Donna Edith Sarginson of Chatham passed away on Friday March 4, 2011. Born to her late parents Douglas & Edith Guyett on January 20, 1934, Donna was a loving wife, mother and friend. She held a special place in her heart for animals, especially her cat Sassy. Donna will be sadly missed by her husband Thomas Sarginson, her children Robert Nykolozyn, Mary Shaw & Morley Sommerville, Nancy Hammond, Kathy Mealing, Karen Nykolozyn and Margaret & Paul DeCou, by her grandchildren Dwayne Shaw, Jeff Shaw, Lisa Mealing & friend Bob, Tina Mealing & friend Jay, Aimeé DeCou and Adam DeCou and her great grandchildren Samantha, Tyler, Paige and Colten, by her sisters Grace & Tom Tong, Ruth Walker & Cyril Roets, Dorothy & Rob Debiasi, Doreen & Pete Verhart and her brothers George & Rose Guyett and Beverly Guyett, her brother in law Martin Beales and a number of nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. Predeceased by her twin brother Donny (1934), her sister Evelyn (1989) & brother in law Julien Mortier (1990), son-in-laws David Shaw (1993) and Joseph Hammond (2009) and by her sister Joyce Beales (2010). Visitation will be held at the Blenheim Community Funeral Home on Sunday from 2 – 4 & 7 – 9 p.m. A Funeral Service for Donna will be held at the Funeral Home on Monday March 7, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. Interment in Evergreen Cemetery. Friends wishing to remember Donna with a memorial donation are asked to consider the O.S.P.C.A. or the Cancer Society.

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our mother, Donna Ernest on Monday February 28, 2011. Mom was born in Ingersoll on April 4, 1933 and was predeceased by her parents Mark & Jean (Sutherland) Simpson. She was a wonderful role model to her three children; Rob & Debbie Ernest of London, Cheryl & Fred Miles of London and Mark Ernest of Shrewsbury, to her grandchildren Tracy & Jeff Reid, R.J. Ernest & Holly Robertson, Jennifer Baynham & Rue Murphy, Cory Baynham, Hannah Miles, Jade Ernest and Shelby Ernest and to her great grandchildren Caden Murphy and Elizabeth, Callum and Victoria Reid. She will be sadly missed by her sister Doreen & Ken Hogg of Thamesford and by her brother Bob & Barb Simpson of London. Mom had lots of personality, loved to travel and had many friends. She was very generous in her life, often sacrificing her own wants for the benefit of others. It was an honour to call her our Mom. Cremation has taken place and the Blenheim Community Funeral Home has been entrusted with funeral arrangements. The Blenheim and Community Seniors Drop In Centre was a big part of Mom and it was her wish that we celebrate her life with a Memorial Service there. Please join us at the Centre on Saturday March 5, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. as we share stories and pay tribute to a life well lived. Friends wishing to remember Mom with a memorial donation are asked to consider the Cancer Society.

June Doris Shaw passed away at the Meadow Park Nursing Home on Monday February 21, 2011 at the age of 81 years. She is survived by her children Barb & Duncan Pickering of Blenheim, Pam Beattie of Calgary, Diane & Omer Reaume and Gary & Cindy Donais of Tilbury, her sister Betty Davidson of Tilbury and her brothers in law Gord Jeffery of Chatham and Glen Gryp. June will be fondly remembered by her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was predeceased by her sisters Marjorie & Murray Willan, Dorothy & Edmond Duyck, Bonnie Jeffery and Doreen Gryp, by her brother Harrlow Shaw and by her brother in law Arnold Davidson. June was a long time employee of Thamesview Lodge in Chatham. She will be remembered for her keen sense of fashion, her love of travelling and most importantly for her ability to remain so positive as she dealt with challenges in her life. Visitation for June will be held at the Blenheim Community Funeral Home, 60 Stanley Street in Blenheim on Thursday from 2 – 4 & 7 – 9 p.m. A Funeral Service will be conducted at the Funeral Home on Friday February 25, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Susan Jolley officiating. Interment in Merlin Cemetery. Friends wishing to remember June with a memorial donation are asked to consider the Canadian Diabetes Association.

