Mary Anne (Ford) Brooks passed away on Monday March 14, 2011 just three days before her 67^th birthday. Mary Ann was the eldest of three daughters born to their late parents Tom and Marion (Attridge) Ford. As a child her family lived above the Ford Funeral Home which was located on Talbot Street. Later she would follow her father’s footsteps and work for a number of years at Southwestern Regional Centre where she became an Assistant Supervisor. During that time she raised her daughters Lisa & Bernie Howard of Blenheim and Michele and Brad Thompson of Saskatoon. In 1988 Mary Anne left Southwestern Centre and joined the staff at McIntyre I.D.A. In her spare time she enjoyed her grandchildren Zach, Evan and Darien Howard of Blenheim and Brooke, Torri, Brady and Katie Thompson of Saskatoon, she enjoyed that special bond that only sisters can share with Peggy & Bob Knott and Linda & Tom McNear of Blenheim and she enjoyed golfing. She will also be missed by her dear friend Chris Rumble and by her loving companion, Chynna. It was Mary Anne’s wish that cremation be followed by a private graveside service at Evergreen Cemetery where she will be laid to rest with her parents. Friends wishing to remember Mary Anne with a memorial donation are asked to consider the Blenheim Relay For Life through the Cancer Society or to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

Norma Jean (Zoller) Hux passed away on Monday March 14, 2011 in Hamilton where she had recently moved to be closer to her family. Norma was predeceased by her husband Art Hux on March 18, 2006. She will be sadly missed by her children Margaret Hux & Bob Niven of Hamilton, Barbara Hux & Clive Baugh of Hamilton, Dan and Barbara Hux of Penetanguishene, Robert Hux of Montreal and Bill Hux of London, by her grandchildren Michael, Laurel, Gillian, Collin and Dee Jay, her cousin Ross Zoller of Blenheim and by her foster daughters Ethel Collins and Sandy Coons. Predeceased by her parents Simon and Blanche (Thompson) Zoller, her brother Bill Zoller and her foster daughter Marie Babineau. Norma was a member of the Blenheim Baptist Church and was employed as a Social Worker at Southwestern Regional Centre for a number of years. Visitation will be held at the Blenheim Community Funeral Home on Tuesday March 22, 2011 from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. A Funeral Service for Norma will follow the visitation at 2:00 p.m. Interment in Churchville Cemetery, Rodney. Friends wishing to remember Norma with a memorial donation are asked to consider the Blenheim Baptist Church.

Muriel (Shivas) Jackson passed away at the Blenheim Community Village on Thursday March 10, 2011. Born in Raleigh Township 96 years ago, Muriel was the last surviving member of her family. She was predeceased in 2007 by her husband Garnet after 66 years of marriage. Muriel will be remembered fondly by her children Julia & Carl Russell of Blenheim and Don & Nancy Jackson of Merlin, by her grandchildren Rob & Nicol Jackson, Craig & Lori Russell and Jenn & Kevin Knights and by her great grandchildren Thomas, Katrina, Madison and Joshua Jackson, Kerrigan Knights and Brad and Brodie Russell. A Private Family service will be held on Saturday March 12, 2011 with Rev. Wanda Burse officiating. Interment in Evergreen Cemetery. Friends wishing to remember Muriel with a memorial donation are asked to consider Talbot Trail Place through the Blenheim Rotary Club.

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.