Obituary of Vernon Michael Chaves

Vernon Michael Chaves passed on the morning of Friday, December 29, 2023, while being cared for at the Hospice of Waterloo Region. 

Vernon is survived by his two children, Michael Chaves (Debbie Richards) and Debbie Chaves (Barry Reville) and four grandchildren: Alexander, Simon, Maia and Zoë. Vernon is predeceased by his wife Elizabeth (2022), his brothers Gerald and Desmond, and he is fondly remembered by his brother Leslie. 

Vernon was born in Georgetown, Guyana, on September 13, 1938, the third of four sons to Simon Victor Chaves and Ursula Evelyn Chaves (née Marques). Vernon immigrated to Canada in March of 1963, to a new country and his first sight of snow. He reunited with his love, Elizabeth Genevieve DeAbreu, and they married in October of the same year. Vernon was a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and worked for the Ontario government for 31 years primarily as the Director of Finance & Office Services for the Ministry of Government Services. He lived most of his life in Markham, Ontario and moved to Waterloo, Ontario in 2015. A devoted member of the Catholic Church, he was a long-standing member of the Knights of Columbus. Vernon’s hobbies included reading historical and political non-fiction, golfing, and watching sports.

As a father, Vernon spent much of his time in arenas supporting Michael as manager of his hockey team, and both Michael and Debbie through the Markham and Unionville Figure Skating Clubs. He drove both of his children to swim meets throughout Ontario on Saturday mornings. A proud grandfather to his four grandchildren, Vernon dedicated his time to taking them to the pool and sharing his favourite delicacies with them: fried plantain and Tim Hortons’ lunches. 

Visitation will be held at Our Lady of Lourdes RC Church, 173 Lourdes St., Waterloo, on Saturday, January 6, 2024, from 3:00 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. The funeral mass will immediately follow in the sanctuary of the church at 4:00 p.m., with Father Rafal Tomon officiating. A spring interment will be held at Holy Cross Cemetery, Thornhill.

In lieu of flowers, condolences for the family and donations to Hospice Waterloo Region or the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health may be arranged through the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King Street S. Waterloo at www.erbgood.com .