Priest Anthony Estabrooks peacefully fell asleep in the Lord on September 4, 2024 at Health Sciences Center in Winnipeg, Manitoba at the age of 79 years after suffering a major stroke on Monday September 2, 2024.
He was predeceased by his parents and parents-in-law, sisters Freda and Sandra, two brothers-in-law and one sister-in-law.
He is lovingly remembered by his wife Irene of 56 years (nee Kuz), children Jana Gerbrandt (Scott), Joy Perrott (Jeremy), Peterjohn (Nancy) Josef (Stephanie), Michelle Pahpasay, Karen Pahpasay, Robert Estabrooks all of Winnipeg and grandchildren Sam (Fiona) Reuben, Kira, Tim (Sarah) Kyle, Sean, Rebecca, Julian, Christian, James, Margaret, Eleanor and Devon.
He also leaves his brothers Stephen (Jayne), Stan (Allison) of Ottawa and sister Brenda Moriarity of Bowmanville as well as numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.
Father Anthony studied religion, philosophy and theology at University of Toronto, Knox College, Carleton University, McMaster University and St. Andrew’s College. He was an academic whose main focus in life was to “grow in grace and in the knowledge of God” and to teach and encourage others to do the same.
Desiring to apply his talents to presenting the Orthodox Faith in an accessible manner to non-Orthodox Canadians, before ordination, Father Anthony labored to promote and expand the witness of the newly established “Mission of All Saints of North America”. The Mission was established as an entity within the Archdiocese of Canada, for the purpose of providing Orthodox worship services in the English language in the central part of Winnipeg. Its existence covered many years, during which various priests served the community in different places.
In spite of his efforts and others to establish an English Mission, it did not seem to gain the momentum necessary to sustain itself. However, through their labors, groundwork was laid for the eventual establishment of the “Theotokos of the Life-Giving Spring Mission”, for which Father Anthony would later be ordained to serve as parish priest.
Father Anthony’s desire to share Orthodoxy with those outside the Faith was paralleled by his desire to offer his academic talents to the building up of the Church through theological education. The “Saint Arseny Orthodox Christian Theological Institute” was established in 2002—with Father Anthony as its director, in order to address the long-standing need to provide affordable and accessible Orthodox theological education in Canada. The education was to be provided completely in the English language (and eventually French), adapted to the unique situations, cultural circumstances, needs and opportunities of the scattered Orthodox population in a huge country.
In 2006, the Mission of All Saints was re-formed under the new name of the “Theotokos of the Life-giving Spring”. Father Anthony was ordained to the Holy Priesthood in order to serve the Mission and continue the work begun earlier. He was ordained to the Holy Priesthood by Archbishop Irénée (Rochon), then Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese, on Sunday, January 31, at Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church in Narol, Manitoba.
Father Anthony served the Mission faithfully for the next several years, in the lower hall of Saint Philip’s Anglican Church (Norwood) in Saint Boniface—a portion of Winnipeg on the east side of the Red River. During this time, Father continued to serve as director and as an instructor of the Saint Arseny Institute. When, by the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Irénée, the Mission was incorporated into Holy Trinity Sobor in North Winnipeg in 2017, the stabilizing influence of Father’s pastoral love supported his flock through the transition and integration into the larger parish community.
His priestly service at Christ’s holy altar, his constant example of self-emptying love, his ability to reflect with profound depth upon the theological dimensions of current events, and his great desire that all would come to have intimate knowledge of the love of God, will surely have a lasting impact upon the many people who have been nourished by his life—family members, parishioners, and neighbors. His was truly a life poured out for Christ.
The Funeral service will be held on Wednesday, September 11, 2024 at Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, 2255 Grant Ave at 6:00 PM followed by a reception. Click here to view the livestream.
A Funeral Liturgy will be held on Thursday, September 12, 2024 at 10:00 AM at Saint Demetrios with Father Phillip Eriksson and fellow priests officiating. Interment will follow at Saint Nicholas Narol Cemetery 5635 Henderson Hwy. Click here to view the livestream.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to one of the following:
- Heavenly King Orthodox Academy admin@heavenlykingacademy.ca
- Manitoba Pioneer Camp PMB 321-360 Main Street Unit 138 Winnipeg Manitoba R3C 3Z8
- Harvest Manitoba 1085 Winnipeg Ave, Winnipeg Manitoba R3E 0S2
May Father Anthony’s memory be eternal!