Darrell loved life and lived it.
He was a diplomat in the Canadian Foreign Service posted in Canadian Embassies in Rome and Tel Aviv, and was an executive civil servant in the Canadian Federal Immigration Department, assigned to offices in Buffalo, Ottawa, and Halifax. He served in the Canadian Naval Officer Training Program through the University Naval Training Division (UNTD), and on the boards of several charitable organizations.
Darrell was a gentleman; warm, caring, funny, and intelligent, with an infectious spirit. He was a bright light wherever he went. He was a world traveler with a map collection to rival Rand McNally; a story teller, a reader, a conversationalist, a linguist. He was an avid historian, a collector, a connector, a lover of cats, of hats, of politics, and debate. His pockets were never without treats for any dog that came his way, or without a crossword puzzle to enjoy over coffee with friends. He was a lifelong learner, an alumnus of Mount Allison University, a mentor, a music lover with eclectic taste always on the lookout for CD’s, having chosen not to embrace Spotify. He was a professional tour guide for Road Scholar, provincial travel media programs, and community events. He loved to talk about the time when he guided a tour of Dublin without ever having been there. He acted in plays and musicals all his life, was a professional actor in films, a member of Theatre St. Thomas for over 25 years (first joining them when they were looking for an ‘old guy’ to play a particular role), and was in the process of learning how to play the ukulele for an upcoming theatrical performance.
Darrell’s family was his joy. His most cherished roles were that of proud father to his two children, Alison Cavell and Michael Ryan (Rachelle); devoted Grampy to Lily Fae; caring brother to Michael (Mary), Peter (Naoko), Susan, and Shawn (Angie); loving uncle, and friend.
We loved him and we will miss him.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Modern Celebrations and Cremations. There will be a celebration of Life on Sunday, July 24 at Kingswood Lodge from 2-5 p.m. Please join us as we gather to share stories of Darrell’s life and adventures. Light refreshments will be served. Memorial donations may be made to the Arthritis Society, Local Area Food Banks, Homeless Shelters, Heart & Stroke Foundation, or the Black Box Theatre company at UNB.
Hal Henderson says
Our deepest sympathy to your family. I remember Darrell fondly, growing up with him in Sackville. Our many years at Sackville High School and Mount Allison University. He was a great friend.
Sharon and Harry Wood says
To the Mesheau family we send our sympathy Treasure all of the good memories and may they give you comfort each day
Jordan Trethewey says
Darrell was a great human, and a great friend. I will miss him.
-Jordan Trethewey
Betty Estabrooks says
Sincere condolences to the Mesheau family. I know he will be dearly missed by his family, friends and all who knew hin. Darrell looks so happy with his family and grandchildren. Thoughts and prayers are with you all at this very difficult time.
Rick DesBrisay says
Darrell was a terrific guy. I will miss him at our class reunions
Richard Alanthwaite says
It is with great sadness that I learn of Darrell’s passing. I have hoped to return to New Brunswick this Summer (unlikely now with the harsh Covid restrictions in place here in Hong Kong) and one of the first people with whom I desired to connect was Darrell. He will never be forgotten as a mentor and friend.
Lynn leBlanc says
My sincere condolences
Marilynn says
Dear Susan;
Darrell left this earth far to early. His legacy is one of kindness and joy.
I share in your sadness and my deepest sympathies go out to you and your family.
Sharon estabrooks says
Remember darrell from school so smart his handwriting was so beautiful he will be missed.
Town of Sackville says
Shawn, Angie and the entire Mesheau Family,
We wish you peace and comfort as you mourn the loss of Darrell. Our sincere condolences to you all during this time.
Council and Staff of the Town of Sackville
Brigette kenny and family says
What a great life well lived. Cherish the memories. My condolences to the whole family.
Deborah says
My sincere condolences to the Mesheau family. Such a tragic loss.
Larry and Rhonda Broad says
Our deepest sympathy to the entire Mesheau family. Darrell always spoke glowingly about all of you. He looked forward to a summer full of visits with family and friends and he will be there in spirit.
We will all miss this wise and wonderful friend who brightened our lives with his caring spirit and entertaining stories.
Rest In Peace Darrell.
Larry and Rhonda Broad
Brenda Allain says
Sooo Sorry for your loss. heartbreaking to know he passed in a hospital waiting room Rip
Allain Family
Rothesay N.B.
Jeff Hoyt and Family says
Very sorry for your loss. My deepest condolences to the family. Lots of fabulous memories.
Chantal & Gaetan says
Our deepest sympathy to Ryan and Rachelle and the Mesheau family. Xx
Ruth Mitchell ) Banks says
Without further a due ,I am sending sympathies to all our Mesheau Family, the loss of a brother ,father and our handsome cuz ,.Love Ruthie Mitchell xo
Barbara Vogan says
I was very sorry to hear of Darrell’s passing. My condolences to his family especially Allison and Ryan. Darrell was a neighbour for many years and later we spent some time with him working on a political campaign. Darrell was a wise, kind man with a twinkle in his eye. In the last campaign that I worked on we lost and Darrell did his best to console me and others. We have lost a special man.