Teunisje “Toos” Vandersluis of Blenheim passed away on Thursday February 10, 2011 at the age of 80 years. Born in Spakenburg-Bunschoten, Holland, Toos moved to Canada as a newlywed with her husband Mike; a journey that would span 59 years. Toos and Mike were blessed with four children; Margaret & Colin Pool of Ridgetown, Linda & David Gagner of Burlington, Sarah & Gerald Hutten of Ridgetown and Mark & Barbara Vandersluis of Fergus. They were also blessed with twelve grandchildren whom they love very much; Mitchell, Alan, Virginia, Maggie, Bailey, Lyndsay, Olivia, Joshua, Megan, Katelyn, Emily and Addison. Toos was predeceased by her four brothers. She will be well remembered for her determination and her commitment to help others. She loved to knit and crochet and she used that gift not only to keep her own family warm but to provide many hats, mitts, slippers and baby blankets to charities. Recently she was able to provide Loads of Love with 48 matts, each being crocheted with 440 plastic milk bags. Church and Faith were very important to Toos and in keeping with that, friends wishing to remember her with a memorial donation are asked to consider the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee or the Christian School in Chatham. Friends and family are invited to the Blenheim Community Funeral Home for visitation on Sunday from 2 – 4 & 7 – 9 p.m. A Funeral Service for Toos will be held in the Christian Reformed Church on Monday February 14, 2011 at 11 a.m. with Pastor Frank DeBoer officiating. Interment in Evergreen Cemetery.

Ira James Macumber of R.R.# 2 Merlin passed away at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance on Wednesday February 9, 2011 at the age of 72 years. He is survived by his loving wife Carol Johnston and by his children Verna & Phillip Brown of Alberta, Susan & Tom McCormick of Alberta, Doreen & Randy Mueller of Alberta, Ira & Jan Macumber of Alberta, Robert & Kim Macumber of Alberta and Kathy & Charlie McCuley of Alberta as well as 23 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. Ira who was known as “Papa” to his grandchildren in Ontario will also be missed by his extended family Callie, Dan, Hayley and Hannah Russell of St. Catherines, Krystle, Logan and Brayden Pinsonneault of London and. Ira was a truck driver by trade and in his lifetime he was able to see much of Canada and the United States. He held a special place in his heart for animals and would often bring strays home with him. Ira loved to race his stock car at the Buxton Raceway a number of years ago and later became a huge NASCAR fan…life was good when Jimmy Johnson was at the wheel. In keeping with Ira’s wishes, cremation has taken place. There will be no Funeral Home visitation or Funeral Service. Blenheim Community Funeral Home entrusted with arrangements.

Sharon Marlene Faflak, nee Attewell passed away peacefully on Tuesday morning at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance with family members by her side after a lengthy battle with Cancer. Sharon was 64 years old. Born in Blenheim, she was the daughter of Thomas Attewell and Helen Huffman who are predeceased. Sharon was predeceased by her husband and best friend George Faflak in 1997. Mona, as she was known to so many friends and acquaintances will be sadly missed by her only son Jeff, his wife Julie and their two sons Robbie and Adam who referred to their Grandma as Grammona. She is also survived by her brothers and sisters Bud & Janice Attewell, Nancy (Attewell) and the late Bruce McCorkell, Thomas Jr & Gail Attewell, Beverly (Attewell) & Ron O’Phee, Rosemary (Attewell) & Brock Robinson as well as Sandra (Attewell) & Robert Gardiner. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews. Sharon was a wonderful mom, sister, grandmother and friend to so many. She was employed at the Henderson Shoe Store in Blenheim many years ago. Once leaving there she became involved in the Blenheim Golf Club as a cook and kitchen manager and then relaxed to the janitorial department over the last couple of years. Between the Blenheim Golf Club and the Branch 185 Royal Canadian Legion Sharon enjoyed a multitude of wonderful friends. Out of respect for Sharon’s wishes there will be no visitation or funeral service. Cremation has taken place. Sharon’s families would like to invite you to a celebration of her life at the Blenheim Community Golf Club on Saturday February 5^th beginning at 1:00 p.m. to share with them the wonderful and fond memories that she blessed upon us all. Donations in Sharon’s honour can be made to the Chatham OSPCA or the Blenheim Junior Golf Club.

