Larry Pepper of Shrewsbury passed away at the Four Counties Hospital in Newbury on Friday June 26, 2015 at the age of 73 years. Larry is survived by his wife Linda (McWha) Pepper, by his daughters Penny & Marty Amburgey and Tammy & Andre Turbide, by his sisters Linda Haskell (Rocky), Donna Wilson (Jim), Maxine Stover (Danny), by his brother Terry Pepper (Carol) and his brother in law Jake (John) Campbell. He is also survived by 8 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren, by his step daughter Lisa Cundle and step son Mark Cundle and by his good friend Terry Russell. He was predeceased in life by his parents Mack and Mary Louise (Labadie) Pepper and by his sister Judy Campbell.

Larry retired from Meritor in Chatham, having started 38 years before when it was called Rockwell. He was an avid outdoorsman, whether it entailed taking the girls camping at Seagull Island, riding his motorcycle or travelling to Gogama in the middle of winter with Linda to go snowmobiling. He was a fisherman, a hunter and a lover of nature. He and Linda spent their summers at their trailer in the Port Glasgow Trailer Park. If whatever he was doing could be done outside, he was content.

In keeping with Larry’s wishes, cremation has taken place. Friends and family are invited to gather at the Blenheim Community Funeral Home for visitation on Tuesday June 30, 2015 from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. A private family interment will take place in Pardoville-Union Cemetery.

Friends wishing to remember Larry with a memorial donation are asked to consider the Heart & Stroke Foundation.

Lois “Jean” Hunter passed away on Wednesday June 24, 2015 at the age of 94 years. Lois was one of eleven children born to the late Annie & Robert Sprague and is survived by her youngest sister Laura (Bob) Badilo. Lois met and married her husband, the late Edwin Hunter while living in the U.S.A. before moving their family to Windsor where Edwin eventually owned his own business. Together they raised three children; Jean Kay (Jack) Monasmith, Carol (Gary) Jones and the late Douglas Hunter. She is survived by her daughter in law Anne Hunter, by her grandchildren Brad, David (Monica) and Mark (Holly) Monasmith, Chris Jones, Jennifer Charlton and Ken Reynolds (Meg), by her great-grandchildren Ethan, Gracelyn, Hudson, Emily, Caleb, Carter and Jesse, and by her honourary granddaughter, Diane Jones. Special thanks to the staff on 3 East at Riverview Gardens for their care and compassion during Jean’s stay.

Friends and family are invited to the Blenheim Community Funeral Home for visitation on Sunday, June 28, 2015 from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. A Funeral Service for Lois will be held in the Merlin United Church on Monday June 29, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. Interment in Shanks Cemetery. Friends wishing to remember Lois with a memorial donation are asked to consider the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 465 in Merlin or the charity of your choice.

Glen Desrosiers, loving husband of Ellen Desrosiers passed away suddenly at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance on Friday June 19, 2015 at the age of 46. Glen was born in Windsor on March 5, 1969. He was predeceased by his parents Aline and Maurice Desrosiers and by his father in law Harry Kuipers. Papa to Trevor Deacon and brother to Tim Desrosiers. Step father to Ryan and Renee (Bev), grandfather to Brandon, Allen, Donovan, Quentin, Kierra and Kenzie; Godfather to Benjamin. Son in law to Nancy Kuipers and brother in law to Laurie Stothart (Butch), Doug Kuipers (Angela), Neil Kuipers, Gail Baxter (Jim), Paul Kuipers (Kim), Patty Russelo (Bob), Mike Kuipers and Barb Brady (Trevor). He will be remembered fondly by several Aunts, Uncles, Nieces, Nephews and Cousins. Family and friends will remember Glen as a kind hearted, humorous man with an unwavering devotion to his wife Ellen, his brother Tim and to Trevor. He was often the one to take charge of family get togethers or to lighten the mood with a clever joke. Glen loved to laugh and to make those around him laugh. Visitation will be held at the Blenheim Community Funeral Home on Monday June 22 from 7 – 9 pm and again on Tuesday June 23 from 2 – 4 and 7 – 9 pm. A Funeral Service officiated by (Aunt) Barbara Sargent will be held at the Funeral Home on Wednesday June 24, 2015 at 2:00 pm. Acting as pallbearers will be Trevor Deacon, Ryan Russelo, Bobby Russelo, Chris Wammes, Dan Wammes, Brantly Kuipers, Matthew Kuipers and Matt Horton-Kuipers. A private family interment will take place at a later date. In keeping with Glen’s devotion and concern for Ellen, he recently set up a trust fund to help with medical expenses that will be incurred with her pending transplant. It would have been his wish that friends wanting to remember him with a memorial donation would consider the trust fund or consider the Trillium Gift of Life Network to help others waiting for transplants.

