Tawnya Irene Stoehr-Stephens, loving daughter of Joanne & Albert Brown of West Lorne and Debra & the late Wayne Stoehr (2012) of Erie Beach passed away at home on Thursday January 3, 2013 at the age of 40 years. Tawnya will be forever missed by her husband Scott Stephens, her daughters Melissa Anne Stoehr, Jessica Lynn Stoehr and Jordan Joanne Zimmerman, her brother Scott Brown and her sister Trina (Dave) Hrdlicka (British Columbia). She appreciated things in life that are often missed; a midsummer night, the sound of waves crashing on a shore and a dream of her very own. Her favourite saying was “If you can’t take the day…take the moment”. A private family service was held at the Blenheim Community Funeral Home on Saturday January 5, 2013 with Pastor Tim Joyce officiating. Interment followed in Evergreen Cemetery where Tawnya was laid to rest with her grandparents George and Irene Verstraete. Acting as pallbearers were Scott Brown, Shannon Walker, Jim Bennett, Louie Lloyd, Shawn Clapp and Matt Carnahan. Tawnya’s family would like to thank everyone who surrounded and supported her during her journey over the past year. Friends wishing to remember Tawnya with a memorial donation are asked to consider the Canadian Cancer Society or the OSPCA – Chatham-Kent Branch. FAMILY is STRONG to BELIEVE,

LIVE, LAUGH, LOVE have HOPE and FAITH

Marie Wilson of Blenheim passed away at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance on Tuesday January 1, 2013 at the age of 68 years. Marie was one of four children born to Esther and Albert Wilson and is survived by her youngest sister Jo-Anne Walsh and her brothers-in-law Stan Stempalcowski and Arthur Walsh. She is predeceased by her sisters Diane Stempalcowski and Linda Twinkes. At a young age, Marie moved to Blenheim and was raised by her family Louise and the late Sandy McIvor. She will be remembered by her extended families David & Kathy Lee, their children Kendra and Preston and Deb VanGassen and her family. In keeping with Marie’s wishes, cremation has taken place. Visitation will take place at Glad Tidings Community Church on Friday January 4, 2013 from 10:00- 11:00 a.m. A Funeral Service conducted by Pastor Eric Revie will take place in the Church at 11:00. Friends wishing to remember Marie with a memorial donation are asked to consider Glad Tidings Community Church of the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Blenheim Community Funeral Home entrusted with arrangements.

Pauline Susie Cowan passed away at home on Friday December 28, 2012. Pauline was born 72 years ago to her parents Mary (Trupish) and Andrew Krajnik. While working at a bank in Rodney, she met her future husband Garry Cowan. Pauline and Garry moved to Blenheim where she would work for many years at the CIBC Bank. When asked what her greatest pride was in life, Pauline replied that her three children Brant Cowan, LeeAnn & Rob Fraser and Lesli Cowan were as well as her grandchildren; Brant’s daughter Jocelyn, LeeAnn’s daughters Robyn and Holly and Lesli’s son Andrew. Pauline will be missed by her sisters Carol Ann & Andre Julien and Margaret Shaw both of London. She was predeceased by her sisters Leada and Rose and by her brother William. It was Pauline’s wish that this stage of her life be quiet and dignified. In keeping with her wishes, cremation will take place and a private interment with her immediate family will be held at a later date. Friends wishing to remember Pauline with a memorial donation are asked to consider the Canadian Cancer Society. Blenheim Community Funeral Home entrusted with arrangements.

