Gail Elizabeth Foulis of Charing Cross passed away on Tuesday May 15, 2018 at the age of 70 years. She will be missed by her husband of 48 years, Terry who she met one summer in Erieau. Many of their fondest memories were made spending time with friends and boating at the Eau.

Gail was one of three daughters born to the late Jack & Isabel (Vincent) Campbell. She is survived by her sisters Jean Ferguson (late Paul) and Mary & Frank Maynard. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.

Gail was a strong person who overcame much adversity in life. An automobile accident soon after she and Terry were married presented many challenges for her but she fought the odds and won them. The ability to walk again after the accident was a major victory that she was most proud of. She was also a strong advocate for the prevention of cruelty to animals and would have appreciated it if friends wishing to remember with a memorial donation in her name would consider either the Pet & Wildlife Rescue or the Heart & Stroke Foundation.

In keeping with Gail’s wishes, cremation has taken place. Family and friends are invited to the Blenheim Community Funeral Home on Friday May 25, 2018 for visitation from 2 – 4 & 7 – 9 p.m. A Funeral Service conducted by Pastor Tim Joyce will take place at the Funeral Home on Saturday May 26, 2018 at 11:00 a.m.

Inez (LaRochelle) Ricamore

August 30, 1920 – May 10, 2018

Inez (LaRochelle) Ricamore, daughter of the late Lawrence & Henriette LaRochelle and wife of the late Edgar C. Ricamore for 69 years passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Thursday May 10, 2018.  Inez was the oldest resident of Erie Beach, residing at her lakefront home for more than 60 years.

Beloved mother of Larry Ricamore (Storm), Kenneth Ricamore (late Betty), Rochelle McKee (Dennis), E. Carter Ricamore (Michelle), Kylleen Tremont (David), Timothy Ricamore (Shelley), Mary Anne Neis (Robert) and Annette Stamatakis (George). She will be remembered fondly by her grandchildren William Ricamore, Brigette James, Yvonne Fisher, Scott Ricamore, Tina Vasu, Susan DuMouchelle, Deborah McKee, Tracie McKee, Tina Drye, Kristopher Ricamore, Nevill Hargrave-Thomas, Nathan Hargrave-Thomas, Tara Lovelace, Jolleen Bubel, Brent Bubel, Rachel Ricamore, Derek Ricamore, Robert Neis, Matthew Neis and Kimberly Neis, by 24 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren.

Sister of the late Kenneth, William and Roy (Grace) and is survived by her sisters-in-law Leah Fleming and Donna Bird. She was also an aunt to David, Keith, Wayne, John and Duffy LaRochelle, Susan Fobelli and the late Joseph LaRochelle.

Visitation for Inez will be held at the Blenheim Community Funeral Home on Tuesday May 15, 2018 from 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. A Funeral Mass celebrated by Fr. John Juhl will take place in St. Mary’s Church, Blenheim on Wednesday May 16, 2018 at 11:00 a.m.

Gerald Alan “Al” Swance of Blenheim passed away at home on Tuesday May 8, 2018. Al was born on June 11, 1925 to the late Mildred (Gough) & Lloyd Swance. He and his wife Betty who predeceased him in 1981 raised three sons Gary Swance & Kathy Kohajda, Greg & Darlene Swance and Gord & Monica Swance. They were the proud grandparents of Colin Seney & Nadja Lucyk, Kelsey Swance & Stephen VanRaay, Jordan Swance, Shalynn & Paul Hamilton, Desiree Swance and Brandon Swance. Al welcomed one great-granddaughter Bianca. He was predeceased by his second wife Rose Swance in 2012 and will be remembered by her family. On August 2, 2014 Al married Claudette (Rodrigue). He will also be remembered by Claudette’s children Jim & Andrea, Lynn and Lena.

Al attended school in Tillsonburg and Melbourne. He retired as a Line Supervisor with Ontario Hydro. He was a charter member of the Tillsonburg Kiwanis Club, Past Chairman of the Tillsonburg Recreation Committee and the Past Chairman of the Legion Villa Board of Directors in Blenheim. In his spare time, he enjoyed drawing, gardening and golfing with his good friend Gord Kirk.

If you asked Al what he was most proud of in his life, he would have said that it was the service he gave for his country. His wartime service included 16 round trips in the North Atlantic on convoy duty with the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve. He was a longtime member of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 185 in Blenheim.

Family and friends are invited to the Blenheim Community Funeral Home on Thursday from 2 – 4 & 7 – 9 p.m. A Funeral Service conducted by Legion Padre Bill Terris will take place at the Funeral Home on Friday May 11, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. Cremation will follow and a private family interment will take place at a later date when Al will be laid to rest with Betty.