June kerry says
Dear Mesheau family,
My sincerest of sympathies to everyone . Darrell was a kind and caring man who brought joy to the hearts of all who knew him. We will miss him dearly and keep him close in our hearts with warm memories.
Rest In Peace my dear..
June ❤️
Blair, Marilyn MacDonald & Family says
We are so sorry for you’re loss. You’re all in our thoughts and prayers.
Blair, Marilyn MacDonald & Family
Dan Murray says
To Susan and Mesheau family I send my deepest condolences. I had the great pleasure to meet Darrell at the Fredericton YMCA. We would chat every time we saw each other, with Darrell always having keen insights and a great sense of humour .
John Barlow says
Quite the fella. He was, I believe, a universally liked and respected man. I’m so happy that I got to know him. Gonna be missed.
Elizabeth Cooney says
Peace to his loving family
He had such an incredible sense of humour… gifted in so many ways
A true gentleman, kind and honourable
I will miss his double entendres, his laugh and his sharp wit
I thought he would live forever…
Blessings to all.
martha symes says
we are sorry for your loss, our condolences to the family, sending prayers
Dino Smiljic says
Sincerest condolences to Darryl’s tribe. Fondest memory: having Darryl and his son and daughter in law for dinner at my apartment in Ottawa some time ago. Of all the gatherings of friends there, (some very boisterous,) I recall that night,”four of us at the dinner table, a knock on the door from security, first time ever, telling us to “keep it down,” after a neighbor complained. It was just before 9pm. Darryl’s peels of laughter became even louder the rest of the night. Sorry, neighbor!
Edith Robichaud says
Peter and family, I have very fond memories of Darrell visiting the office. He always had a very nice smile and had a way to make me laugh. Every time I saw him around Fredericton we always had a very nice chat. So sorry for your loss.
Diane Blizzard(Saulnier) says
My thoughts and prayers go out to the family, I never met Darrell but heard so many wonderful things about him from my daughter Lori,
Diane Blizzard
Darlene Emma Mitchell says
Deepest sympathy from the family of the late Cecil Mitchell (cousin) Linda, Jeff and Darlene
Jenn Rivenbark says
Alison I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts are with you and your family.
Jenn Rivenbark
Cheryl Robertson says
Dear Mike and family,
My sincere sympathy to you as you deal with your brother’s passing. I only talked to Darrell a few times at the Y and the Monday night films, but the Mesheau wit, creativity, and curiosity for life was clearly evident. His wonderful tribute reveals a full and rewarding life. Please take care. ❤️
Cheryl Robertson
June kerry says
Dear Mesheau family,
My sincerest of sympathies to everyone . Darrell was a kind and caring man who brought joy to the hearts of all who knew him. We will miss him dearly and keep him close in our hearts with warm memories.
Rest In Peace my dear..
June ❤️
Patricia Murphy says
My heart is breaking over this. The world has lost a very special person and I am so glad that our paths crossed a few times over the years. Wish so much that we could have gotten together again. My greatest sympathy to all of his family. Such a great loss but how lucky you were to have had him all those years.
Sylvia Morice says
My deepest condolences and sympathy to Darrell’s family and friends. I will truly miss spending time with him in the summers when he was visiting at Hicks Beach. I will miss our great chats about anything and everything, and will always remember him as the gentleman he was. RIP Darrell.
Don Ayer says
My deepest condolences to Alison, Ryan and the whole Mesheau family. Darell‘s passing is such a loss for all of us.
Sitting with Darrell, listening to his voice and gentle laugh was always a highlight of my trips to the Maritimes. I will miss him very much.
Marc Leclerc says
Our most sincere sympathies to you Ryan as well as your whole family. Our thoughts from our family to yours through these difficult times. We love you very much! Marc, Josée, Nathaniel and Juliet xox
Geraldine Poirier Baiani says
Our deepest sympathies to the whole Mesheau family. Ben and Geraldine
Don Nelson says
I met Darrell through Sackville friends at Mt A many years ago. I still remember the many funny times we had together. My wife and I also enjoyed his visits throughout the years when he was visiting Sackville. Our sincere condolences to all his family. He will be greatly missed.
Carine AB says
My deepest condolences and sympathy to Darrell’s family and friends.
I was very lucky to met him.
Bev Loker-French says
Mike, Mary & Families, we are saddened to hear this. What an accomplished life your brother had. Many memories to share, we are sure.
Bev and Doug French
Anne Hull says
My condolences to the Family we have all lost a wonderful friend.
