Wayne Edward McDermid of Blenheim passed away in London on Sunday July 4, 2010 at the age of 62 years. Wayne is the loving husband of Carroll (Hanson) McDermid and best friend of his son Kenneth McDermid at home. He is survived by his sister Susan Guy of Chatham and by a number of Aunts, Uncles, cousins and a number of special close friends. Wayne was a lover of music. At the age of 12 he learned to play the drums through his membership in the Police Boys Band in Chatham. Over time he became a drummer for the Royal Canadian Legion Pipe Band and he was a drummer with the Ridge Road Band. Wayne was also a member of the Essex & Kent Scottish Regiment Association, The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 28 and the Chatham Armoury Messes & Institute, Ansell Armoury. The Blenheim Community Funeral Home has been entrusted with Wayne’s wishes. Cremation has taken place and there will be no formal service at this time. Friends wishing to remember Wayne with a memorial donation are asked to consider the Canadian Cancer Society.

Donna Elaine (Vinter) Dowd passed away on June 25, 2010 at the age of 66 years. She will be sadly missed by her husband of 39 years, Wayne Dowd and by her children Barb & Mark Osborne of Blenheim, Rob Dowd of Chatham, Elaine Dowd & Doug Innes of Blenheim and Paul & Jennifer Dowd of Blenheim. Nana will be missed by Christopher Osborne, Lindsey Osborne, Katie Jubenville, Adam Jubenville, Zach Dowd, Luke Dowd, McKenzie Dowd, Olyvia Dowd, Cooper and Cayson. Donna is survived by her brother Charles & Colleen Vinter of Ridgetown and she is predeceased by her brothers Bev Vinter and Ron Vinter. Donna will be remembered for her determination in life to make the world a better place for her children. Friends will remember Donna through her work in the meat department at the Dominion Grocery Store and at Mallory’s. Family and friends are invited to the Blenheim Community Funeral Home where visitation will be held on Monday from 2:00 – 4:00 and 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. A Funeral Service for Donna will be held at the Funeral Home on Tuesday June 29, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. Interment in Evergreen Cemetery. Friends wishing to remember Donna with a memorial donation are asked to consider the Heart & Stroke Foundation.

Mr. Eli George Ivanchenko, formerly of Ridgetown passed away in Toronto on Friday June 25, 2010. Eli was born in the Ukraine and immigrated to Canada in 1950. He retired from working with Hydro as a lineman. He is survived by his children Mike Ivanchenko, Kathy Ivanchenko and Judy Ivanchenko. Funeral Arrangements will be private. Interment in Pardoville Union Cemetery.

David Virgil McGuigan, son of the late Virgil and Florence (Fitzgerald) McGuigan passed away at his home in Blenheim on Thursday June 24, 2010 at the age of 83. David was predeceased by his wife Helen (Pardo), by his eldest son Gordon, his brother James McGuigan and by his brother-in-law Robert Pardo. He is survived by his children Mitchell (Mary), Anne (Serge), Karen (Scott), Susan (Deny) and by his daughter-in-law Jacqueline Morin. Also surviving are 12 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren, his sister Helen Miller (Ed), brothers Robert (Tina) McGuigan and Maurice (Simone) McGuigan, sisters-in-law Mona McGuigan and Eleanor Pardo, brother-in-law Douglas (AnnaMae) Pardo and many nieces and nephews. A private memorial service will be held. Memorial donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society.

Surrounded by the love of her family, Dianne Elaine (Lachine) Payne passed away at her home on June 10, 2010 at the age of 60 years. Predeceased by her husband John in 2005, Dianne is the proud mother of Sherry & Joe Brown of North Buxton and Mike Payne & Des of Blenheim and the loving grandmother of Tikesha Brown, Shaphan Brown, Zachary Brown, Kierra Brown, Alexie Payne and Taylor Payne as well as the great grandmother of Jesavior, Faith and Destinee Collier. She was fortunate in life to experience the joys of a large family, being one of fourteen children born to Loretta Lachine of Ridgetown and the late Donald Lachine. She will be missed by Bob & Jane Antaya, Sandra Lachine, Edward & Bev Lachine, Carol & Wayne Parker, Evelyn Nott, Sandra Rumble, Janet VandeHogan, Randy Lachine & Tracy Faulkner, Wendy Lachine & Linda Dunn, Daniel & Alicia Lachine, Lawrence Lachine and Cameron & Bernadette Lachine. Dianne is predeceased by Donald Lachine, Leonard Lachine, Gary Nott and Robert Rumble. Dianne was a kind and caring person who put the needs of others first. She worked as a Nurse at local Nursing Homes and later worked at Helen’s Country Harvest. The Payne & Lachine families invite friends for visitation at the Blenheim Community Funeral Home on Monday from 2 – 4 & 7 – 9 p.m. A Funeral Service for Dianne will be held on Tuesday June 15, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. Interment will take place in Evergreen Cemetery. Friends wishing to remember Dianne with a memorial donation are asked to consider the Cancer Centre Foundation at the Windsor Regional Hospital, 195 Lens Avenue, Windsor Ontario N8W 1L9.