It is with heavy hearts that we say good-bye to our dear mom, Alida Vercouteren (Pijpers). Born in Haarlemmermeer, Netherland on July 24, 1922 to the late Cornelis and Catharina (Mesman) Pijpers. She was predeceased by her husband Theodore Vercouteren in 1983 and her son Alfred in 1968. Survived by her four children; Frank & Theresa Vercouteren, Marie Harrison, Theodore & Mary Ellen (Drury) Vercouteren and Alida & Ronald Jacobs, by seven grandchildren; Janet Fulkerson & Richard Doan, Michael & Tammy Vercouteren, Nelson Harrison, Peter & Hélène Vercouteren, Paul & Lori Vercouteren, Jeff & Kristy Jacobs and Jason & Lisa Jacobs and by sixteen great-grandchildren; Tanner, Meghan, Erica, Amanda, Kyle, Emile, Alec, Marie-Josée, Abbygale, Brent, Cassandra, Danielle, Gillian, Nathan, Parker and Cody. She is also survived by four sisters and one brother in the Netherlands and many nieces and nephews. Alida was a member of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church and a lifelong member of the CWL. Cremation has already taken place. A Celebration of Life and Holy Mass will be held at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church on Friday February 4, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. Private Family Burial of the Urn at Evergreen Cemetery, Blenheim. In lieu of flowers, charitable donations can be made to the Palliative Care Program of VON or Bayshore Nursing, or to the St. Mary’s Hall Building Fund.

Agnes Irene (Gander) Hurrell passed away on Saturday January 22, 2011 at the age of 95 years. Born in Kent Centre, the daughter of James and Annie (Holden) Gander, Agnes and her husband Ernie were able to share over 50 years of marriage before Ernie passed away on February 14, 1993. Agnes was very proud of her daughters Janice & Warren “Bud” Attewell and Margaret & Harvey Jenner, her grandchildren Lee & Jenny Attewell, Terry & Brenda Attewell, Tanya & Al Meredith and Mike & Tracey Jenner and her great grandchildren Vanessa & Peter Cowan, Valerie Attewell, Veronica Attewell, Jordan Attewell, Joel Attewell, Ryan Jenner, Whitney Jenner and Chase Meredith. The last surviving member of her own family, Agnes was predeceased by her sisters Lily, Katie and Annie and by her brothers Jim, George, Bill, Jesse, Harry and Jack. Agnes’ second family was her church family and she will be missed by everyone at the Charing Cross United Church where she was affectionately known as the “Gravy Lady” as that was her responsibility for the countless church dinners she helped with. She also served on the Social Committee and baked for any function that she was able to. In her spare time when she wasn’t quilting, she would bake goodies to have on hand to send home with friends. Agnes was especially well known for her carrot cake and for the hundreds of banana muffins that she would send over the years with the group of hunters on their trek to Manitoulin Island. For those muffins, she became known as the “Muffin Lady”. Agnes worked for a time as a waitress in Charing Cross. She knew and loved everyone and the combination of her outgoing nature and her age earned her the title of “Unofficial Mayor of Charing Cross”. Finally when one of her grandson’s had difficulty pronouncing Grandma and it came out “Gump”, Agnes was given her most endearing name in life…she became “Gump” to everyone…the kind and caring soul who consistently put the needs of others before her own. Visitation for Agnes will be held at the Blenheim Community Funeral Home on Friday January 28, 2011 from 2 – 4 & 7 – 9 p.m. A Funeral Service will be held in the Charing Cross United Church on Saturday January 29, 2011 at 11 a.m. with Rev. Dr. Margaret Trapnell officiating. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery, Blenheim. Acting as pallbearers will be Lee Attewell, Terry Attewell, Mike Jenner, Ryan Jenner, Jordan Attewell and Joel Attewell. Flower Bearers will include Tanya & Al Meredith, Tracey Jenner, Jenny Attewell and Brenda Attewell. Friends wishing to remember Agnes with a memorial donation are asked to consider the Charing Cross United Church General Fund.

