Obituary of Paul Zacharias

ZACHARIAS, Rev. Paul Bernard with his family by his side, entered the spiritual world on Sunday morning December 18, at the age of 85, from complications following heart surgery. Beloved husband and best friend for 60 years of Pat. Devoted father of Jeanmarie Petrie (Paul), Joy Ernest (Paul) and Matthew Zacharias. Dear grandfather to Katie Bertram (Al), Jon and Anne Czudyjowycz, and great-grandpa to Oliver and Simon Bertram. He is also survived by sisters Marion Hoeck and Laura Simpson, and brothers Eric Zacharias and Clifford Zacharias (Beverly). Predeceased by brother Henry and parents Mary and John Zacharias. Paul was born on April 16, 1926 in the small town of Herbert, Sask. Throughout his life the memories of those early years on the prairies held a very special place in his heart. He became an ordained minister in the Swedenborgian church (like his father and brother) in 1956 and served as the pastor for parishes in Elmwood, Mass., and Portland, Oregon, before moving to Kitchener in 1963. Paul ministered to the congregation of the Church of the Good Shepherd until retirement and continued his dedication to the church community as minister emeritus until his passing. He was active in the early years in the Ministerial Association of K-W. He helped start the Volunteer Service Bureau, the ecumenical worship service for Oktoberfest, and the ministers' Curling Club. In later years he volunteered as a driver for the Raise Program. The two most important things to Paul were his family and his church. Family times were especially precious to him, and one of the things he enjoyed the most was a good game of bid-euchre. He touched countless lives with his generous and warm, loving spirit. Paul was a wonderful example to us all of how life should be lived, and he accepted his death with dignity, grace and even a sense of humour, knowing that the best is yet to come. A celebration of Paul's life will be held at the Church of the Good Shepherd on Saturday December 31, 2011 at 1:00 PM with reception to immediately follow at the church. As an expression of sympathy donations can be made to the Church of the Good Shepherd, 116 Queen St. N Kitchener Ontario N2H 2H7 and may be arranged through the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home 171 King St. S., Waterloo www.erbgood.com or 519-745-8445.