Edward Harold Cofell passed away at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance on Thursday June 10, 2010 at the age of 70 years. Ed was a proud member of the Ridge Community; the place where he farmed all his adult life, the place he called home and the place where he and his best friend and wife Donna (Sedgman) Cofell raised their daughter Karen Jackson and their son Brian Cofell. Edward and Donna are the proud grandparents of Tori and Tiffani Jackson and Carrick Cofell. He will be missed by his brother Glen & Lorraine Cofell of Blenheim, by his dear friends Fred & Wendy Holmes & family as well as Donna’s extended family; Joan & Fenton Logan, Laurie Logan, Graham & Louise Lloyd, Colin & Gil Lloyd and Geoff & Yvette Lloyd and their families as well as by his many Cofell cousins. Edward is predeceased by his parents Harold and Gladys (Newcombe) Cofell. Family and friends are invited to the Blenheim Community Funeral Home for visitation on Saturday from 7 – 9 p.m. and again on Sunday from 2 – 4 & 7 – 9 p.m. A Funeral Service for Edward will be held in the Ridge Community Church on Monday June 14, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Wanda Burse officiating. Interment in Evergreen Cemetery. Friends wishing to remember Ed with a memorial donation are asked to consider the Ridge Community Church or the CKHA 4^th Floor Medicine Unit A or the CKHA Oncology unit.

Mildred Pearl Tye passed away at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance on Tuesday June 8, 2010. Born 94 years ago to Nettie & George Hebblethwaite, Mildred spent 60 happy years married to her husband William J. Tye before he predeceased her on February 4, 1998. Mildred is the proud mother of Nettie & Dan Apthorp of Blenheim, Dona & William Holling of Chatham, Joyce & John Clark of McKay’s Corners, Jim & Mary Lou Tye of Mull and Patricia Anne Tye who predeceased her. Mildred was blessed in life with twelve grandchildren; Deb Tye, Cindy & Ken Valley, Lori & Ron Jones, Karen & Scott Walker, Stephanie & Vince DeBrouwer, Kevin Tye & Shirley, David Tye & Betty, Tom & Crystal Tye, Michael Apthorp & Sherrie, Jim Holling & Esther, Jason & Rachel Apthorp and Shawn Clark, by fourteen great grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren. She was a special aunt to many nieces and nephews. Mildred was predeceased by her granddaughter Marilyn Apthorp and her great grandson Daeton Mantle. She was the last surviving member of her family being predeceased by her sisters Lily Mitchell and Kate Pickering and by her brothers Albert, William, Robert, George and Hugh Hebblethwaite. Mildred was also the last surviving member of the original group that founded the Blenheim Seniors Centre where she will be missed by many friends. She was a life time member of the Blenheim United Church. Mildred’s family will receive family and friends at the Blenheim Community Funeral Home on Friday June 11, 2010 from 2:00 – 4:00 and 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. A Funeral Service will be held at the Funeral Home on Saturday June 12, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. Interment in Evergreen Cemetery, Blenheim. Friends wishing to remember Mildred with a memorial donation are asked to consider The Blenheim Seniors Centre or the Blenheim United Church.

