Peacefully, with family at his side, James Scott McCurdy of Erieau passed away on Wednesday, January 17th 2018.  Born in Sydney, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, 83 years ago, to Herbert Victor (1971) and Bessie McCurdy (Scott) (1988), older brother to Ronald Herbert McCurdy (2017).  He is survived by his wife of nearly 59 years Candace Ann (Irwin), their children Christopher (Nancy), Erin Claeys (Bob) and Kevin (Sue) as well as his eight grandchildren: Connor and Katie; Megan, Michael and Andrew Claeys; Justine, Brianne and Libby.  Also survived by mother in law Neva Irwin, sisters in law Lyn Green (Peter) and Joan McCurdy, nephew Jason Green (Cherie) and niece Sarah Jacobsen (Pat).

Jim was raised and received his schooling in Chatham.  He served in the Royal Canadian Navy (1953-58) before returning to Chatham where he worked for the T.H. Taylor Company.  Jim met Candy in 1957 and they were married in the Trinity Anglican Church at Blenheim.  Life was to continue in Blenheim for the next 35 years.  He was employed by E.M. Warwick eventually leading to a career in the seed corn business.  He became president and co-owner of the Warwick Seed Company, employing many youth with detasseling jobs.

Jim was very active in the community.  He was a founding member of the Blenheim Golf Club, president of the Kinsman Club and member of the K-40 and Blenheim Curling Club.  He was treasurer of the Blenheim Public School Board, chairman and member of the Legion Villa board of directors and a council member for the village of Erieau.  He has been an active member of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 185 for over 50 years.

Retirement years in Erieau have been enjoyed with family and friends – life on the lake.  Jim requested a private family gathering and cremation, which has taken place.  Celebration of his life continues as we reflect on his love, compassion and kindness.  Friends wishing to remember Jim with a memorial donation are asked to consider the Blenheim Freedom Library & Military Musuem, the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 185 or the Cancer Society.

Jim’s favourite Irish blessing:

May the road rise to meet you.

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face.

And rains fall soft upon your fields.

And until we meet again,

May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.

Gloria DeBruyn

“And angels came and they carried me to a safe place.”

Peacefully at Riverview Gardens in Chatham on January 14, 2018, Gloria went to be with our Lord.  Born in Pain Court, Ontario, 90 years ago, daughter of the late Raymond (1933) and Deliska (1963) Benoit.  Beloved wife of the late Joesph DeBruyn (1998).

Gloria was dearly loved, and will be greatly missed by her children, Joanne, London; MaryJane and husband Harv Stansell London; Dianne and husband Hector Lloyd, Chatham; John and wife Caroline DeBruyn, London; Joe P. DeBruyn deceased (2006).   She will be fondly remembered by grandchildren Meghan, Jillian, Andrew, Devon, Amanda, Ryan, Wilhem, Jacob, Samuel and Christopher.  She also leaves behind 10 wonderful Great Grandchildren.

Family and friends will be received at Blenheim Community Funeral Home on Friday, January 19, 2018 where visitation will take place from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. A funeral service to follow at 11:00 with Father John Juhl. Interment in Evergreen Cemetery.

Donations to the charity of your choice would be greatly appreciated.

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of dear Rosemary (Rose) Lynne Morden on January 1, 2018 at Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital surrounded by her loving family. She was taken far too early from us and will be dearly missed by so many. A loving and devoted wife to Ken, loving mother to Andrew and Roslyn Fisher (Chris) and adoring grandmother to Madison, Ryley, Blayke and Cole; loving daughter of Blanche and the late Frank Burke and brothers Doug (Lynne) and Peter (Sherri); loving sister-in-law to Julie Davis (Mike), Margaret; and adoring aunt and grandaunt to many nephews and nieces.
Visitation will be held on January 10, 2018 at Ward Funeral Home, 109 Reynolds Street, Oakville, from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. A Celebration of her Life will be held the following day, Thursday January 11, 2018 at St John’s United Church, 262 Randall Street, Oakville at 11:00 a.m. with a reception following the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Wellspring Birmingham Gilgan House. Please visit the Book of Memories for Rosemary’s life story, at www.wardfuneralhome.com

