Archie Roy DeWitte of Blenheim, son of the late Martha (Pattyn) and Leopold DeWitte passed away on Sunday September 21, 2014 at the age of 87 years. A man devoted to his wife and family, Archie and Denise (VanBiesbrouck) would have celebrated their 60^th wedding anniversary in October. He was a role model to his children Paul DeWitte who predeceased him in 2009 (Judy) of Kitchener, Mark DeWitte (Lori) of Brampton and Susan DeWitte (Dwain Mann) of Blenheim, devoted “Papa” to Janet Stephenson (Jamie), Nicholas DeWitte, Sarah Thompson and Michael Thompson, “Great Papa” to Sally Stephenson (Eric) and “Great-Great Papa” to Joey. Predeceased by his sisters Dolores Hoy and Anna Westelaken, Archie is survived by his brother Alphonse DeWitte (Margaret) of Chatham, brothers-in-law John Hoy (Dorothy) of Chatham and Ed Westelaken of Blenheim.

Archie was keen on history. He read many books and studied the historical significance of countries before travelling to them with Denise. He loved being on the land and farmed for many years. He worked at Rockwell in Chatham for 38 years and he took great pride in being the parishioner with the longest active membership at St. Mary’s Church in Blenheim and an Affiliate of the Capuchin Order. He will be remembered for his love of animals, his good sense of humor, for his love of music and dance and maybe even for hogging the remote. But more importantly, Archie will be remembered for displaying the values of a true Christian man every day and for being a man who loved his family.

Friends and family are invited to the Blenheim Community Funeral Home on Tuesday from 2 – 4 & 7 – 9 p.m. to pay their respects to Archie and his family. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. Mary’s Church on Wednesday September 24, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. Interment in Evergreen Cemetery. Friends wishing to remember Archie with a memorial donation are asked to consider the Lung Association or the Chatham-Kent Hospice. Online condolences for the family and memorial donations may be left at www.blenheimcommunityfuneralhome.com

TUNSTALL, Murray Alan. With the heaviest of hearts, the family announces the sudden and peaceful passing of Murray. Husband and best friend of Sandra (Venclik) Tunstall, and proud father of Madison Tunstall and DJ (Carly) Christian. Dear son of Ruth Tunstall, brother of Elaine (Bill) Saunders, Dennis (Cindy), Jeff (Shana), and sister-in-law Brenda. Predeceased by his father James Tunstall, brother Bryan, and sister Ava. Dear son-in-law of Joe (Nellie) Venclik and sister-in-law of Sherry and Laurie Venclik. Also remembered by his nieces and nephews. Murray was a sports fanatic, coaching many of Maddie’s travel teams throughout her life. He enjoyed travelling the country side to numerous rinks and diamonds. He also enjoyed many fantasy sports pools and took his job of commissioner very seriously. Welcome to your field of dreams Murray, you will be forever missed and always remembered. A private family service will be held at the Blenheim Community Funeral Home. Friends wishing to remember Murray with a memorial donation are asked to consider the Salvation Army’s Homelessness and Emergency Housing project.

Paula DAPHNE Marie Van Biesbrouck was born on August 5^th, 1963. On August 28, 2014 she was called to a meeting in Heaven with her parents Julius and Marilyn and her sisters Julie (Frank) and Susan (Mike). Those that missed the meeting, but will be called at a later date are brothers Barry (Sandy), Lee (Jill), sisters Laurie (Larry), Janette (Michael), Merrie (Mike), brothers-in-law DeeDee and Zimbo and sister-in-law Michelle. Daphne will be missed by Bosco Bertrand and their sons Connor (Tysa) and Ryker. Daphne loved all of her nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews and they too will all miss the spark that she brought to their lives. Daphne had a warm and caring heart. She had many friends that were dear to her, especially her friends Fiona King and Bernadette Rivait…there wasn’t anything that one wouldn’t do for the other. Daphne was a lifelong learner. She worked as a DSW at Southwestern Regional Centre and at a group home in Amherstburg. While doing these jobs she received her Sign Language Communicator diploma. Her next job destination was as a Slot Attendant for the OLG Corporation. Her latest accomplishment was obtaining her CSR certification. If you would like to honour Daphne’s’ memory, a donation to Cancer Research would be appreciated. Her favourite quote was “Cancer is a bitch. You just have to be a bigger one”. Cremation has taken place. A private family interment will take place at a later date in Evergreen Cemetery.