Friends wishing to remember Al with a memorial donation are asked to consider the Canadian Cancer Society or the Alzheimer’s Society.

Paul Franklin Clarke, February 21, 1922 – May 2, 2018

With loving sadness we say goodbye to our 96 year-old father, Paul Franklin Clarke, and with gratitude we remember his long and wonderful life. Predeceased by his beloved wife Aileen, and missed by his dear sister Muriel Askin, children Janis, Jon, Paula, Greg, and Julie, grandchildren Raphael, Kim, Gail, Fiona and Thomas, and precious great-grandson Gabriel. Born in Blenheim to Blanche and Jack Clarke, Paul loved working the family farm. In 1943 he graduated from University of Toronto in electrical engineering, then enjoyed a fulfilling career with Windsor’s Ford Motor Company as safety manager, and later was a consultant to Chatham industries. He and Aileen lived a happy retirement in Erie Beach, where he and his son built his dream home. There they enjoyed the lake, their gardens, bridge games, and singalongs, always welcoming new and old friends. Paul had a relentless passion for invention and creative home-improvements, and his adventurous spirit kept him travelling, skiing, biking and kayaking well into his 80s. Paul had great compassion for the welfare of others, working with the United Way, Kiwanis Club, and Industrial Accident Prevention Association. He and Aileen created a Guelph University scholarship for agriculture students in financial need, and fundraised for Orchestra London creating the “Music, Muffins and More” program to showcase young Kent county musicians. A poet, church organist, and beautiful tenor singer, Paul lived a life full of music, passing this love on to his children and grandchildren.

Family will hold a private memorial service for him on the land he loved. Memorial donations may be made to United Way of London or Chatham-Kent, or the United Nations Refugee Agency.

Steve Wilkinson, affectionately known to his family and friends as “Wilkie” passed away much too young at home, surrounded by family and friends on Wednesday May 2, 2018. Steve was born on February 9, 1961 to Arthur and Betty (Woods) Wilkinson who have predeceased him.

Survived by his wife Tracy of 38 years, his daughter Bobbi-Jo & Keith Abrams, three grandsons of whom he was very proud and loved so much Kayne, Quinten and Kingston and his son Jason & Erica Grainger. He is also survived by his brothers Neil & Sandi Wilkinson and Randy & Peggy Wilkinson.

Steve was loved by his Godchildren Abby Garton, Spencer Neill, Michael Wilkinson, Sean Falconer and Derek Wilkinson. He is survived by many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, Aunts, Uncles and cousins.

Steve worked at the Ridge Landfill for 30 years as a Heavy Equipment Operator. He enjoyed his summers enduro racing and camping; his winters snowmobiling and building snow forts with his grandsons. He enjoyed helping and spending time with family and friends.

Family and friends are invited to the Blenheim Community Funeral Home on Saturday May 5, 2018 where visitation will be held from 2 – 4 & 5 – 7 p.m. Words of remembrance by family and friends will be shared at 7:00 p.m.   Friends wishing to remember Steve with a memorial donation are asked to consider the Make-A-Wish Foundation which helps children.

Helen Jessie Girty passed away on April 17, 2018 in her 100^th year at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance. She was born on March 1, 1919 to Lynn & Marie (Schindler) Robertson. She was married for 60 years to Gerald Girty who predeceased her in 2005. Helen is survived by sons Lynn (Judith) and Peter (Betty). She is also survived by her grandchildren Gregory (Michelle) Girty, Sarah Girty, Sean Girty and Kristen (Phil) Cheyne, great-grandchildren Desiree Girty, Dominic Girty and Rockwell Cheyne as well as one great-great granddaughter Piper. Cremation has taken place per her wishes. There will be no public visitation. Those wishing to make a donation in memory of Helen are asked to consider the Fourth Line United Church, the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance or the charity of your choice.

Robert “Bob” Mifflin of Merlin passed away at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance on Wednesday April 4, 2018. Bob was born in Raleigh Township to the late Elmer & Clova (Bellanger) Mifflin 89 years ago. For sixty-five of those years, he farmed with his best friend and brother Keith in the Merlin area. He will be missed by his sister Betty Soper and of course Keith & Roxene Mifflin. He was predeceased by his brothers Glen in 1998 and Morley in 2015, by his sisters in law Jean and Ilene and by his brother in law Bill.

Bob’s smile will be especially missed by his niece Sheila & Brad Chadwick and their son Christopher as well as his nephew Mark & Nancy Mifflin and their daughter Danielle.

