January 16, 1921 – December 23, 2013
Michael was born in Zalaniw, Ukraine. His early life was shaped by tremendous personal hardship and geopolitical tumult, having started from the humblest of beginnings and having to survive under both Stalin and Hitler.
Education was essential to Michael. Imagine a cold, dark and snowy Ukrainian winter morning. A lone young village boy, wearing shoddy shoes, walks to school six kilometers away. He arrives at 3am because he does not have a clock at home. Overcoming all challenges Michael eventually graduated with a Forestry Degree from the University of Freiburg in Germany.
Immigrating to Canada in 1949 Michael earned his Canadian Forestry Degree from the University of Toronto. In Toronto he met his beloved wife Olga. Coming to Victoria in 1952 he worked in the Survey Division of the BC Forest Service and with the City of Victoria as Boulevard Supervisor. In addition to his regular job, Michael and family established an 85 hive apiary producing honey under the “Island’s Finest” brand. He owned, managed and maintained several of rental real estate properties.
Michael was deeply attached to nature. He enjoyed collecting books, music and local art. When possible he would attend art galleries, live stage and musical performances, auctions and flea markets. He read widely and experienced music with his heart. Michael had a genuine zest for life and somehow found time to experience it fully and on his own terms. He was delighted to meet and talk with people of all ages and callings. His greatest source of pride and pleasure, however, was his family. With love we lived together.
Michael never forgot his Ukrainian roots even as he cherished Canada for its freedom and justice.
Predeceased by his son Dennis in 1976, Michael is survived by his wife of 62 years Olga; his children Jerome and wife Kannika, and Peter (Jackie); his grandchildren Nick (Stephanie), Natalie and Tony.
Our family’s indebtedness to all Beacon Community Workers including Guido, Gaspar, Bill, Benoit, Oliver, Pip and Binder; Drs. Luckhurst, Zhang, Rohan, Leroy, Erasmus and McQueen; Community Health Nurse Andrea Hofmeyer; Pharmacist Lesley Blackman; Terence Sellen and the many others who made it possible for Michael to comfortably live and peacefully die at home.
PRAYERS will be offered on Thursday January 2, 2014 at 7:00pm at the Ukrainian Catholic Church of St. Nicholas The Wonderworker, Cook and Caledonia. MASS will be celebrated in the Church on Friday January 3, 2014 at 11:00am with the Reverend Theodosius Machinski Celebrant. A reception to follow in the church hall. Burial at the Royal Oak Burial Park.
In lieu of flowers, your prayers would be most appreciated.
Condolences for the family may be offered to the family below.
McCall bros. Funeral Home
www.mccallbros.com
23 Responses
Dear Olga, Peter, unfortunately, I did not know Michael for a long time. But those few meetings with him made me sure that I met great Person, great Father and great Ukrainian in Canada. His attitude, his kindness and his attention were so sincere and helpful. I will never forget Michael.
Olga, Jerome and Peter;
I will miss Mike.
Growing up with the Zachary family in my younger years still brings many happy thoughts of playing with Jerome in the back yard pretending to hunt bears and cougars with our home made bows and arrows.
Mike, thank you for always keeping an eye on us to make sure we were not doing anything to too silly or getting hurt!
I will miss Mike as I miss those younger years long ago.
Always your friend,
John
Dear Olga & family,
My heartfelt condolences on the loss of your wonderful husband & Father.
He was a gentleman of the old school, and he had a great love for people.
He did have a good long life, and left you with so many wonderful memories, as well as his good traits.
Sincerely,
Tove.
As a fellow worker with Mike, I have o a lot of fond memories, too many to recount in this way. He is remembered!
Dearest Olga, Peter and Family
I think of times spent with Olga, Michael and Peter and I smile. I remember the manner in which Mike laughed – it was a fullbodied laugh and it was contagious. Mike liked to laugh. And so does Olga and sometimes she would dance with me as well as laugh. Olga is extremely special !
Mike and Olga have experienced such a unique and challenging life together. I treasured the times that they would share parts of that remarkable, fascinating life experience with me. An extraordinary life lived in extraordinary ways!
Then there was the food. Ahhh the food. The generosity of the hospitality knew no bounds and nor did my stomach. A feast magically appearing every time. We all ate well while Olga served and met everyones needs especially Michaels. Did I mention that Olga is extremely special?
