February 17, 1945 – October 12, 2026
It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the unexpected passing of Paul (Polivios) Daeres on Sunday, October 12th, 2026, at the Saint John Regional Hospital, surrounded by the love and comfort of his family.
Born on February 17, 1945, in the village of Livartzi, Greece, Paul learned the values of hard work, resilience, and devotion at a young age. Following his mandatory military service in Greece, Paul made the courageous decision to immigrate to Canada at the age of 23 to begin a new chapter. Arriving with big dreams and an unwavering work ethic, his initial start at the Diana Restaurant laid the foundation for his remarkable journey. That first job ignited a lifelong passion for hospitality, leading him to purchase the Venus Restaurant, which became a cherished Saint John landmark.
Paul was a man deeply driven by vision and ambition. Recognizing opportunities where others saw challenges, he quickly built a name for himself in the Saint John business community. Over the years, Paul owned and operated several notable ventures, including the Belmont Restaurant and Hotel at King Square, Paul’s Trucking and Demolition, Daeres Property Management, and Tops Pizza, among many other business endeavors. Through tireless determination, he achieved great success, driven always by his desire to build a strong future and support his loved ones both in Canada and back home in Greece.
Above all his accomplishments, family was the cornerstone of Paul’s life. On September 25th, 1977, he married Deborah (Debbie), with whom he recently celebrated 49 years of marriage. Together, they built a life rooted in love and devotion. Paul was immensely proud of his three children, four grandchildren and held a special, unwavering place in his heart for his sisters, whom he loved dearly.
No title brought Paul more joy, pride, or happiness than being “Papou.” His four grandchildren were the absolute light of his life. Whether spoiling them with love, gifts and affection, listening to their stories, or watching them grow, Papou’s eyes lit up whenever they walked into the room.
Paul was a familiar and welcome sight throughout Saint John. He loved stopping to talk on the streets, sharing stories and laughs with friends and strangers alike. Beneath his strong entrepreneurial spirit was a deeply compassionate heart—he was always quick to offer a warm meal or a helping hand to those less fortunate.
Beyond business, Paul was a legend in Maritime harness racing. He operated and personally financed Exhibition Park Raceway to keep racing alive in Saint John during hard times. Later in life, he found great peace and joy spending time with his horses and various adopted animals at his farm in Welsford, NB.
Paul is survived by his loving wife, Deborah (Calloway); his children, John (Jenna), Dena Carter (Daniel), and Litsa; his beloved grandchildren, PJ, Penelope, George, and Nikos; his sisters: Iliostalikti (Litsa), Stavroula (Voula) and Theodora (Dorra); as well as many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and dear friends in both Canada and Greece.
He was predeceased by his parents, Constantina and Ioannis Daeres; and his siblings: Vasiliki Kalliakoudis, Constantinos Daeres, and Athanasia Sotiropoulos.
The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the doctors, nurses, and staff of the Cardiac Care Unit at the Saint John Regional Hospital for their compassionate care and support.
Resting at Brenan’s Funeral Home, 111 Paradise Row, Saint John, NB, where visitation will be held on Sunday, October 18, 2026, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 pm. A funeral service will be held on Monday, October 19, 2026, at 10 am from Our Lady Of The Assumption Church, 360 Dufferin Row, Saint John, NB, with interment to follow in Fernhill Cemetery. Those unable to attend in person will be able to view a Livestream of the service by clicking on the link below the obituary.
For those who wish, donations in Paul’s memory may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Due to connection availability, there may be a disruption to the livestream. This unfortunately is out of our control. If a disruption occurs, the service will be uploaded as soon as connection is available. Sorry for the inconvenience.
This obituary is protected against unauthorized reproduction or redistribution without the funeral home’s or family’s consent.