Michael James Robinson of Blenheim passed away on June 11, 2015 at the age of 61 years. Mike was born in Wallaceburg but made Blenheim his home for a number of years. As a community minded individual, he gave back and paid it forward, volunteering at the Blenheim Community Village and with the Blenheim and Merlin School Breakfast Program. As a first class auto mechanic, he could always be counted on for advice and a helping hand.

In keeping with Mike’s wishes and acknowledging a life lived, cremation has taken place. Friends are invited to gather at the Blenheim Community Funeral Home on Thursday July 2, 2015 from 7:00 – 7:30 p.m. to share a time of remembrance and comradery. A private interment will take place at a later date when Mike will be interred with his parents in Wallaceburg.

Dorothy Grace Ashby, loved wife of the late Eugene Ashby passed away on Saturday June 13, 2015 at the Blenheim Community Village. Dorothy was born in Lethbridge Alberta on October 19, 1923. She was one of three children born to the late Georgina and Frank Briers and is predeceased by her sister Anne Dixon and her brother Oliver Briers. She was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 185 in Blenheim after having served in the Navy. Upon returning she worked in the Housekeeping Department of the Public General Hospital, Chatham. She will be remembered fondly by her God-daughter Doreen Pook, her niece Terry Priebe and her great-niece Shelley Landry. In keeping with Dorothy’s wishes, cremation has taken place. Interment in Evergreen Cemetery will take place at a later date. Blenheim Community Funeral Home entrusted with arrangements. Friends wishing to remember Dorothy with a memorial donation are asked to consider the Blenheim Legion.

Mrs. Ilse Ward of Chatham passed away at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance on Monday June 15, 2015 at the age of 86 years. The laughter may be gone but our Omi remains in our hearts forever. She will be missed by friends & family alike. She was a proud mother of two children; Petra & Michael, grandmother of 3 grandchildren; David & Alexander children of Michael & Kayla, Theraisa child of Petra & Charlie and 2 great-grandchildren; Haydin & Abigale children of Theraisa & Scott. It was Ilse’s wish she be interred next to her husband Frank Ward in St. Anthony’s Cemetery, Chatham. Friends wishing to remember Ilse with a memorial donation are asked to consider the Chatham Kent Health Alliance – Palliative Care Unit or charity of your choice. Blenheim Community Funeral Home entrusted with funeral arrangements.

Barb Girard of Erieau passed away on Saturday June 13, 2015. Barb was born in Chatham 65 years ago to her late parents William and Ethel (Farr) Smith. Following their deaths at an early age, Barb was raised by her aunt and uncle Dola & Irvin Reaume of Jeanettes Creek. She and her husband Pete Girard, who predeceased her in 2010 were the proud parents of two children; Chrystal Girard & Jeff Clayton and Andy who died as an infant. She is survived by her sister Dawn McKinlay of Manitoulin Island, her brother Bill & Brenda Smith of Duncan, B.C. and her sister in law Liz Smith (late Frank) of Barrie, her honourary grandchildren Kristyn and Trevor Clayton and several nieces and nephews. Barb will be missed as well by Pete’s family Betty Ann & Larry Collins of Erieau and John Girard of Erieau, by her good friends Rose and Cheryl, the “coffee group” at The Galley in Erieau and by her faithful companion Mya. Friends will remember Barb from her many years of dedication to Southwestern Regional Centre. In keeping with Barb’s wishes, cremation has taken place. A graveside service officiated by Pastor Tim Joyce will be held on Wednesday July 22, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. Friends wishing to remember Barb with a memorial donation are asked to consider either the Erieau Firefighters Association or St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Erieau.