And she chose a special man to make a special family. Mike was hard working to the extreme and he was intelligent – very intelligent. A man of many talents and interests but everybody that knew Mike knows that.
And as obviously as they overcame much in their early lives they did so later in life as well. I am sorry for the loss and grief and sadness they had to bare with the untimely death of their son Dennis. In the same way I am sorry that the Zachary must experience deep grief once again.
Memories, there are lots of them. I remember Mike always teasing Peter about not being married and he would tease me in the same way and then just shake his head at us in incomprehensible disbelief. Family was everything to Mike. Family is everything to Olga. The complete love and devotion that Olga and Peter showed towards Mike I think is best exemplified by the manner in which they took care of Mike right up to the end of his physical life.
The Zachary’s are an exceptional family and Mike was an exceptional man (and I truly mean that). When I think of Michael I smile.
God Bless you Michael. You will be missed, and remembered.
Dear Teta Olya, Peter, Jerome and family:
On behalf of myself and my husband, Dale, we would like to pass on our sincere condolences and would like you all to know that our thoughts and prayers are with you during this time. Although we only had a few opportunities over the years to spend time in Victoria, each visit was full of fond of memories. Uncle Michael matained an incredibly positive attitude despite his hardships earlier in life. He was always smiling and would light up any room he was in.
During our last visit to Victoria when I was working in California, I spoke to him about a very important career decision ahead of me. At the time I was feeling discouraged and felt like giving up. Michael took the time to listen and helped me approach my situation with a different attitude. He gave me the courage to move forward in a more positive direction. Although it was a small gesture on his part, it meant a great deal to me in the end and it showed me how great his love was for his extended family.
Uncle Michael was a very wise man and extremely dedicated to his immediate family. He was proud of his achievements which, given his humble beginnings, are truly remarkable and inspiring. Although he is no longer with us here physically, the memories we have of him will live on for generations.
Vichnaya Pamyat.
Melania and Dale Wilcox
What a lovely man, to have walked on this earth and enriched the lives of so many relatives, neighbours, visitors, and strangers. You were not a stranger to Michael for any more than a minute. He had such a huge heart. And such intelligence to go with it. But always humble, generous, grateful. Our lives were better for having known him, whether briefly or for a lifetime.
I have been privileged to know Mr. Zachary and family for many years now and fondly recall chats and dinner at Somass. Always ” Mr. Zachary” to us despite his insistence that it he be called Mike. He invariably had a knowing gleam in his eyes and an irrepressible grin. Truly a great patriarch and those of us who met Mr. Zachary through Peter became welcomed guests and were made to feel part of the family.
Dearest Aunt Olga, Peter, Jackie, Jeremy, Kannika, Nick, Natalie and Tony
Please accept my deepest condolences on the passing of your beloved husband, father, and grandfather, Michael Zachary. Uncle Michael was a happy and very sociable man, always ready wth a genuine smile, welcoming heart and open arms. He wanted everyone to share in the wonderful life which he enjoyed in Victoria. Each time I visited he tried to convince me to move to Victoria because as he proclaimed “the air is cleaner and you will live longer!”
MIchael had so many interests and passions and experienced great joy in hunting for treasures. He was very proud of his collection of Canadian art and rare books and was happy t that he could pass on something of value to his sons Peter and Jeremy, and to his grandchildren.
In spite of his success, Michael was a humble man, who knew that life ‘s greatest wealth lies not in owning fashionable clothes and fancy cars but in having a family to love. During my last visit he confided ” I am a very lucky man indeed because I have the best wife in the world, Olga, who I love dearly!”
I was privileged to have known Michael and to have been touched by his love.
Oksana Shabotynsky (Toronto).
Dear Olga, Jerome, Peter and family:
We want to let you know how sorry we are for your loss. Mike was a wonderful man and he was very fortunate to have a very close and loving family.
When we think of Mike, we think of a man who was both intensely kind, independent and devoted. He made a life worthy of his gifts and worthy of his love for all of you. Even while giving you all room to be who you are, Mike was a rock, an anchor. The anchor survives his mortal life.
It is well to celebrate his life, but it is also right to grieve his passing. We do both with you.
Respectfully,
The Falzon family