John Rose of Blenheim passed away on October 10, 2018 at the age of 63 years. He will be remembered by his wife Kathy (DeLaet) Rose, by his daughter Jon-Ann Rose & Tony, his sons Fred & Tonya, Roger & Ashley and his grandchildren Payton, Xavier, Kaislee and Brianne.

John was one of five children born to Shirley & John Rose of Chatham and is survived by his sister Shirley VanDaele (Greg) and his brothers Bill Rose (Shirley), Ron Rose and Rick Rose.

John was easy going man who loved spending time with his family and close friends. He will be missed. John’s family will gather at the Blenheim Community Funeral Home to remember him on Tuesday at 1 p.m. Cremation to follow.

Barrie Wilson, a longtime resident of Blenheim, formerly of Church Brough, England, passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 9th in his 64^th year, after a brave battle with cancer. His loving wife Paula was at his side.

Barrie is pre-deceased by his parents, Richard (Dick) and Monica Wilson, and his former partner, Joyce Lynch. He is survived by his sister Helen Taylor (Harold), and niece Nina Robinson (David), all of Appleby, England. Barrie is also survived by Joyce’s son, John Lynch, and his daughters, Abby and Jillian, by Paula’s daughters, Alicia Sliepenbeek (Jason), and Nicole VanGassen (Brandon), and grandchildren, Maximilian and Sophia.

Barrie leaves behind his brother-in-law Edward Mizzi (Bari), sister-in-law Virginia Gutauskas (Bob), loving nieces, Katharine Gutauskas, Jennifer Pereira (Joshua), Victoria Mizzi (Andrew), and nephew, Andrew Mizzi, and many dear friends. Barrie is also survived by several aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends in England.

As a young man in England, Barrie worked at Hook’s Garage, Allison Grand Prix Garage, and as a mechanic and driver for Jewitt Bus Lines.

Barrie was a volunteer firefighter for Blenheim/Ridgetown/Chatham area for 15 years. He worked at Rol-Land Farms, CBM Cement, VANTEL, and snow plowed for the Ministry of Transportation.

Barrie was larger than life, was full of the dickens, was always there to help, and will be wholeheartedly missed.

Family and friends are invited to the Blenheim Community Funeral Home where visitation will take place on Friday from 2 – 4 & 7 – 9 p.m. A Funeral Service for Barrie will take place at the Funeral Home on Saturday October 13, 2018 at 10:00 a.m.   Cremation to follow.   In lieu of flowers, donations to the Word of Life Soup Kitchen would be greatly appreciated.

Daniel (Danny) Justin Kenneth McCullough resided in Chatham. He was born Sunday August 8th,1976 and passed away on Friday September 28th, 2018.

He was the much loved son of Penny & his father, Ken McCullough who predeceased him in 2016,

Dan leaves behind his children, Kyle McCullough and Gavin McCullough, his sister Bobbi-Jo & Stu Ferren and their children Addison and Drew, brother Jacques & Jennifer and their children Tyler, Jacqueline and Patrick.

Dan loved his children and his family was everything to him. He will be greatly missed.

Dan enjoyed nature and he loved fishing and camping. He was a true sports fan of the Maple Leaf ‘s. He liked stats and could hardly what to put his picks in for the next sports lottery. Dan was always excited to watch a good car race and listen to his favourite 90’s rock music.

He was our Dad, son, brother, and he meant everything to his family. To honour his wishes we will remember him privately.

Daniel Watson Maris, 61, of Glenwood, passed away on Saturday September 22, 2018. He will be dearly missed by his children Michael (Stacey Rowsome), Christopher (Taylor), and Lawren Maris, and their mother Lawrie Maris. Dan was the proud grandfather of Zelda Maris.

Danny is the cherished son of Dorothy and the late William Maris. He is loved by brothers and sisters Marilyn (Steve) Dowker, David (Mary Farmer) Maris, Dale (Arlene) Maris, and Maureen (David) Whiting. Uncle Danny will be missed by his many nieces and nephews. Danny will be fondly remembered by his uncles Donald Maris and Ronnie Lloyd, as well as his cousins.

Visitation will take place at the Blenheim Community Funeral Home on Tuesday September 25 from 2-4 pm and 7-9 pm and again on Wednesday September 26 from 11:30 am-1 pm followed immediately by a Funeral Service. Interment will take place in Pardoville Cemetery. In memory of Dan’s giving nature, friends who wish to remember him with a memorial donation are asked to donate to the charity of their choice.

