BY CLAIRE BROWNELL, THE WINDSOR STAR DECEMBER 28, 2011

WINDSOR, Ont. -- It's a bittersweet irony for the family of Darrell Ellwood, who died on Christmas Day from a cancer that may have been related to a life spent fighting fires.

The career-long health and safety advocate was diagnosed with multiple myeloma just over two years ago, a bone marrow plasma cell cancer that firefighters are at a higher risk of contracting. On Friday, he'll miss dancing with his daughter at her wedding.

But as his family sat around the dining room table in their Riverside home remembering his life, there were just as many belly laughs as tears. They said Darrell had a long career doing what he loved and they couldn't imagine it any other way.

"If you would have told him 30 years ago, if you become a firefighter, you're going to die when you're 50, he would have still become a firefighter," said his wife, Kelly Ellwood. "No doubt in my mind."

Darrell grew up in Windsor chasing fire trucks down the street and watching his uncle, a volunteer firefighter in Tecumseh, pull on his big boots and rush off to calls. His parents always said that when they couldn't find him, they'd call the firehall.

Darrell's family moved to Kingsville when he was in Grade 8. He married Kelly when he was 18 and got a job at the GM plant while working as a volunteer firefighter.

For years, the Ellwoods lived in an apartment above the old Kingsville firehall, with Kelly working as a dispatcher.

Their three children, now aged 31, 29 and 27, remember rolling up hoses, playing on trucks and running around the hall getting their footed pyjamas dirty.

For a long time, residency and height requirements kept five foot six Darrell out of the Windsor fire department. But those requirements changed and he finally got in two days after being permanently laid off from his job at GM in 1993, to his and Kelly's relief.

Almost immediately, Darrell got involved with health and safety committees and soon became active in the Windsor Professional Firefighters Association. In 2002, he was elected to the executive and served as secretary until 2008.

Association president Ed Dickson recalled the transformation of the office after Darrell was tasked with organizing it. "I can remember coming in one morning and seeing the place spick and span, everything in its place and a place for everything. No sooner would you ask Darrell for a file and the name just got out of your mouth than he'd hand it to you, because he knew exactly where everything was."

Darrell's urge to plan and organize verged on the compulsive, with his family saying they had to stop him from micromanaging the seating plan at his own funeral. They said it came from a desire to step up and take care of details that might be otherwise neglected.

A year after 9-11, Darrell organized transportation, accommodation and itineraries for firefighters in Windsor-Essex and Detroit travelling to memorial ceremonies in New York. "It was a thing he didn't have to do, he wasn't asked to do, there wasn't a committee saying he was supposed to do it. He just thought it was right and wanted to show his appreciation," said his son Adam.

In 2009, Darrell went to the emergency room with what he thought was a stubborn cold. Three days later, he was on a ventilator with multiple organ failure, spending seven weeks in the hospital.

During that stay, Darrell was transferred from the Metropolitan Campus of Windsor Regional Hospital to Hotel-Dieu Grace Hospital in critical condition to be put on an oscillating ventilator. Darrell credited the machine with saving his life.

Last May, Darrell's colleagues organized a motorcycle fundraiser called the Ride for Darrell to raise money to buy the same machine for Windsor Regional. The machine is on order and Darrell's family said they hope to purchase a piece of equipment for Hotel-Dieu with a repeat fundraiser next year.

Darrell scaled back his union activities after his diagnosis, but was able to continue to work in fire prevention, spend time with his family and travel right up to the very end. About a week ago, he caught a fever and wasn't able to overcome it with his weakened immune system.

Jennifer said Darrell made it clear he was at peace with death and wanted his family to continue to make the most out of life. She said he was particularly clear that he wanted her to go on with her wedding, which he, of course, helped plan.

"It makes me feel good to know that Dad was comfortable with that. He wouldn't have wanted us to change anything," she said.

Jennifer, a psychological associate with the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board, and Adam, an athletic therapist, said they were influenced by their father when they chose careers aimed at helping people. Ian, the youngest, was the one to follow in Darrell's footsteps and become a firefighter himself.

Technology, equipment and standards have changed since the '80s and '90s, when Darrell spent most of his career. Ian said he knows there's a risk but, like his father, feels it's worth it.

"When Dad got sick, somebody said to me, 'How can you still want to do the job?'" he said. "I look at it the same way Dad did — I love it. I wouldn't change it."

 

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the loss of a true fighter, husband, father, son, brother, and friend much too early in life.

Darrell was called to Heaven Christmas Day after a courageous and hard-fought 26 month battle with Multiple Myeloma. Darrell leaves behind his loving wife of almost 32 years Kelly. Proud father of daughter Jennifer (Kris Klassen), son Adam (fiancee Shannon McFarlane), and son and firefighter brother Ian (girlfriend Christine Scott). Cherished son of Orville "Bud" and Marie Ellwood. Brother of Tameron Hunsuck (Jim) of Troutman, North Carolina, and Melody Christie(Gord) of Alberta. He was a dear son-in-law to Rudy and Shirley Thiessen, and brother in-law to Carey Papineau and Randy "Beav" Thiessen (Renee). Darrell was godfather to Derek David and is survived by many many uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, cousins,and friends.

Visitation:           

Families First Funeral Home
3260 Dougall Ave
Windsor
 
Friday January 13, 2012
2 – 5pm and 7 – 9pm
 
Firefighter Walk Through in the evening.
 
Funeral:           

Saturday January 14, 2012
Meet after 11 am at the Church
Funeral Service @ noon
                              
Parkwood Gospel Temple
3005 Temple Drive
 
Cremation to Follow     
 

For further information contact:
FAMILIES FIRST
3260 Dougall Ave. South Windsor,
519-969-5841
or visit us online at
www.FamiliesFirst.ca