Warren Neil “Bud” Attewell passed away on Friday December 21, 2012. Bud was born 79 years ago to his late parents Helen (Huffman) and Thomas Attewell. Of those 79 years, he dedicated 56 years to the love of his life, Janice (Hurrell) Attewell. Together, Bud and Janice raised two sons Lee & Jenny Attewell of Blenheim and Terry & Brenda Attewell of LaSalle. Their family grew to include grandchildren Peter & Vanessa Cowan, Jordan, Valerie and Joel & Veronica Attewell and a first great-grandchild to be born in January 2013. Bud was equally as proud of his grandchildren as he was his grand-dogs Charlie, Hunter, Chase and Junior. He will be missed by his sisters Nancy McCorkell, Beverly & Ron O’Phee, Rosemary & Brock Robinson and Sandra & Bob Gardiner, his brother Thomas Jr. & Gail Attewell, his brother-in-law & sister-in-law Harvey & Marg Jenner and their children Al & Tanya and Mike & Tracy as well as several nieces and nephews. Bud was predeceased by his sister Sharon Faflak and his mother-in-law and father-in-law Agnes & Ernie Hurrell. For 55 years, Bud was a well respected electric motor repairman. Even during his recent hospital visit, someone recognized him in the hallway as “the best electric motor repairman around”. Just as Bud recognized how to adapt and improve the functioning of an electric motor, so was he able to adapt and improve the challenges that he faced in life. As a quiet and gentle man who never complained, he appreciated his family, his life and the world around him. An optimist, he recognized that in every seed there was a flower and that if you planted a lot of flowers, you would create beauty in the world, and so he did. In keeping with his wishes, cremation will take place. Friends are invited to join Bud’s family at the Charing Cross United Church where Bud acted as an usher for over 30 years on Saturday December 29, 2012 at 11:00 to celebrate a life well lived. Following the memorial service officiated by Rev. Dr. Margaret Trapnell, Bud’s urn will be interred in Evergreen Cemetery, Blenheim. Friends wishing to remember Bud with a memorial donation are asked to consider the Charing Cross United Church General Fund. Blenheim Community Funeral Home entrusted with arrangements.

Mr George Ernest Verstraete of Blenheim passed away at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance on Friday December 21, 2012. George was born January 21, 1920 to the late Cyril and Celina (Verbeke) Verstraete on the family farm, the same farm that he would eventually own and employ many local residents. Following the passing of his first wife Irene (Vermeersch) Verstraete, George met and married Jean (Parker) Verstraete with whom he shared the past 48 years. He is survived by his family Joanne & Albert Brown of Dutton, William & Ursula Verstraete of British Columbia and James Verstraete, Thomas & Valerie Verstraete, Pat Getty (the late Bob), Donna & Jack Turk and Geraldine & Ken Coates all of Blenheim as well as many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. George was predeceased by his only sister Margaret Verstraete. Friends and family are invited to gather at the Blenheim Community Funeral Home on Sunday from 2 – 4 & 7 – 9 p.m. to show their respect to George’s family. A Funeral Service conducted by Fr.Mariaraj Irudayam will be held at the Blenheim Community Funeral Home on Monday December 24, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. Interment in Evergreen Cemetery. Pallbearers will be George’s grandsons Don, Warren, Shawn, Scott, Glen, Marc, Aaron and Jared. Friends wishing to remember George with a memorial donation are asked to consider the Blenheim Food Bank.

Murray Allan Gardiner of Merlin passed away on Thursday December 13, 2012. Born in Chatham 82 years ago to his late parents Harold and Annie (Powell) Gardiner, Murray grew up with five siblings including Eunice Laycraft, Ross & Kathy Gardiner and three brothers Glenn, Max and Claire who predeceased him. One night while snowmobiling with a group of friends, Murray met a young lady named Marilyn Irwin and the rest became history. The ride on the snowmobile developed into a marriage that would span the next 38 years with world-wide adventures and winters in Florida. At home, Murray was a farmer…a man who measured his success not by the belongings that he had or the vacations he took but by the crops that broke through the soil in the spring and were harvested in the fall. There were three things that he could rely on in life…his faith in God and his church, his John Deere tractor and the love of his family which included his children Daniel & Donna Irwin, Susan Irwin, David & Jane Irwin, his grandchildren Adam & Elicia, Lisa, Shawn, Tracy and Eric and his great-grandchildren Ava, Makenna, Jack Murray, Nick and Jim. He is also survived by his sister in law Kay Gardiner and several nieces and nephews. He will be missed by all who knew him. Friends and family are invited to gather at the Blenheim Community Funeral Home, 60 Stanley Street in Blenheim on Sunday from 1 – 4 & 7 – 9 p.m. to show their respect to Murray’s family. A Funeral Service will be held at the Funeral Home on Monday December 17, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Bruce Fraser officiating. Interment in Merlin Cemetery. Friends wishing to remember Murray with a memorial donation are asked to consider the CKHA Palliative Care Unit or the Merlin United Church.