Arnold R. McCourt, a resident of Blenheim passed away at the Chatham-Kent Hospice, Chatham on September 14, 2018 at approximately 3:10 p.m. at the age of 95 years.

Born in the Ottawa Valley at a farm in Osceola Ontario, Arnold was the son of the late Charles and Ellen Winnifred “Nellie” (Cull) McCourt.

Beloved spouse of the late Cecile (Jones) McCourt (2008). Loving father of Brenda Appel (Bill) of Ridgetown Ontario, Wayne McCourt (Pat) of Buckhorn Ontario, Patricia Pursley (John) of Waterford Ontario, Colleen Butcher (Larry) of Port Dover Ontario and Maureen Parker (John) of Shrewsbury Ontario. Proud Grandfather of 13, proud Great-Grandfather of 30 and proud Great-Great-Grandfather of 1. He is survived by one sister Marina Lamoureux of Azilda Ontario and one brother Patrick McCourt of Largo, Florida. He will also be missed by many nieces and nephews.

Arnold served in WWII with the Three Rivers Tank Regiment as Tank Crew Commander for 4 ½ years. A special thanks to the people in Dokkum Friesland for taking him into their homes in 1945.

Family and friends will be received at the Blenheim Community Funeral Home on Tuesday September 18, 2018 from 2 – 4 & 6 – 8 p.m. A Legion Service will take place at 3:00 p.m. and Parish Prayers will take place at 7:00 p.m.

A Funeral Mass for Arnold will be held at St. Mary’s Church, Blenheim on Wednesday September 19, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. Interment of his urn will take place in Evergreen Cemetery.

Donations in memory of Arnold McCourt to St. Mary’s Church, Blenheim, Right to Life Kent in Chatham or to the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 185 in Blenheim would be appreciated.

George William “Bill” Bourdeau of Blenheim passed away on Thursday September 13, 2018 at the age of 85 years. He was the last surviving member of his family having been predeceased by his parents Thomas & Norma (Manning) Bourdeau and by his sisters Margie Martin and Joanne Moore.

He was loved for many years by his wife Lynne Gardiner and her children Heather Gardiner (late Raymond Baylis) & Franco Palazzi and Melissa Gardiner & James Traxler. He was an awesome grandfather to Hunter Baylis, Rylan Traxler and Grace Traxler. He will be remembered fondly by his mother-in-law Irene Hall (late Albert C. Hall) and by his sister-in-law whose name is also Irene Hall.

Bill was an accountant who worked for many years at and retired from Mallory Industries. He loved life and lived it like there was no tomorrow. He golfed, he curled, he travelled and he gambled just enough. His undeniable charm and outgoing personality afforded him the opportunity to meet many people from many walks of life including the legendary Johnny Cash who he had a drink with under a bridge in Chatham. He loved old country music…especially Johnny Cash and Hank Williams Sr. It was without question however, that the friends Bill loved being surrounded by the most were his friends at the Blenheim Legion where he spent hours playing pool and cards.

Cremation has taken place.  Visitation will take place at the Blenheim Community Funeral Home on Monday September 17, 2018 from 3:00 – 5:00 and will be followed by a gathering of family and friends at the Blenheim Legion beginning at 6:00 p.m.

Gerald Peter McKeon of Erieau passed away at home on Thursday September 13, 2018. Gerry was born 64 years ago to his late parents Peter & Verna (Meyers) McKeon. He will be forever missed by the love of his life, Joanne Adams and by his children Rhonda & Clem Bourgeois, Peter McKeon, Stacey Adams (Elvin), Brad Adams and Josh Adams (Kate). He was a loving grandfather to Beau, Bianca, Alexis, Jayden and Evan and brother to Gord & Arlene McKeon, Harold & Lori McKeon and Julie McKeon. Gerry will also be missed by his mother in law Jeannette Vidler and by Joanne’s siblings Lauraine & Jim Fennell, Scott & Patti Vidler and Brian & Heidi Vidler. Last but not least, Gerry will be missed by his fur friend Honey B.

Gerry was a kind and caring person who would stop whatever he was doing to help someone else. He lived life to the fullest every moment of every day, especially if those moments included his family or working on restoring his Camaro. He retired in 2010 after many years of working at Navistar. He will be missed.