Beverly-Ann Lachine of Erieau passed away on Thursday August 21, 2014 at the age of 73 years. She was one of two children born to their late parents Walter and Dorothy (Angell) Preston and she is survived by her sister and next door neighbor Jean Anderson. It was in Erieau that Bev met the love of her life, Edward Lachine who just happened to love dancing just as much as she did, and on December 21, 1973 they were married. Bev loved people…she loved her house to be full of people, especially when those people included her children Kenneth & Susan Bonner of Comber, Keith & Pam Bonner of Blenheim, Cameron & Nicole Bonner of LaSalle and Tracy & Rick Mills of Morpeth, by her grandchildren Adam, Alexander, Jonah, Ryan, Dylan & Lauren, Evan, Maggie, Logan, Emery, Erin and Troy, by her great-grandson Brady and by her nieces and nephews. She loved a good hockey game and though she rooted for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the NHL, she redeemed herself at the local level by rooting for her grandchildren’s teams. She loved car rides with Ed while the two of them would sing along to good old country music, she loved peppermint patties and flowers (especially her orchids) and she loved to laugh. In order to keep up with her family, she made sure that she called her children regularly and she became known as the “Texting Grandma” to her grandchildren. She also loved Facebook although Windows 7 really made her mad. Bev’s heart was broken twice in her life when he oldest son Tommy drowned at the age of 4 and her grandson Nolan passed away in his first year of his life.

Bev’s wishes for her funeral were made clear. A private family service will be held with lots of laughter and no sad music. Acting as pallbearers for her interment in Evergreen Cemetery will be her grandchildren Ryan, Dylan, Adam, Alex, Jonah, Evan, Troy and Jack. Flower bearers will include Erin, Maggie, Logan and Emery. Friends wishing to remember Bev with a memorial donation are asked to consider St. Paul’s Anglican Church Elevator Fund because that was an important vision for her.

Donna Veral Gray of Morpeth passed away on Friday August 1, 2014 at the age of 66 years. Donna was the best friend and wife of Jim Gray, the mother of Kelly Hetherington (Greg), Mike Gray (Kerri) and grandmother of Mason, Liam, Madison and Maxx. Born in Guysborough Nova Scotia, Donna was one of seven children to her parents Bernadette (Murphy) and the late Harvey Hadley. She is survived by her siblings Shawn Hadley (Diane) of Guysborough NS, Jerry Hadley of Truro NS, Billy Hadley (Barb) of Guysborough NS, Bevin Hadley (Anne) of Toronto and Carolyne Hadley of Port Stanley ON as well as her sister in law Peggy Hadley of Truro NS. Also survived by her nieces Kim and Karen and by her nephews Jeffrey, Phillip and Adam. Predeceased by her brother Teddy in 2002. Donna will be remembered for many things in life including owning Serena’s Ladieswear in Blenheim for 25 years, her passion for cooking, travelling and entertaining but maybe most of all for the love she had for her family and for the part of her that never really left her childhood home of Nova Scotia. Friends and family are invited to gather at the Blenheim Community Funeral Home for visitation on Tuesday from 6 – 9 p.m. A Funeral Service will be held in St. Mary’s Church on Wednesday August 6, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. Cremation to follow. Friends wishing to remember Donna with a memorial donation are asked to consider The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada (Ontario Region).

