TYRRELL, James Robert Q.C.

“Veritas Via Vitae”

November 3, 1922 - November 23, 2018

Do not stand by my grave and weep;

I am not there.

I am with the wind and the earth and the sea;

I am back with nature - I am all around you.

It is with great sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of James R. Tyrrell in his 97th year at St. Joseph’s Lifecare in Brantford on Friday, November 23, 2018. As a devoted father, mentor, and leader to many, he will be dearly missed by family, friends and colleagues. Predeceased by his loving wife Sylvia Mary Tyrrell (nee Shackell) and his devoted companion Marjorie Stapleton of Hamilton, Jim is survived by his son Brian of Killaloe (Genevieve) and his daughter Janet of Brantford (Randy Johnson). He will be fondly remembered by his grandchildren Meghan Cameron, Agnes Joy and May Grace. He was predeceased by his father Lt. Col. J.R.J. Tyrrell, I.M.S., CIE, his mother Doris Tyrrell, and his sister Mary (Maryam Abdullah) of England. Jim was born in 1922 in Indore, central India and educated in India, England and Ireland. After serving 5 years with the R.A.F. as an observer in WWII on a tour with Transport Command Dorval, he finished his education at Trinity College, University of Toronto and Osgoode Hall Law School. He practiced law briefly in Toronto with the firm Day, Wilson, Campbell, and then moved to Simcoe and continued to practice law from 1955 to 1991 with the law firm of Brimage, Tyrrell, Van Severen and Hominiuk. Jim was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1970 and was awarded the Law Society of Upper Canada Bicentennial Award of Merit for public service in 1997. Outside of his career, Jim was deeply involved in community activities in Norfolk County including the Haldimand-Norfolk District Health Council, the Lynnwod Arts Centre, the Eva Brook Donly Museum, the Norfolk Information Centre, the Trinity Anglican Church Board of management and he also served as a member of the Simcoe Kinsmen and Rotary Clubs. In his retirement he lived at the Meadowlands Retirement Home in Ancaster and was a member of St. Stephen-on-the-Mount Anglican Church in Hamilton, the Royal Botanical Gardens and was a strong supporter of the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra. He will be remembered as a gracious person who always helped family and friends, an avid gardener who grew magnificent roses and a man of great integrity with a strong sense of justice who made significant contributions to the welfare and rights of others. His wisdom, wit and kind heart will be missed dearly by his family and all who knew him. A special thank you to the compassionate care workers at St. Joseph’s Lifecare in Brantford. Cremation has taken place and ashes will be buried at Oakwood Cemetery in Simcoe. A memorial service will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donate to a charity of one’s choice. Condolences can be sent to M.A. Clark & Sons Funeral Home, 567 Upper Wellington St., Hamilton ON.