It was Gerry’s wish that his family remember him privately.

Friends wishing to donate toward a charity are asked to consider the Chatham-Kent Hospice or Pet & Wildlife Rescue.

Mark Henry “Harry” Hewings of Blenheim passed away at the Copper Terrace Nursing Home in Chatham on Wednesday September 5, 2018 at the age of 97 years.  Harry was the loved husband of the late Eleanor (Sargent) Hewings.  He was the proud father and father-in-law of Caroline Paine, Brent Paine, Bob & Patricia Hewings, Mark & Susan Hewings, Lorne & Marilyn Hewings, John & Carol Hewings and the late Tom & Caroline Hewings.  He was the Grandfather, Great-Grandfather and Great-Great Grandfather to many beautiful children.

Visitation will be held at the McCleister Funeral Home, 495 Park Road, Brantford Ontario on Wednesday from 2 – 4 & 7 – 9 p.m.  A Funeral Service for Harry will be held at the Funeral Home on Thursday September 13, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. followed by interment and a reception.

Please, in lieu of flowers please consider a memorial donation to the Alzheimers Society.

Martha Veronica (Miller) Heuston a resident of Chatham died peacefully at the Sydenham District Hospital, Wallaceburg on September 4, 2018. Martha was born in Unity, Saskatchewan.   She will be missed by her children Donna Grabec (Joe), Marilyn Heuston (Brian), Bob Heuston, Stephen Heuston (Lucette), Karen Kalp (Dan) and Shelley Heuston all of Chatham. She was predeceased by her daughter Kristine Bayley in 2016.

Loving Grandmother to Billy Glassford (Janna) of Ridgetown, Chris and Jim Glassford of Chatham, Micheal Glassford of Highgate, Natalie Heuston (Jeff) and Robert and Carmela Heuston of Chatham, Stephen Heuston (Ronnie) of Sechelt B.C., Michelle Heuston (Peter) of White Rock, B.C., Paul and Rebecca Smith of London, Kevin Bell of Chatham and Shayna and Nivonna Wills of Burlington. Great Grandmother to Jacob and Chandler Glassford, Alec and Hanna DeClark, Tariq Heuston, Alic Latimer, Zachary Mullaly, Colten Smith, Emily, Alexis, Austin Smith, Jak and Jillien Pinnance. Martha will be remembered by her sister Irene Oskard of Lake Isle, Alberta.

She will be missed by her very special little friend Queen Lola.

Special thanks go out to Carmela Heuston for spending the nights with Grandma and to Dr. J Leigh, Dr. Mayo and the nursing staff on the Medicine Unit at the Sydenham District Hospital, Wallaceburg.

Cremation has taken place. Family and friends are invited to the Blenheim Community Funeral Home on Friday September 7, 2018 from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Friends wishing to remember Martha with a memorial donation are asked to consider the Sydenham District Hospital. Online condolences for the family and memorial donations may be left at www.blenheimcommunityfuneralhome.com

Margaret “Jean” Little, dear wife of the late Ken Little, passed away at the Nisbet Lodge, Toronto on Wednesday August 29, 2018. Jean was born in Harwich Township 87 years ago to the late Fredrick & Violet Rodwell. She is survived by her only sister Elsey Martin of Toronto and was predeceased by her brothers Clarence Rodwell, Harold Rodwell and her brother in law Albert Martin.

Jean will be remembered by her sisters in law Leora Rodwell, Yvonne Rodwell, Donna Jones, Jeanette Drury and Margaret Clark, by her nieces Valerie Marzola and Ronda Jensen and by several nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews.

Jean worked as a bookkeeper and lived in Chatham until 2012 when she moved to Toronto. Her family commends the staff at Nisbet Lodge for the kindness and compassion that they showed to Jean during her time there.

Family and friends are invited to the Blenheim Community Funeral Home where visitation will take place on Saturday September 1, 2018 from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. A Funeral Service conducted by Rev. John Anderson will take place at 2:00 p.m. Cremation will follow and a private family interment will take place in Evergreen Cemetery at a later date.

Friends wishing to remember Jean are asked to consider Nisbet Lodge in Toronto, the Breast Cancer Society of Canada or the Parkinsons Association in lieu of flowers.