Agnes Prokop, beloved wife of the late George Prokop passed away on Friday August 21, 2009 at the age of 76 years. Agnes is the loving mother of Fred & Carol Prokop, Jim & Pam Prokop, David Prokop and Patti & Ron Dauphin all of Blenheim. She was blessed in life with five grandchildren and ten great grandchildren. Agnes is survived by her sister Mary & Charlie Remsik of Blenheim and by her brother in law Wilfred Schneider of Kamloops B.C. She is predeceased by her sister Georgina Schneider. Agnes and George owned and operated Prokop Variety & Texaco at Porky’s Corners for 21 years. Visitation will be held at the Blenheim Community Funeral Home on Saturday from 7 – 9 p.m. and on Sunday from 2 – 5 and 7 – 9 p.m. Parish Prayers will be held on Sunday evening at 7 p.m. A Funeral Mass for Agnes will be celebrated in St. Mary’s Church, Blenheim on Monday August 24, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. Interment in St. Anthony’s Cemetery, Chatham. Friends wishing to remember Agnes with a memorial donation are asked to consider a charity of their choice.

Surrounded by a family who loved her dearly, Elizabeth Pfaff passed away at home on Saturday August 15, 2009. Elizabeth was born in Scotland 92 years ago to her parents Sarah & Robert Gilchrist and lived in Ridgetown for many years. She is the loving mother of Sarah & Delbert Want of Blenheim and Esther & Gary French of Thamesville and grandmother of Tracy & Lee Smith of Blenheim, Dan & Lisa Want of Blenheim, Kim & Rick Doom of Thamesville, Tammy & Eric Eskritt of Blenheim, Christene & Dennis Veenema of Dresden, Christopher & Karrie Geroux of Alberta and Jerry Pfaff of Chatham. Elizabeth is also survived by several great grandchildren and by her sister Sarah Roger of Fullerton. She is predeceased by her daughter Margaret Rose Pfaff, her son Ernest Pfaff, grandsons Tim Want, Michael Pfaff and David Pfaff, her sisters Janet and May and her brothers Robert, Peter and Bill. Elizabeth’s family invite friends and family for visitation at the Blenheim Community Funeral Home on Monday August 17, 2009 from 7 – 9 p.m. A Funeral Service for Elizabeth will be held at the Funeral Home on Tuesday August 18, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Linda McFadden officiating. Interment in Evergreen Cemetery. Those wishing to remember Elizabeth with a memorial donation are asked to consider the Kidney Foundation.

Mr. Jack Knight Handy of Blenheim passed away on Monday July 27, 2009. He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years Erna Handy. Jack was born in Bounty, Saskatchewan 84 years ago to his parents Orin and Maude (Knight) Handy. Following the death of his father, his mother brought her family back to Blenheim in 1929. Jack was one of six children. He is survived by his sister Marion Trudgen and his brother Murray & Eva Handy. He is predeceased by his sister Zelma Smith as well as his brothers Clare and Keith Handy. Jack served in the Navy in World War II on a Corvet in the North Atlantic. He is a member of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 185 in Blenheim and of the Naval Assembly in Chatham, a past member of the I.O.O.F. Lodge in Blenheim but still active in Thamesville and he and Erna are members of the Blenheim United Church. Jack was involved in the Blenheim & District Freedom Library and Museum. He made and donated a replica of the Corvet that he was on to the Museum. In 1959 Jack and his brother Murray co-founded Handy Brothers Heating & Cooling, a business that Jack retired from only 15 years ago. The Handy family invite friends and family for visitation at the Blenheim Community Funeral Home on Thursday July 30 from 2 – 4 & 7 – 9 p.m. A Legion Service will be held on Thursday at 7 p.m. A Funeral Service for Jack will be held at the Funeral Home on Friday July 31, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Wanda Burse officiating. Interment in Evergreen Cemetery. Friends wishing to remember Jack with a memorial donation are asked to consider the Blenheim & District Freedom Library & Museum.

Mr. Abram Hiebert, a resident of the Blenheim Community Village passed away on Friday July 17, 2009. Abram was born in Saskatchewan 85 years ago and enjoyed a life of farming. He is survived by his wife Kathrina, by his children Abraham & Margaretha Hiebert of Wheatley, John & Neller Hiebert of Kingsville, Nelly & John Bueckert of Ridgetown, Isaak & Maria Hiebert of Mexico and George & Maria Hiebert of Mexico. He is also survived by his sisters Margaret & John Bueckert of Belize, Aganetha & Jake Bueckert of Manitoba, by his brother Johann Hiebert of Mexico as well as several grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. Visitation for Mr. Hiebert will be held at the Blenheim Community Funeral Home on Sunday July 19, 2009 from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. and again on Monday from 2:00 – 4:00 & 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Funeral Service will be held at the Blenheim E.M.M.C. Church, 428 Catherine Street on Tuesday July 21, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. Interment in Evergreen Cemetery. Friends wishing to remember Abram with a memorial donation are asked to consider the Blenheim E.M.M.C. Church.