On Monday June 1, 2015 we became the proud parents of a baby girl named Ruby Hoffman-Bray. Although she couldn’t stay long, the footprints that she left in our hearts will remain forever. Eagerly awaiting the arrival of Ruby were her parents Tammy Hoffman and Darrell Bray, her sister Julianna Dicks and her brother Jaden James Henry Hoffman. She will be forever in the hearts of her Grandparents Rose Bray & Rick Gunter and James & Katherine Hoffman, as well as her aunts and uncles Kelly Gunter, Sally Gunter, Christine Aultman, Robert Beogetter, Natasha Hoffman and Timothy Stevenson.

To honour our daughters life, family and friends are invited to the Blenheim Community Funeral Home on Saturday June 6, 2015 from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. Interment will take place in Evergreen Cemetery.

Tammy Hoffman & Darrell Bray

Shane Lloyd of Blenheim passed away at Riverview Gardens in Chatham on Sunday May 31, 2015. Shane was born in Glace Bay, NS 60 years ago and has lived in Blenheim since 1992. Friends will remember him as the kind hearted soul who walked about town for much of his day, the one who brought your garbage containers back up to your house after the trucks had done their job and the young man who stood on the corner and waved you to go by before he crossed the street. He was a man of few words but a man of many good deeds. He was one of thirteen children born to the late Annie (MacDonald) and Melvin Lloyd. He is survived by his sisters Lila Walker of Blenheim, Mary Lou Stephens of Blenheim, Yvonne & Tony Hines of Glace Bay NS, Emma Jean Lloyd & Lawrence of Glace Bay NS, by his brothers Louis & Valerie Lloyd of Port Morien, NS, Crawford & Diane Lloyd of Glace Bay NS, Joseph & Sherry Lloyd of Merlin, Melvin Jr & Phyllis Lloyd of Toronto, Jesse & Darlene Lloyd of Glace Bay NS, Hector & Diane Lloyd of Chatham, Henry & Kathy Lloyd of Glace Bay NS and by several nieces and nephews. Predeceased by his brother Alex Lloyd. Blenheim Community Funeral Home entrusted with arrangements. There will be no formal Funeral Service here. Cremation has taken place and Shane will be taken to Nova Scotia to be laid to rest with his Mom and Dad.

Marie Helen (McFadden) Moore of Blenheim passed away on Sunday May 31, 2015 at the age of 72 years. Marie was born in Rodney to late parents Otto and Charlotte (Regis) McFadden. She is survived by her husband of 23 years Leroy Watts, by her children Tammy Rudorfer & Ken Kelly of Ridgetown and Michael & Bonnie Moore of Dresden, by her grandchildren James, Tina & Joel, Jessica & Mike, Joshua & Jessica and by her great grandchildren Jordyn and Benjamin and by Leroy’s children James & Renee Watts of Fort Smith NWT, Darren Watts of Ridgetown, Darryl & Kelly Watts of Chatham, by his grandchildren Jara, Jenni, Krystal, Drew, Leah and great grandchildren Karmyn and Kira. Marie is also survived by her siblings Gordon& Frances McFadden of Rodney, Ernie & Barb McFadden of Rodney, Hugh & Joyce McFadden of West Lorne and Betty Keutch of Rodney. She was predeceased by her sister Mildred Brown and by her brothers Jerry, Kenneth, Glen and Eugene McFadden.

Marie wore many hats in her life, but her lifelong dream was to be given the white foreman’s hard hat so that she could make sure that any hint of procrastination would be dealt with. She loved working in her gardens, she loved all of the holidays, especially Christmas which she would begin preparing for in September and she loved baking…again especially at Christmas time when her freezer would be full. She loved going up north to the camp “The Ponderosa” with Leroy. Most of all she loved spending time with her family. If she had a “mother” and “grandmother” hat, she would have worn it with great pride.

Visitation for Marie will take place at the Blenheim Community Funeral Home on Wednesday June 3, 2015 from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. when a Funeral Service, conducted by Rev. Linda McFadden will take place. Cremation will follow and a family interment will take place at a later date. Friends wishing to remember Marie with a memorial donation are asked to consider the Southwestern Ontario chapter of the Canadian Liver Foundation.