Robert Midland Parker of Blenheim and formerly of Erieau passed away on Saturday October 26, 2019.  Bob was one of ten children born to the late Jennie & Byron Parker and is survived by his sister Jean Verstraete and his brother Bill & Mary Parker.  He was predeceased by his sisters Dorothy Bond, Bessie Turner, Hazel Tanner and by his brothers Harold, Gordon, Donald and Jack Parker.

One afternoon while playing catch with his cousin in Erieau, Bob was approached by a young lady named Alice Park who asked him where she could get a fishing license.  It was then that a long lasting friendship formed and Bob and Alice were married on September 8, 1956.  Over the course of the next 63 years they raised two children who they loved unconditionally; Jennifer Louise Pinkerton (Jeff) and Lawrence Ralph “Bud” Parker (Debbie Thayer).  Bob was especially delighted when his family grew to include his grandchildren Steve, Jamie and Kim.

Bob worked at Mallorys in Blenheim before taking a position with Northern Telecom in London until his retirement.  He will be remembered for his love of the outdoors, whether it included playing and coaching baseball, hunting, fishing or just appreciating a great sunset.  He enjoyed playing cards in Erieau and shuffleboarding in Blenheim.  Above all else, he enjoyed every moment he spent with his family and also with his dog Gracie.

Cremation has taken place.  Family and friends are invited to a Celebration of Bob’s life on Wednesday October 30, 2019 at the Blenheim Community Funeral Home.  Visitation will take place from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. followed immediately by a service conducted by Rev Fr. David Fuller.

Friends wishing to remember Bob with a memorial donation are asked to choose a charity of your choice.

The family wishes to thank the staff and nurses of the CKHA 4^th Floor Medicine A & B for the kindness and compassion shown to Bob in his final days.

Rev. J. Lloyd G. Brown passed away with family at his side on Thursday October 24, 2019 in his 90^th year.  He was lost without his beloved wife Shirley (April 7, 2014) and is now reunited with her.

Lloyd was born December 15, 1929 to Melvin & Emily Brown in Egremont Township and is survived by his younger brother Victor (Edna) Brown of London.  He and Shirley were married in 1951.  Lloyd was ordained in 1954 as a United Church minister who served for 60 years starting in Radville SK, then Brussels ON, St. Thomas, Montreal, Kitchener, Brantford, Hamilton, Wheatley and Belmont.  When he retired and moved to Blenheim he continued to assist the parishes of Merlin, Fletcher, St. Pauls, St. Johns and Zion.

Lloyd and Shirley were blessed with their four children Shirley Anne & Jim Barth of Waterloo, Pam & Jim Prokop of Blenheim, Winston Brown of California and Tim & Heather Brown of Paris, Ontario.  Their family grew to include their grandchildren Carolyn & Adam Pachnik, Katherine & Chris MacDonald, Sherri & Rob Jones, Michael Prokop, Victoria, Stephen and David Brown, and Christopher and Nicole Brown as well as their great-grandchildren Aurelia, Victoria, Zoe, Hunter and Jaelyn.

Lloyd was the brother in law of Carson & Norma Rae, the late Norma & Ross Bradshaw, the late Delton & Fern Rae, Edna Jackson (late Donald), the late Betty Groff (Stan), the late Bob Rae (Eileen), Ormand Rae (late Alice), Arnold & Marilyn Rae, the late Mary Lou & Gordon Holliday, Lavern & Irene Rae, David & Ruth Rae and Gwen Bradshaw.

A private family service will take place at the Blenheim Community Funeral Home followed by interment in Evergreen Cemetery, Blenheim.  Friends wishing to remember Lloyd with a memorial donation are asked to consider the Alzheimers Society.

Frank VanTorre passed away suddenly at his home on Monday October 21, 2019 at the age of 70 years.  He was one of three children born to his parents Yvonne (Verlinde) (1999) and Andy VanTorre (2017).

