Browse the obituary of residing in the province of Nouveau-Brunswick for funeral details
Darryl Nicholas
1942-2025
With his loving wife at his side, Darryl Joseph Nicholas, 83, of
Nekwətkok, NB, died at the Upper River Valley Hospital
(Waterville) on May 20, 2025.
Darryl was born in the Tobique First Nation (Nekwətkok) in 1942
to Pauline Saulis and Andrew Nicholas Sr.. He was the fifth born child
of ten and was also known as Wewey, short for Nanewey (or fifth born).
Darryl was raised in the Wəlastəkwey language and culture.
He spent much of his youth fishing, canoeing, hunting, doing odd jobs
for elders, working with basket-making families, and playing baseball
and hockey. He attended school on the reserve and participated in Boy
Scouts. His father worked as a mason and his mother served several
terms as a councillor. With his grandfather also serving as chief for
many years, Darryl was steeped in politics and activism for most of
his youth.
Later he attended St. Thomas High School and College in Chatham, NB,
graduating with a BA (1964), and later earning a BEd (1967) and an
Immersion Teacher Training Certificate (2002) from St. Thomas in
Fredericton. He also attended the Coady International Institute in
Antigonish, N.S., and the Canadian Indian Youth Council summer program
in Winnipeg.
Darryl met Andrea Bear, the love of his life, in 1966, and they
married in November of the same year at Nekwətkok.
Darryl was predeceased by his parents Pauline and Andrew Sr.; brothers
Andrew Nicholas Jr., Dennis Nicholas, and Allison Nicholas; and sister
Elain Paine. He is survived by his wife Andrea; brothers Barry
Nicholas, Graydon Nicholas and Timmy Nicholas; sisters Doreen Parish
and Freda Jividen; children Janna Nicholas of Nekwətkok, N.B.,
Lea Nicholas-MacKenzie (Rick MacKenzie) of North Vancouver, B.C., Meko
Nicholas (Wanda Black) of Upper Kingsclear, N.B.; and eight
grandchildren.
Darryl was a well-respected educator and language teacher, counsellor
and advocate. He was passionate about working for his people and he
served many First Nation communities, particularly in New Brunswick
and Alberta. He led projects to design and build new schools on
reserve, including at Nekwətkok. He worked for the Union of New
Brunswick Indians and TRIBE Inc., served as a band councillor in
Nekwətkok, and also as a counselor for troubled youth. As a
fluent speaker of his language, for 22 years starting in 1994, he did
what he considered to be his most important life’s work —
teaching Wəlastəkwey for St. Thomas University. Over the
years he also taught his language in several Wəlastəkwey
communities, served as the primary teacher in the adult language
program at St. Mary’s, edited stories in Wəlastəkwey and
translated community histories from English to Wəlastəkwey.
His first stroke in the fall of 2016 slowed him a bit, but he carried
on supporting new teachers in the St. Mary’s program and
developing curriculum until the spring of 2017.
Darryl and Andrea travelled widely visiting family and friends on both
sides of the border, and attending conferences and meetings in support
of Indigenous language protection and preservation nationally and
internationally. He was an avid golfer, canoeist and gardener, and
loved to pick sweetgrass, medicines, fiddleheads and berries. Darryl
will always be remembered for his stories and being the funniest guy
in the room. For at least 25 years, Darryl was an active member of AA,
seeking out meetings wherever he went, and supporting fellow
members.
The family wishes to thank the doctors, nurses and care staff
(particularly the Nekwətkok Health Programs and Services team)
who took such good care of Darryl.
A celebration of life will take place at the Paul Pyres Centre in
Nekwətkok on July 5, 2025, from 1-4 PM.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Adult Language Program at St.
Mary’s via GoFundMe, would be greatly appreciated by the family.
Donations can be made at this link: gofund.me/70b358a8
Arrangements have been entrusted to Brunswick Funeral Home,
Perth-Andover, NB.
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19422025
Death notice for the town of: Perth-Andover, Province: Nouveau-Brunswick
death notice Darryl Nicholas 19422025
obituaries notice Darryl Nicholas 19422025
We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Darryl Nicholas 19422025 and hope that their memory may be a source of comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughts and kind words are greatly appreciated.
