Obituary of Andrew Daryl Mooney

MOONEY: Andrew Daryl Mooney was born at the Brandon General Hospital on July 30, 1986. Andrew attended Kirkcaldy Heights School from kindergarten to grade 8 and graduated from Crocus Plains Regional Secondary School in June 2004. Immediately following high school graduation, Andrew attended Assiniboine Community College where he graduated from the John Deere Tech Program in May 2008 and obtained his Red Seal Agricultural Equipment Technician Certificate in December 2008. He worked as an Ag Tech for a couple of years, but the lure of the oil field and better wages took him out to Virden where he was employed as a Power Tong Operator up until illness forced him to stop working. Andrew made his home in the RM of Pipestone. Andrew was a town raised kid who loved the peace and quiet of country living and having his own wide open space to ride his horse and quad. He was known to be an excellent farm hand. He could drive and fix pretty much anything and was always willing to help out his farmer friends. In his younger years, Andrew was a member of the Ghost Riders 4-H Club and the South Roseland Beef 4-H Club. As a kid, he loved to ride his dirt bike and raced competitively for a while. Andrew took pleasure in simple things like having a beer and socializing with friends and keeping up with Swap and Shop and the eBrandon Classifieds. He was outgoing and fun loving. People often commented on his great sense of humour and described him as one of those guys that others enjoyed being around. Andrew was diagnosed with a very rare, aggressive, advanced cancer just two weeks after his 26th birthday. Although this was devastating news, he faced his cancer diagnosis with his characteristic determination. Over the course of the subsequent 10 months, he proved to be a true fighter enduring nine cycles of high dose chemotherapy, three stem cell transplants, and radiation therapy. Throughout the many challenges in his battle against cancer he taught us the true meaning of strength, courage, resilience, fortitude and endurance as he never gave up, even at the end as he fought the ravages of what he knew was an untreatable illness. Andrew believed that the greatest disability is a negative attitude. He was often heard to say that feeling sorry for himself wasn't going to make him feel any better. Andrew will be forever deeply loved and missed by his family. It was with heavy hearts and deep sadness that we said our final good byes. Andrew lives on in the hearts and memories of his parents Daryl and Linda Mooney, his sister and brother-in-law Leslee and Brendan Brown, and his niece Avery Brown; grandparents Les and Dorothy White and Evelyn Mooney; uncle and aunt Barry White and Evelyn Soto; uncle and aunt Garth and Jacqueline Mooney; cousins Calum and Kim Mooney, Jason Mooney and Tara Dalrymple, and Aidan Mooney and Ike Green. Andrew was predeceased by his grandfather Norman Mooney and uncle Donald Mooney. Andrew made many friends throughout his short life with whom he shared both great adventures and misadventures. The memories of those times will inevitably bring a smile to those who shared in them. Andrew's family sincerely thanks everyone who provided Andrew with their love and support throughout his illness. Andrew was the grateful recipient of care from a variety of medical and health care professionals. Special thanks to Dr. P. Czaykowski, Dr. M. Seftel, and Dr. B. Bashir as well as to Andrew's many other supporters at CancerCare Manitoba, Health Sciences Centre D6, Western Manitoba CancerCare, and the Palliative Care Unit at the Brandon Regional Health Centre. Their compassion, kindness, and expertise were instrumental in Andrew's quality of life throughout his treatment and he was truly grateful for all that they did for him. A celebration of Andrew's life was held at Central United Church, Brandon on Wednesday June 19, 2013 with Brockie Donovan and Funeral Celebrant Kim Lewarne. Um bearers were Dallas Mennie, Kyle Williamson, Rob Baker, and Leslee Brown. Burial was at Rosewood Memorial Gardens. For those who so wish, donations in Andrew's memory may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society at 415-1st Street, Brandon, MB R7A 2W8 or to the Brandon Regional Health Centre Foundation "Palliative Care Unit" at 150 McTavish Avenue East, Brandon, MB R7A 2B3.