Fr. Ivo Tommeleyn of Blenheim passed away at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance on Monday June 7, 2010. Fr. Ivo was born in Belgium 82 years ago where he studied Philosophy and Theology before immigrating to Canada in 1956. His Ministry in Canada included teaching in Blenheim from 1956 – 1958 followed by his role as Pastor in Pelee Island Ontario, Toutes-Aides Manitoba, St. Boniface Manitoba, Comber, Ontario and at St. Anne’s Church in Erieau. Since 2007 Fr. Ivo has lived in retirement at St. Francis Friary in Blenheim. Fr. Ivo was a jubilarian who celebrated 60 years of religious life in 2009 and 50 years of priesthood in 2005. Fr. Ivo is survived by his three sisters Yvonne & Emiel DeWilde, Gabrielle Tommeleyn and Lina & Wilfried Vervisch of Belgium and by his niece Anne Tommeleyn in Canada. He is predeceased by his parents Edvard & Rachelle Tommeleyn, by his sister Renata & brother Francis Tommeleyn and by his sister in law Lena DeRoo.

Visitation for Fr. Ivo will be held at St. Mary’s Church on Tuesday June 8, 2010 from 5:00 – 9:00 p.m. and on Wednesday June 9, 2010 from 3:00 – 5:00 and 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Parish Prayers will be held on Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. A Funeral Mass celebrated by Fr. David Connolly and concelebrated by Fr. Hoang Nguyen, Fr. Paul Duplessie and Fr. Louis Mousseau will be held in St. Mary’s Church on Thursday June 10, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. Interment in Evergreen Cemetery. Blenheim Community Funeral Home entrusted with Funeral Arrangements. Online condolences and donations may be made to the Capuchin Burse Fund or to a charity of your choice with www.blenheimcommunityfuneralhome.com

Nelson Sykes passed away with his family at his bedside at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance on Wednesday May 26, 2010 just 11 days prior to his 88^th birthday. Born in Raleigh Township on June 6, 1922. Nelson is survived by his wife of 68 years Marian (Wilkinson) Sykes of Chatham, daughter Ona Forget and her husband Patrick of Charing Cross, sons Murry Sykes and his wife Marie of Blenheim and Larry Sykes of Chatham. Also survived by his grandchildren Shawn Forget of South Buxton, Dale Forget of Chatham, Chad Sykes and Melissa of Blenheim, Christopher Sykes and Erin of Chatham and Corey Sykes and Vicki of Chatham, and by his great grandchildren Dontae, Desmond, Donavan, Megan, Ryan, Riley, Makayla, Cooper, Evan and Delaine. Nelson was predeceased by his eldest son Gerald Sykes in November, 2008, by his daughter in law Annette Sykes in August, 2003 and by his great granddaughter Holly Sykes in April, 1998. In keeping with Nelson’s wishes, cremation has taken place. Interment will take place in Pardoville Union Cemetery at a later date. Friends wishing to remember Nelson with a charitable donation are asked to consider the Lung Association, Diabetes Association or the Heart & Stroke Foundation.

Clayton “Kaye” Osborne passed away at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance on Friday May 14, 2010 at the age of 77 years. Kaye is the much loved husband of Jean (Walker) Osborne and father of Janet Deschryver and her friend Tim of Blenheim, Mark & Barb Osborne of Blenheim, Tracey & Dan Johnston of Grand Bend, Katherine Osborne of Erin and Keith & Dongmei Osborne of Acton. He was proud of his grandchildren Josh & Tracy, Matthew, Brett, Christopher, Lindsey, Taylor, Dani and Shane and of the latest addition to the Osborne family; his great grandson Cayson. Kaye and Jean farmed just outside Blenheim for many years. In the spring they would sell bedding plants at the “Green Thumb Flowers”. Kaye took great pride in the geraniums that he produced each year. He is one of four boys born to Charles and Gladys (McKay) Osborne and is survived by his brothers Jack Osborne of Erieau and Hal & Anne Gosnell of Collingwood. Kaye was predeceased by his brothers Bill & Blanche Osborne, Ted & Margaret Osborne and by his sister in law Jane Osborne on May 7, 2010. He is survived by his sister in law Pat & Ron Jones of Charing Cross and brother in law Jim Jenkins of Chatham. He is predeceased by his sister in law Gwen Jenkins. In keeping with Kaye’s spirit of simplicity, cremation has taken place. Family and friends are invited to the Blenheim Community Funeral Home for an informal gathering on Sunday May 16, 2010 from 1:00 – 5:00. A private graveside service will be held at Pardoville Union Cemetery at a later date. Friends wishing to remember Kaye with a memorial donation are asked to consider his favourite charity, the Ronald McDonald House.