Bill’s
“one-of-a-kind” character. Entering the house, you might be
recruited to sing the missing tenor part in a barbershop quartet,
handed a ladle to assist with the gravy for the roast, served a
post-tennis Harvey Wallbanger (for vitamin C) or pulled into a Greek
circle dance at Pascha. Because “Prota O
Theos” ruled the day, spontaneity was his approach to
life as ultimately life was in God’s hands. It was thus not
unusual for spur-of-the-moment travel to Greece, joining a tour to
Listowel Ireland, packing the car for a road-trip to Florida or
fishing in the Miramichi – in both New Brunswick and
Southampton.
Predeceased by Helen – his beloved spouse of 57
years, his parents Paul and Elaine, and siblings Betty, Jack, Georgina
and Marylou. Survived by his three sons Paul (Mary), Stephen and Peter
(Ann), his grandchildren Elena, Peter and James, and many nephews and
nieces. The family would like to thank the physicians,
nurses and staff of the Guelph General Hospital for their
compassionate care of Bill.
Aιώνια
η
μνήμη.
Friends may call at the GILCHRISTCHAPEL –
McIntyre & Wilkie Funeral Home, One Delhi Street,
Guelphon Monday, April 25, 2022, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to
9 pm. A funeral service will take place on Tuesday,
April 26 at 11:00 am at Sts. Peter & Paul Greek
Orthodox Church,527
Bridgeport Road East, Kitchener.
Friends and family are kindly requested to wear masks at the Funeral
Home and at the Church. Interment and reception to follow.
Memorial contributions to the Guelph General Hospital, St.
George’s Greek Orthodox Church (Guelph), Sts. Peter
& Paul Greek Orthodox Church (Kitchener), Harmonize for Speech
or the charity of your choice would be appreciated.
We invite you to leave your memories and donations online
at: www.gilchristchapel.com
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of William Vorvis 19272022..
Death notice for the town of: Guelph, Province: Ontario