Frank will be missed dearly by his sister Judy (VanTorre) Gangle and his brother Wayne VanTorre (Sandra) as well as his nephews Ryan Gangle and Greg & Anna Gangle with their children Taylor and Shanel.

Visitation will take place at the Blenheim Community Funeral Home on Friday night from 5 – 8 p.m.  Parish Prayers will be held at 7 p.m.

The Mass of Christian Burial for Frank will be celebrated in St. Mary’s Parish on Saturday October 26, 2019 at 11:00 a..m.  Interment will take place in Evergreen Cemetery.

Friends wishing to remember Frank with a memorial donation are asked to consider the Multiple Sclerosis Society or the Cancer Society.

Peacefully, surrounded by his family at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance on Sunday October 20, 2019, Donald Howard Nead passed away at the age of seventy-one.  He is survived by his best friend and the love of his life Bonnie Lou Nead.  Together for fifty-one years, they raised their children, Jeff (Amber) Nead, Gerry (Sue) Nead and Julie (Steve) Tellier.  He was a very proud Papa to his grandchildren Emily (John), Caitlin (Ron), Jordan, Warren (Emma), Jadyn (Lukas), Kyle (Brooke) and Sydney (Braden).

Also survived by his mother Betty Nead and his sister Diane (Graham) Adamson.  Predeceased by his father Howard (2017) and his in-laws Gene (1999) and Betty (2000) LeBonté.

Don was a jokester and loved to be surrounded by his family.

Cremation to take place.  A graveside service will be held on Saturday November 2, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. in Stewart Cemetery, Merlin.

With profound sadness, the Nauta family says goodbye to their dear Rose.

Rosemarie Ann Boyd was born on August 8, 1971 to John and Hermina Nauta of Blenheim.  She was the youngest sister of Wendy (Adrian) Weesjes, Evelyn (John) Leistra, Jim (Janet) Nauta, and Marcia (Harry Vanderveen). Rose was teaching in Hong Kong when she met the love of her life, Andy Boyd.  They married in 1999 and moved to Australia where she became the most perfect mummy to Matthew. Rose was also an amazing aunt to Erica, Rachel and Julie Nauta, and Nick (Laura), Alex (Sam) and Lianna Leistra.

Rose passed away peacefully on September 28, 2019 only two months after being diagnosed with leukemia. Her smile, passion, energy and enthusiasm will always be remembered by everyone she knew.  Her funeral was held in Brisbane, Australia and a gathering to share memories and celebrate Rose’s wonderful life will be held on Sunday, October 27^th from 2:00 – 4:00 at the Blenheim Christian Reformed Church, 286 Chatham Street S. in Blenheim.

Neva Blanche (Willan) Charlton, beloved wife of the late Clifford Henry Charlton (2011) passed away at Riverview Gardens on Tuesday October 1, 2019.  Born 96 years ago to the late Bertha & Rodney Willan Blanche was the last surviving member of her family, having been predeceased by her sister Mavis Dawson and her brothers Bud and Murray Willan.

Blanche was the proud mother of Garry & Elaine Charlton, grandmother of Kelly & Sandra Charlton, Derek Charlton and Shannon & Perry Short and great-grandmother of Connor Charlton, Dylan Short, Ally Short and Jesse Charlton.  Her family was her pride and joy.

In their 68 years together, Blanche and Cliff farmed in Merlin and Tilbury East.  She could often be found in the fields at harvest time picking tomatoes or helping with any of the other chores at hand.

Blanche’s family will remember her privately.  Following cremation, her urn will be placed in Pardoville Cemetery with Cliff.

Friends wishing to remember her with a memorial donation are asked to consider the Alzheimers Society.

Ross Orland Jackson of Charing Cross passed away peacefully at home with his brother Don at his side on Sunday September 29, 2019.  Ross was born 91 years ago to his late parents Orlo & Jean (Ross) Jackson.  He is survived by his brothers Don Jackson and Ray & Helen Jackson and their family.