David Eric Cook of London and formerly of Blenheim passed away in London on Saturday July 11, 2009 at the age of 24 years. David is the much loved son of Rev. Bruce and Donna Cook of Blenheim and brother of Sarah Cook and Dawn Cook also of Blenheim. He is survived by his girlfriend Kara Hawthorne of Ridgetown and by his grandparents Erle Cook and Nina Swackhamer. David was born in Kingston but became a self proclaimed Newfoundlander after spending the first eight years of his life there. He would save his paper route money to fly back home in the summers and spend time with his family. David was known to his friends as “Newfy” and after dying his hair blue in high school he was affectionately known as “Newfy Blue”. A student of St. Anne School and later Blenheim District High School, David was full of love and life, exploring more in twenty four years than many do in their entire lifetimes. He loved music and he loved to spend time with family and friends. The Cook’s invite family and friends for visitation at the Blenheim Community Funeral Home on Monday from 7 – 9 p.m. and on Tuesday from 2:00 – 5:00 & 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. A Funeral Service for David will be held at the Blenheim United Church, 49 George Street in Blenheim on Wednesday July 15, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. Friends wishing to honour David’s life with a memorial donation are asked to consider the Blenheim United Church Benevolent Fund.

Surrounded by love, Marie Vandersluis passed away in the early morning hours of July 5, 2009 at her home in Blenheim. Marie was born 69 years ago to her late parents Gerald & Marjory (Pickering) Furman. She married her best friend Flip Vandersluis on March 14, 1959. Together, Marie and Flip raised six children; Rick & Cathy Vandersluis of London, Rob Vandersluis of Blenheim, Bonnie & Chris Delargy of Lavigne, Laura & David Huffman of Blenheim, Wendy & Larry Smith of Timmins and Phillip Vandersluis of Blenheim. They were blessed with eleven grandchildren; Cameron Vandersluis, Alexander Vandersluis, Ryan Delargy, Sean Delargy, Samantha Delargy, Shelby Huffman, James Huffman, Craig & Kym VanGassen, Brandon & Nikki VanGassen, Nathan Vandersluis and Nicholas Vandersluis and two great grandchildren Blake VanGassen and Jayden VanGassen. She is survived by her brothers Don & Anne Furman of Morpeth and Gord Burchiel of Chatham and was predeceased by her granddaughter Ashley Ann Marie VanGassen in 1987, her sister June Knowler in 2006, her brother Larry Furman in 2007 and by her step father Lloyl Burchiel in 1986.Marie loved cooking, canning, gardening, listening to country music and spending time with family. She loved to watch the different birds come and go in the garden. In keeping with Marie’s wishes, cremation has taken place. The Vandersluis family invite friends and family to visitation at the Blenheim Community Funeral Home on Monday July 6, 2009 from 2 – 4 & 7 – 9 p.m. A Funeral Service for Marie will be held in Trinity Anglican Church on Tuesday July 7, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. David Fuller officiating. Friends wishing to remember Marie with a memorial donation are asked to consider Trinity Anglican Church.

Nyhl Berna Faussett of Ridgetown and formerly Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal and London passed away at the Village Retirement Residence on Friday July 3, 2009. Nyhl was born in Ottawa eighty one years ago to her late parents George Elmore and Edith Myrtle (Young) Glossop. She and her husband Frederick Earl Faussett (November 20, 1982) moved to Ridgetown forty three years ago and raised their children Peter (Ridgetown), James (Durham, North Carolina) and David (September 14, 1976). She was mother-in-law to Linda MacDougall (Peter) and Cathy Faussett (James) and proud Grandmother of Jamie, Nicholas, Rachel, Matthew and Cooper Faussett. Nyhl is predeceased by her sisters Audrey Lois Glossop and Mavis Leona Teraschuk.She was an avid reader and held degrees in History and Education. She shared her knowledge with many through her time as a school teacher. Thirty eight years ago when Nyhl and Fred moved their family to Ridgetown, Nyhl worked beside Fred in their law firm “Stirling and Faussett”. Although her intent was to help out only for a couple of hours, Nyhl stayed for twenty five years; a career that she said was “the longest afternoon of my life”.

Friends will remember Nyhl for her grace, her caring nature, and her wonderful dry sense of humor. An avid reader, she had a great love for language, culture and theatre, and was a long time patron of The Grand Theatre in London and The Stratford Festival. She was also a member of the Ridgetown I.O.D.E. and a 30 year volunteer for the Canadian Cancer Society.