Harold Leslie “Bill” Prout of Merlin, loved husband and best friend of Johanna, passed away at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance on Sunday December 31, 2017 at the age of 71 years. He was the son of the late Ethel & Leslie Prout and the proud father of Bill Prout (Susan) of Highgate and Tammy Fisher of Chatham. He was loved by his grandchildren Rachel, Derian, Rylee and Gavyn. He will be missed by Johanna’s family including Diana and Isabell and their children Matt, Nikki, Nadine, Chelsee and Aubrey. Harold is survived by his three sisters Shirley Wright (late Earl), Lorna Jean Cowley (Don) and Elenor Dease (Ken). He will be missed by his longtime friends Kingsley & Phyliss Davidson and their family.

Harold wore many hats in his life. He worked as a millwright for many years at Meritor in Chatham, he drove truck and he farmed in Raleigh Township which he loved very much. But his creative passion was in his shop where he could always be found designing, building or fixing anything that he put his mind to. He was the kind of man who would give a helping hand to anyone in need.

In keeping with his wishes, cremation has taken place. A Celebration of Harold’s life will take place at a later date. Friends wishing to remember him with a memorial donation are asked to consider Cystic Fibrosis Canada or the Ronald McDonald House. Blenheim Community Funeral Home entrusted with funeral arrangements. Online condolences for the family and memorial donations may be left at www.blenheimcommunityfuneralhome.com

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our mother Helen Hunter. Born in Glasgow, Scotland 93 years ago, Helen was the beloved wife of Robert Hunter (1988). She is survived by her two sons Allan of British Columbia and Ian of Blenheim. She has 5 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. Helen came to Canada with her family in 1966 and worked at Walkers, Eatons and Zellers. At her request there will be no visitation and cremation will take place. A private family service will take place. Many thanks are extended to the staff of the Blenheim Community Village for the care and compassion shown toward Helen in the years she called the Village home.

In the morning of December 22, 2017 our father, brother and friend went home. Donald Richard Krause passed peacefully from this world from complications of a recent surgery. He was a man who lived his life for Christ and who now reaps the rewards of a life well lived. Wherever Don went laughter, kindness and wisdom followed. He was quick of wit, wise in words and good of heart. What he lacked for in height he made up for, tenfold, in greatest of spirit. He was a kind and good father to his sons: Nathan, Benjamin, Jonathan and Adam. A faithful and loving husband to his wife Laurie, a patient and good brother to his family; Audrey, Janet, Gloria and Ron and he was a humble and true man of God to everyone who met him; a real rarity nowadays. He always had a kind word on his lips, a hand extended to help and a soft heart for those that needed it. His life is a celebration and today this world has lost a little of what it truly needs today; light. And though he is greatly missed he is also greatly envied for he now knows what true happiness, joy and peace is as he is welcomed home by his master, friend and the real joy of life; Jesus Christ. Well done good and faithful servant.

Family and friends are welcome at the Blenheim Baptist Church on Wednesday January 3, 2018 where visitation will take place from 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. A Funeral Service for Don will take place following the visitation at 2:00 p.m.

James Oliver Pepper of Blenheim passed away at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance on Friday December 22, 2017. Jim was born 57 years ago to Shirley and the late Beverley Pepper (1977) and is survived by his siblings Tracey & Randy Russell, Mary Lynn Mifflin and Terry Pepper, his brother-in-law Dave Mifflin, his niece and nephew Melissa & Kellan Zimmer and Michael & Heidi Russell and by his great niece and nephew Zoey and Kelvin Zimmer.

Friends will remember Jim from his days working at Fram (Siemens) in Chatham, Thames Machine and Sykes Trucking.

A private family service will be held in Victoria Cemetery, Merlin.  Friends wishing to remember Jim with a memorial donation are asked to consider the Ronald McDonald House.