Bob “Ozzie” Maynard of Blenheim passed away at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance on Thursday December 13, 2012. Born in Chatham 71 years ago to his late parents Glenn and Lillian (Kenny) Maynard, Bob was a truck driver by trade and hauled gravel for many years. Bob’s passion in life was his family. He is survived by his children Alecia Slauenwhite & sons-in-law Dennis Bergsma and Doug Slauenwhite of Blenheim, Richard & Bobbi Pepper of Sombra, John Pepper of Blenheim and Donald & Barb Pepper of Dauphin, Manitoba, by many grandchildren and great grandchildren. He will also be missed by the many friends he has made in Blenheim and through his years of service to the Lions Club. Bob was predeceased by his wife Barbara (Pepper) and his son Ron Pepper in 2004. He was also predeceased by his brother Tim Maynard. In keeping with Bob’s wishes, cremation will take place and a graveside service will be announced and held at a later date. Friends wishing to remember Bob with a memorial donation are asked to consider the Cancer Society or the Lions Club.

With such sadness, Josh and Alecia (VanOverloop) Butzer and big brother Levi Butzer announce that on Tuesday December 4, 2012 Yvie Aline Butzer was born sleeping at 24 weeks. Although we were only able to hold our daughter for a short time, she has left us with the gifts of joy and memories…gifts that we will cherish for our lifetime. Joining us in the anticipation of Yvie’s arrival were her grandparents Shelley & Mike VanOverloop of Chatham, Janice & Dennis DeJager of Blenheim and Ben & Heather Butzer of Morpeth, Aunts and Uncles Nathan & Kim VanOverloop, Matt & Lauri Butzer and Vicki & Chris Redman and Great-Grandparents Alice & Remi VanOverloop of Chatham, Arlette Vermeersch & Roy Brice of Rondeau Bay, Bernice Fader of Blenheim and Marg & Ed Butzer of Lindsay. Spoiling Yvie in Heaven are her Great Grandfathers Claude Fader and Robert Vermeersch. Family and friends are invited to gather at the Blenheim Community Funeral Home on Saturday December 8, 2012 to show their support to Yvie’s family from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. A Funeral Service will follow at 10:30 in the Funeral Home. Interment in Evergreen Cemetery, Blenheim. Friends wishing to make a memorial donation for Yvie are asked to consider Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto or Right to Life, Chatham-Kent.

John Allin of Cedar Springs passed away peacefully at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance on Wednesday November 21, 2012 at the age of 88 years. John was predeceased by his wife Marjorie in 2003 and by his parents Richard Percy & Emma Ida (Adams) Allin. He is survived by his extended family, nieces and nephews and friends. In keeping with John’s wishes, cremation has taken place. A private family interment will be held in Evergreen Cemetery at a later date. Blenheim Community Funeral Home entrusted with arrangements.

Surrounded by her family on Sunday November 11, 2012 Carolynn (Colebrook) Boothe of Morpeth passed away at the age of 58. Carolynn will be greatly missed by her husband Jim, by her children Jimmy & Wendy Boothe of Blenheim, Dennis Boothe of Winnipeg and Stephanie & John Fraser of Morpeth, by her grandchildren Kirkie, Kalvin and Lexie Fraser, sister Rosemary & Neil Atton of Simcoe, brother Russ Colebrook & Linda Harris of Simcoe, nephew Dylan Harris and niece April & Dan Postma. Carolynn was predeceased by her parents Mary & Blake Colebrook and by her sister Marilyn Colebrook. She is also survived by Jim’s mother Elizabeth Boothe and his siblings Liz & Wayne DeBaene, Joe Boothe, John & Donna Boothe, Emily Daly, Susan & Brian Daly, Pam & Ron McCullogh, Georgina Lane, George & Lana Boothe, Kathy Burr & Dave and Laurie Boothe and their families. Predeceased by Lynn (Boothe) Ameel and Bob Boothe. Friends and family are invited to gather at the Blenheim Community Funeral Home on Wednesday from 2 – 4 & 7 – 9 p.m. to show their support to Carolynn’s family. A Funeral Service will be held at the Funeral Home on Thursday November 15, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. with Rev. Bill Terris officiating. Friends wishing to remember Carolynn with a memorial donation are asked to consider the Multiple Sclerosis Society.