In respect of Nyhl’s wishes, cremation has taken place and there will be no Funeral Service. Family would welcome words of remembrance to Box 1033 Ridgetown N0P 2C0

Friends wishing to honour Nyhl’s life with a memorial donation are asked to consider the Heart & Stroke Foundation or The Canadian Cancer Society.

Mrs. Stella (Dolata) Sibinski of Blenheim passed away at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance on Sunday June 28, 2009. Stella was born in Poland 80 years ago to her parents Sophie and Frank Dolata. Determined to be with her family, Stella and her husband Chester, who predeceased her on June 4, 1988 moved to Canada in 1953. Together they raised their children Jerry & Judy Sibinski of Shrewsbury, Helen & Dale Weller of Chatham and Rick & Cathy Sibinski of Dorchester. Stella was the best Babcia to Craig, David, Jack, Tanner and Laura and Great-Babcia to Dawson, Riley and Tyson. In her life, Stella worked for a time at Greer’s and later she sewed many draperies for people in the Blenheim area. Although her love of sewing showed in the quality of her work, Stella’s life was defined by the love she had for her family. Stella is survived by her sister Irene Srokosz of Blenheim and by her brother Henry & Eileen Dolata of Wheatley. She is predeceased by her sister Angela Koscielski. Stella’s family invite friends and relatives to visitation at the Blenheim Community Funeral Home on Tuesday June 30, 2009 from 2:00 – 4:00 and 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Parish Prayers will be held at 7:00 p.m. and will be followed by a C.W.L. Prayer Service. A Funeral Mass for Stella will be celebrated in St. Mary’s Church on Wednesday July 1, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. with Fr. Greg Mulligan officiating. Interment in Evergreen Cemetery. Friends wishing to honour Stella with a memorial donation are asked to consider a charity of their choice.

Richard Ivan Rumble passed away at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance on Sunday June 14, 2009 at the age of 63. Richard is survived by his loving wife Jane (Crewe), by their sons Mark (Charlene) of Guelph and Philip (Shannon) of Strathroy and by their grandchildren Aidan and Alex. He is also survived by his only brother Fred (Sondra) Rumble of Blenheim, by his niece Sarah Girty of Blenheim and by his nephews Neeland Rumble of Sarnia, Warren Rumble of Blenheim and Greg Girty of Amherstburg. He is predeceased by his parents Ivan & Helen (Scoyne) Rumble and by his infant sister Margaret Jean Rumble. Richard, whose favourite saying was “be the best at whatever you are” was a teacher not only in a school but in the community that he lived in. His teaching career took him to W.J. Baird Public School and to Ridgetown Public School. He was a coach and referee for Blenheim Minor Hockey, he was a life member of the Merlin Legion, the Blenheim Blades Alumni, the Chatham Maroons Alumni, and the Blenheim & District Freedom Library & Military Museum. He was the Past President of the Merlin Legion, the Blenheim Community Golf Course and the Blenheim Minor Hockey Association. He was currently on the executive of the Blenheim Blades Hockey Club. Even after his retirement from Ridgetown Public School, Richard continued to volunteer at schools which showed a dedication and commitment to future generations. Recently Richard and Jane were able to enjoy vacations to the Western and Eastern parts of Canada, to southern points, cruises and most recently to New Zealand. In his quiet times, he enjoyed golf, bridge and gardening. The Rumble family invite friends and relatives to the Blenheim Community Funeral Home, 60 Stanley Street Blenheim for visitation on Tuesday from 7 – 9 p.m. and on Wednesday from 2 – 5 & 7 – 9 p.m. Members of the Merlin Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 465 will hold a Legion Memorial Service on Wednesday at 7 p.m. A Funeral Service for Richard will be held at the Blenheim United Church, 49 George Street Blenheim on Thursday June 18, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Eric Skillings officiating. Cremation will follow with a private family interment at a later date. Friends wishing to honour Richard’s life with a memorial donation are asked to consider the Kidney Foundation, the Canadian Liver Foundation or the Blenheim Freedom Library & Military Museum.

Donald Laurie Charlton of Blenheim passed away at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance on Friday May 29, 2009 at the age of 87 years. Don is survived by his wife Elaine, by his children Donna, Bob and Jeff and by three grandchildren. He is predeceased by his daughter Linda, his son Stephen Donald and his brother Bill. In respect of Don’s wishes, cremation has taken place and a private family Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Friends wishing to remember Don with a memorial donation are asked to consider the Heart & Stroke Foundation, the Alzheimer’s Society or the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 185 in Blenheim.