Patricia Chiasson says
My deepest sympathies to all the all the family during this difficult time, what a tragic loss, gone too soon, he sure loved life and you will be missed by many who had the pleasure of meeting you. I had the gift of working as your secretary for many years, truly a wonderful man, you will be missed💖
Alan Brown says
Our heartfelt condolences for the entire Mesheau family. Family meant so much to Darrell. He always kept in touch and we appreciated the effort he made to drop in whenever he was travelling through. We made memories and shared so many good tines. He will be missed. Our thoughts are with you all.
Audrey Wortman says
Sending heart felt condolences to family.
Kevin Simmonds says
Condolences to the whole family. I worked with Darrell when we did tours for the Department of Tourism and showed off our great province and what it has to offer. There was not once when he visited Saint Andrews that he didn’t track me down and we chatted. I am going to miss those chats. He was a gentle soul and always had a smile on his face which was infectious. May your many memories help guide you through this difficult time.
Graham Colville says
I will miss our Facebook chats about Sackville people and history. His sudden passing was a great shock. My condolences to his family.
Linda Chavarie - Mitchell says
Dear Mesheau Family,
Our deepest sympathy on the passing of Darrell. May time heal your hearts and remind you of all the fond memories each of you have of him.
Love from that Mitchell’s big brown house in South Branch.
Douglas smith says
Lynne and I would like to offer our Condolences to Allison, Ryan and the extended family on Darrell’s passing. I am a Mt A classmate (65) of Darrell. I met him in the early 60’s and became friends with him and the Sackville cohort. We had many good times together before graduation. We kept in touch after that with a few visits, Class Reunions and Social media. There were many great discussions at the Reunions.
Unfortunately, we are not able to attend the Celebration of Life this afternoon. There is much to Celebrate. I am sure that there are mand great memories.
Doug
Gordon, Mary (Black) & Karen Morton says
To Susan, Shawn, Peter, Michael & Darrell’s Family,
We are so sorry to hear of Darrell sudden passing – much too soon. He certainly lived life to the fullest – so many great accomplishments achieved during his working career & during his retirement/volunteer activities in later years. In spite of all his great achievements, there is no doubt that family members & friends were his most cherished possessions throughout his busy and well lived lifetime.
Sorry we were unable to join with you for Darrell’s Celebration but we are thinking of you with love & prayers that God will Bless you & all of Darrell’s family & friends with many fond memories of happier times to help ease the pain of sadness during these difficult days and give you comfort in the future as you continue on life’s journey without your loved one.
I (Mary) have many fond memories of seeing Harvey, Bubs & the family at Grammy Ethel Mesheau Beers’ home in South Branch in my younger years, I think Ethel was a niece of my great grandmother Mitchell. I enjoyed seeing Susan, Peter & Shawn at Joe Warren’s funeral, I would have enjoyed a longer chat to get for info for the Black/Warren/Mitchell family tree.
Who would have thought that day that Darrell would be joining Joe so soon.
With sincere sympathy from all,
Gordon, Mary (Black) & Karen Morton, Riverview, NB
Deborah Judah says
Mamma mia! And I start that way because I am sure he would have approved. Mamma mia what a wonderful man Darrell was and may his spirit and memory live on in his siblings, children and grandchildren. I certainly have fond memories of him, especially his laughter.
Thinking of you all who loved him so dearly.
Plenty love from Italy.
Deborah Judah
Judy Smith (Fisher) says
My sincere condolences to Darrell’s family on your loss. I will miss the Facebook repartee with my pen friend of 70 years. We have never lost contact for very long, from when I was a 9 year old in New Zealand to a 77 year old in Australia, with only 2 days “face to face” in Rome in 1969. RIP, my pen friend.
Edith Carroll says
Condolences for the family. 🙏🙏
Sending thoughts and prayers.
Darrell organized the first Beaver group in New Maryland for the 5 year old boys. We all worked at making it successful.
I have a round rock that Ryan gave me. When I told Darrell about it many years later, he was so pleased.
Kay Owens says
I met Darrell at The Arthritis Society when he was on the Board. He was always cheerful, supportive and kind. A real gentleman. My condolences to
all his family. May your memories help bring you peace at this sad time!
Eleanor Scott (Walker) says
Met Darrell last year after moving to Fredericton. It was as if we had never lost contact after High school and Mt A. He was behind me but our families had always been friends. When I was in Nfld he looked me up when his boat was in port and we toured St John’s together that evening. Sorry to miss the celebration but currently in isolation. Sympathy to all the family.
Judy & John Coates says
Our condolences to Darrell’s family and his close friends. We knew Darrell from living in our neighbourhood before his move to Queen St, through seeing him in plays at St Thomas where we also worked, and mostly via our mutual Wilmot United Church involvement. His obituary write up was a real tribute to him – what enjoyment in life he seemed to always have -living fully, sincerely and with respect for diversity & humanity. May we honour him by trying to live as he did.
Robert (Bob) Warren says
So sorry to learn of Darrell’s death. His obituary shows a life well lived and we send our condolences to all the Mesheau family.
Bobby and Dianne Warren