Rita Marie DeMaeyer of Blenheim passed away at Copper Terrace Nursing Home on Friday August 1, 2014. Rita was born in Tilbury North Township 92 years ago to her late parents Delia & Dusty Martin. She always wore a smile, had a contagious laugh and showed much determination in everything she did. With the help of her husband Joe DeMaeyer who predeceased her in 1998, Rita ran an upholstery shop outside of Blenheim. She is survived by her siblings Edna Armstrong, Marie Abrams and Gerald & Irene Martin, by her children Pat & Ron Lloyd, Mary & John Blythe, Alice Demers, Doreen & Bob Larabie, Rose & Bob Rose, Shelley & Bill Montgomery, Bev & Pam DeMaeyer and Joe & Shari DeMaeyer as well as by several grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. Cremation has taken place. A private graveside service will be held at a later date. Friends wishing to remember Rita with a memorial donation are asked to consider the Heart & Stroke Foundation.

Frans “Frank” DeLocht of Cedar Springs passed away on Thursday July 31, 2014 at the age of 90 years. Frank was one of three boys born in Belgium to the late Jan and Maria (Geentjens) DeLocht and he is survived by his brothers Lowie and Karel both in Belgium, by his sisters-in-law Roza and Gusta Soentjens and also by his extended family in Belgium. Frank enjoyed farming until his retirement. He was predeceased by his wife Margarethe (Soentjens) DeLocht on January 8, 2004. Cremation has taken place. A private interment will be held at Evergreen Cemetery, Blenheim.

Doug Glover, a retired Captain of the Royal Canadian Air Force passed away on Tuesday July 29, 2014 at the age of 84 years. Husband of the late Kathleen Glover and Therese Glover. Father of Kathleen Glover of Smith Falls and Joel & Elizabeth Glover of Carleton Place. Doug loved his time in service to his country and the many places he was privileged to visit. For over 41 years he provided inspiration to others at the AA meetings he attended wherever he lived. Those who knew Doug knew that he could find the silver lining in most anything. He will be missed by family and friends. He was looking forward to the adventure of his final flight.

Family and friends are invited to gather at the Blenheim Community Funeral Home on Monday August 4, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. where a Service of Remembrance will be held for Doug before proceeding to Evergreen Cemetery where his urn will be interred next to Kathleen and Therese. Friends wishing to remember Doug with a memorial donation are asked to consider the War Amps.

Gloria Ann (Speed) Mervin of Blenheim passed away at Riverview Gardens on Wednesday July 23, 2014 at the age of 82 years. Gloria was predeceased by her husband Clayt Mervin on May 26, 2014. She will be remembered as an active member of the community being a member of the Blenheim Seniors Centre, the Past President of Meals on Wheels, a member of the Blenheim Legion Branch 185 where she held positions on the Executive Committee and was Past President and Past Zone Commander of the Ladies Auxiliary. She enjoyed woodworking, especially fret work which she taught others to do and she participated in a number of craft shows to show her handiwork. Gloria was predeceased by her first husband Delbert Shepherd and by her second husband Bud DeLeeuw who she once co-owned Bud’s Supertest with. She was also predeceased by her brothers Glenn Robert Speed and Joseph Charles Speed. She is survived by a number of nieces and nephews. It was Gloria’s wish that cremation take place and a family graveside service take place at Burk Cemetery. Friends wishing to remember Gloria with a memorial donation are asked to consider the Chatham-Kent Hospice.

Bill Thomas of Blenheim passed away on Saturday July 19, 2014 at the age of 82 years. Bill is survived by his children Shelley Hawkins of Teeswater, Dan Thomas & Connie Vidler of Erieau, Robert & Leslie Thomas of Aurora, Michael Thomas of London and Randy Thomas of B.C., by his sister Marjory Parish Allen of Colorado, his sister-in-law Keitha Thomas of Kingston, by 8 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren and by his best friend Rea Brinkman of Blenheim. He was predeceased by his first wife Betty Thomas (1994), his second wife Lou Ann Thomas (2004) and by 4 brothers. Friends will remember Bill from his 42 years working at Siemens. Cremation has taken place. A private family graveside service will be held at a later date. Friends wishing to remember Bill with a memorial donation are asked to consider Loads of Love. Blenheim Community Funeral Home entrusted with funeral arrangements.