Friends will remember Ross as a kind and gentle soul who worked at Banks Mazda in Charing Cross.  It was his wish that his family would remember him privately.  Following cremation his urn will be taken to Owen Cemetery where he will be laid to rest with his parents.

Those wishing to remember Ross with a memorial donation are asked to consider the Salvation Army.

Margaret Joan Shea, beloved wife of the late Thomas Edward Shea (1991) passed away peacefully at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance on Friday September 27, 2019.  Margaret was the proud mother of Rebecca Shea (late Edward Schmitchen), John & Margit Shea and Katherine & Jack Hitchcock.  She was loved by her grandchildren Yolanda Slater (Mike), Carina and Sophia Shea, Alicia Kemp (Jarrod) and Wyatt Hitchcock.  She was also the proud great-grandmother of Max, Sophie and Isabel.

Margaret was born in Toronto, 81 years ago to the late John & Roberta (McEachran) Burwell, She is survived by her sister Sarah Burwell and was predeceased in life by her sisters Barbara Burwell and Janet Bell (survived by Ken).  She retired from the Federal Public Service.

Family and friends are invited to attend a graveside service in St. Anthony’s Cemetery, Chatham on Friday October 11, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. when Margaret’s urn will placed next to Tom.  A luncheon will follow at the Blenheim Community Funeral Home.

Margaret’s family extends their heartfelt thanks to the staff of St. Andrews and medicine b at CKHA for the love and care of our mother during her prolonged illness.

Friends wishing to remember Margaret with a memorial donation are asked to consider the Chatham-Kent Hospice.

AN OPEN HOUSE TO CELEBRATE THE LIFE OF EVA WILL BE HELD AT THE DEMBINSKI FARM 18528 FARGO ROAD, BLENHEIM ON NOVEMBER 2, 2019 FROM 1:00 – 5:00 P.M.  CASUAL DRESS…

Eva Dembinski passed away at home on Friday September 27, 2019. Eva and her husband Kris were both born in Poland. After moving to Canada they made Shrewsbury their home and began a family. To say that Eva was a proud parent would be an understatement. Her daughter Barbara Dembinski and her son Robert Dembinski with his wife Kristine were never far from her thoughts and always in her heart, just as her grandchildren Conor and Carter Dembinski and Nicholas and Zachary Bickford were. She will be missed by her sisters Basia Rembiesa and Margaret Kurzyldo and especially by her German Shepherd dog Sophie. Eva was predeceased by her parents Hanna & Jerzy Weyers.

Eva was a kind and caring soul who dedicated many years to helping others at Southwestern Regional Centre. She was an advocate for those who were less fortunate. She enjoyed her home in Shrewsbury, she believed that a girl could never have too much jewelry to choose from, and she believed that time spent with family and friends was time that was never lost. Eva stopped celebrating birthdays and started celebrating anniversaries of her 29^th birthday which in her mind made her forever young. She will be forever loved and missed.

“An angel in the Book of Life wrote down my baby’s birth,

 then whispered as she closed the book “too beautiful for earth”.

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The exciting moments of pregnancy have turned to sorrow and heartfelt loss with the death of our baby girl, Elizabeth Scarlett Dowker on September 20, 2019.

She was predeceased in death by her Uncle Oscar VanKeer.

Elizabeth leaves behind her loving family who will always hold her in their hearts; her parents Matthew Dowker and Adriana VanKeer, her siblings Marilyn and Albert Dowker, grandparents Steven & Marilyn Dowker, grandparents Albert & Betty Ann VanKeer, great grandparents Dorothy Maris and Jane VanGaalen, uncles David Dowker, Matthew Keech and Victor VanKeer, aunts Lynetta Dowker and Krista VanKeer and her cousins Brayden Keech, Amelia Keech and Charlotte VanKeer.