Daniel Joseph Louis Di Virgilio passed away peacefully on December 15, 2017 in his 58th year at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance. Daniel was born in Montréal and was the son of the late Vittorio (2016)(his spouse Jeanine Liboiron) and Shirley Battram. He is survived by his sister Lyne Di Virgilio of Québec and her children Dany Di Virgilio and Trycia Di Virgilio-Tremblay. He will also be lovingly remembered by Lisa Di Virgilio (Harrison).

Daniel grew up in Québec and moved to Blenheim in 1998 where he worked at Dorssers Industrial and in the furnace room at O.E.S. Mechanical.

Cremation has taken place. A private interment of his ashes will take place in Evergreen Cemetery at a later date.

Family has requested donations be made in Daniel’s memory to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario.

Barbara Yvonne Simpson of Ridgetown passed away at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance on Monday December 11, 2017. Barb was born 87 years ago to her late parents Evelyn & Fares Edmondson.  Aside from a time that she lived in Blenheim, Barb spent most of her years in Ridgetown with her husband Beverly who predeceased her in 2003.  Barb and Bev were the proud parents of three girls; Deborah Ruth Simpson who died in her infancy in 1953, Lynda Joy Dunfield who now lives in Calgary and Brenda Dianne Simpson of Blenheim.  Their family eventually grew to include two granddaughters Marcy & Barry Mason who live in Red Deer AB with their children Ava Lynn and Liam Scott Mason and Cara & Brander Nicolaysen who live in Chestermere AB with their children Cooper Leif, Ellie Joy and Harrison Derrick Nicolaysen.

Barb was the third of eight siblings and is survived by her sisters Esther Giroux (Paul) of Ridgetown, Marie VanCaille (late Bill) of Chatham, Victoria Ouellette (Andrè) of Langley BC and her brother Tom Edmondson of Chatham. She was predeceased by her sisters Frances Riegling (Carl) and Laura Padbury (Bruce) as well as her brother John Edmondson and his wife Frances.  She is also survived by two brothers-in-law Bruce McCallum (late Evelyn) of Mississauga and Jim Simpson (Susan) of Toronto.

Barb retired in 1992 after working over 30 years at the CIBC in Ridgetown where she made many friends. She was a 51 year member of the I.O.D.E., most recently being a member of the Randolph Churchill Chapter in Blenheim where she attended meetings with her niece and friend Kandace Bliss.  She also enjoyed singing since her childhood and was able to share her talent singing in the choir of the Blenheim United Church and before that at Ridgetown United for many years.

Cremation has taken place. A Celebration of Barb’s life will be held at the Blenheim Community Funeral Home on Saturday January 27, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. which will be followed by a time to visit with family and friends.  A family interment will take place in April in Shanks Cemetery.

Barb’s wish was that in lieu of flowers, people would consider making a charitable donation to the Ridgetown United Church where she was a member or the Village on the Ridge where she called home.

Dorothy Evelyn Boswell passed away on Friday December 8, 2017. Dorothy was born in Birmingham England where she married a young man named John Walter (Jack) Sutton and had two sons Trevor (Sandy) Sutton and Barry (Cairn) Sutton. She was predeceased by Jack at a young age and was fortunate to meet and marry Harold Boswell. Dorothy and Harold had one son Alvin (Karen) Boswell before they came to Canada and settling in Shrewsbury. Following their move, three more children would become a part of their family; Diane (Marvin) Handsor, Kevin Boswell and Geraldine (Wes) Bailey. Dorothy was the proud grandmother of 13 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild.  She is also fondly remembered by Jane Smith and Evelyn Pfaff.

Dorothy was a proud mother who taught her children the value of hard work, determination and faith.

Visitation for Dorothy will be held at the Blenheim Community Funeral Home on Tuesday December 12, 2017 from 11:00 – 1:00 p.m. A Funeral Service, conducted by Pastor Pat Pickle will begin at 1:00 in the Funeral Home. Interment will take place in Evergreen Cemetery where Dorothy will be laid to rest with her husband Harold who predeceased her in 2004.

Friends wishing to remember Dorothy with a memorial donation are asked to consider a charity of their choice.