Roger Allen Henry Stoner passed away in London on Friday December 31, 2010 at the age of 69 years. He is survived by his loving wife of 39 years Fern (Straight) Stoner and by his children Brad Stoner & Mike Roy of London, Dennis Stoner of Edmonton, Bonni & Matthew Gaudette of Tecumseh, Jennifer & Anthony Huys of Florence and Jason & Ardelle Stoner of Blenheim. Roger was blessed in life with twelve grandchildren; Erin Gaudette, Alex Gaudette, Nathan Huys, Grayce Huys, Andrew Huys, Katherine Huys, Steven Huys, Austin Young, Sidney Stoner, Quinn Stoner, Tanya Stoner and D.J. Fields as well as four great grandchildren. He is also survived by his sisters Arlene (Stoner) Majek and Dianne (Stoner) & Jerry Roelofs. He was predeceased by his parents Elizabeth Frances (Miller) (1977) & Frederick W Stoner (1973), by his sister Doreen (Stoner) Newby (2003) and by his brother Ken Stoner (2000). Roger will long be remembered as the owner of the Mull Body Shop to which he and his family dedicated over 45 years of their lives. Roger was a kind and caring gentleman who treated people with fairness and respect. He loved watching horse races and eventually came to share that passion with his very good friend Vic Cross when they purchased a horse of their own. Roger enjoyed the occasional trip to the casino and he was an avid supporter of the Toronto Blue Jays. Family and friends are invited to the Blenheim Community Funeral Home for visitation on Monday from 2 – 4 & 7 – 9 p.m. A Funeral Service for Roger will be held in the Ridge Community Church on Tuesday January 4, 2011 at 11 a.m. Interment will be in Evergreen Cemetery where Roger will be laid to rest beside his best friend and brother Ken. Following the interment, friends are invited back to the Blenheim Community Funeral Home for a time of fellowship and lunch. Friends wishing to remember Roger with a memorial donation are asked to consider the Ridge Community Church, the Ridge UCW or the Cancer Society.

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our loving wife and mother Mary Lou Verhart on December 26, 2010. Mom was born 63 years ago, just three months after her late parents Angela and Joseph deVrieze landed in Canada. She married her best friend and our dad Bill Verhart, a journey that would last over 43 years and together they raised their four girls; Deb Verhart of Blenheim, Sue Verhart of Chatham, Cheryl & Tom Hohbaum of Kitchener and Brenda & Warren Rumble of Blenheim. We were more than just daughters to our Mom; we were an extension of her. She was our biological and emotional road map. Wherever we were, she was too, either quietly with us in thought or in the passenger seat of our cars. She cared for our children. When we were in school, Mom got involved in the Parent Teacher Association and even became a Trustee for the Kent County Roman Catholic School Board. She supported us in Figure Skating, in bowling and in all of our endeavours. In return we faithfully stood by her during these past five weeks and we were with her when it was time to say goodbye. Mom and Dad were also blessed with four grandchildren Paul, Gabriella, Curtis and Zoë who they love dearly and who love them back. Mom was also a dedicated member of St. Mary’s Church CWL. She will be missed by her sisters Margie & Bert Derikx and Betty & Bruce Aitken as well as her brothers in law and sisters in law Adelaide & John Vercouteren, Pete & Doreen Verhart, Nelly & Clay Reedhead, Henny & Leonard Casier, Jane Verhart and Leo & Pat Verhart as well as several Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Nieces and Nephews. Mary Lou was also predeceased by her sister in law Anna VanWissen and her mother in law, Anna and her father in law Peter. Visitation will be held at the Blenheim Community Funeral Home on Wednesday from 2 – 4 & 7 – 9 p.m. with CWL prayers being held at 7 p.m. A Funeral Mass for Mary Lou will be held in St. Mary’s Church, on Thursday December 30, 2010 at 10 a.m. Interment in Evergreen Cemetery, Blenheim. Friends wishing to remember Mary Lou with a memorial donation are asked to consider the Heart & Stroke Foundation or the Diabetes Foundation.