Friends and family are invited to the Blenheim Community Funeral Home on Thursday where visitation will be held on Thursday from 7 – 9 p.m. Visitation will continue on Friday April 6, 2018 at the Merlin United Church from 11:30 – 1:00 p.m. when a Funeral Service conducted by Rev. James Haupt will take place. Interment will take place in Pardoville Cemetery. Friends wishing to remember Bob with a memorial donation are asked to consider the Chatham-Kent Hospice.

Gordon Newcombe Dickson of Blenheim and formerly Sarnia passed away peacefully at the Chatham Kent Health Alliance 4^th Floor Palliative Unit on Tuesday, April 3, 2018.  Gordon was the son of Lena (Best) and Newcombe Dickson of Thamesville.  He is survived by his wife Donna Jean Sedgman , step children, Karen Cofell and Brian Cofell (Lucy) and step grandchildren Tori Jackson (Justin), Tiffani Jackson, Keiran Rizzetto-Mann and Carrick Cofell.  Gordon is fondly remembered by close cousins Mac Dickson (Roberta), Beth Sproule (Doug), Don Dickson (Rhoda) and Cae Stephens.  Gordon was predeceased by his first partner Norma Jean (Cuthbert) Moffit.  He is fondly remembered by her children Scott Moffit (Christine) and Jeanna Burgess (Carl) and their children Jessica and Chris.

Gordon grew up in Thamesville, Ontario the son and delivery boy of his father Newcombe Dickson’s grocery store.  He also took over the paper route from his older Dickson cousins when he became old enough.  He attended Thamesville Public School, Lambton Kent District High School, and the University of Western Ontario.  He became a computer systems analyst for Imperial Oil for a number of years before striking out on his own contract business in later life.

Gordon was an avid family historian and he and Donna shared many trips during the last few years trying to track down his elusive ancestors. He was a long time member and volunteer for the Lambton Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society.

Visitation will be on Saturday, April 14^th from 1-3 before a formal Celebration of Life at the Blenheim Community Funeral Home, 60 Stanley Street, Blenheim Ontario

Donations in memory of Gordon may be made to the Chatham Kent Health Alliance Palliative Care 4^th Floor Unit, Bladder Cancer Canada or the charity of your choice.

Jean Elizabeth Myers has left this life at 97 years of age. She will be long remembered by her five children and their families for her energy and joy of life, which had tapered down somewhat as her years advanced. Throughout her life she maintained a quick wit and open mindedness.

Born in London, Ontario to the late Rose Comiskey and Russell Myers; Jean was an athletic youth who taught herself to swim in the Thames River and went on to become a lifeguard and swimming instructor and she carried on a lifelong love of swimming.

Moving to Detroit with her new husband Klemence Dysarz during WW2, when household provisions were hard to come by, Jean brought a chest full of books as her dowry. Reading her first book as a youth, her mother Rose Comiskey would tell Jean’s 6 siblings not to bother her as she was reading. Even as she read less in later years, she loved being surrounded by books.

Visiting her Aunt Lizzie Comiskey was always a special treat for Jean, as Lizzie was the first woman in Ingersoll, Ontario to drive a car.

Spending summers in a lakefront cottage near Rondeau Park with her husband and children, Jean later became a yearlong resident, living in the cottage for the remainder of her years. A Canadian by birth, she later became a “landed immigrant” to Canada and always kept her U.S. citizenship.

An avid bridge card player, she had a network of bridge-playing friends in two countries, and later at the Blenheim Senior Centre where for many years she organized the duplicate bridge club. Jean remained a bridge fanatic her entire life and would often comment that it kept her mind sharp. She mourned the loss of Adrienne, a friend and bridge partner of more than 55 years.

She is survived by children Paul, Evelyn, Cindy, Russell and Karen and several grand and great-grandchildren.

Annie (Westendorp) Postma died at the Blenheim Community Village on Friday March 30, 2018 at the age of 81 after a long illness. Mother of Eleanor Singor, Dale Postma and his wife Tracey, “Beppa” to Olivia and Natalie Postma. Fondly remembered by her brothers Ed (Lynn) and Henry and by many nieces and nephews. Annie was predeceased by her husband Ralph Postma in 1998, by her parents Ray & Ellen Westendorp, her brothers and their wives Donald & Susie, John & Lenore, Joe & Margaret and by her sister-in-law Willa Westendorp. Cremation to take place with a private family service to be held at a later date in Maple Leaf Cemetery, Chatham. Funeral Arrangements entrusted to the Blenheim Community Funeral Home.

We wish to express our sincere gratitude to the staff at the Blenheim Community Village

for your continuous loving care for your Mom.