Abram Neufeld, husband of Susana passed away at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance on February 5, 2017. He was 66 years old.  Visitation will be held at the Blenheim Community Funeral Home on Wednesday February 8, 2017 from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.  A Funeral Service for Abram will be held in the Charing Cross Old Colony Mennonite Church on Thursday February 9, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. with Bishop Peter Friesen officiating.  Interment in Pardoville-Union Cemetery.

Cyril Roets of Blenheim passed away on Saturday January 28, 2017 in his 75^th year. He is survived by his wife of 53 years Ruth Walker, his children Doug & Lisa Walker, Dale Roets, Debbie Roets, Dennis & Julie Roets, Darlene Roets, Brad & Connie Walker and Melissa Walker, 22 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and his sister Noreen Charron. He was predeceased by his parents Margaret & Archille Roets and by his sister Irene Laforet.

Cyril was a survivor in life. He quit school after grade three. At a young age he ventured out on his own, working as a hired man on various farms. He worked for many years at Standard Tube in Blenheim. He enjoyed hunting small game and fishing. He taught himself how to fix motors and despite not being licensed as a mechanic, he was able to repair anything that people brought to him. He was an avid gardener, producing some of the best tomatoes and enough potatoes to last through the winter. Once he saved a child from a burning building. Beneath a sometimes stubborn exterior there was a very loving man, especially when it came to his family. With that in mind, Cyril’s wishes were that cremation would take place and that his family would remember him at a private graveside service in Evergreen Cemetery.

Robert (Bob) David Cannata

June 7th 1948- January 26th 2017

(Retired from Union Gas)

Bob passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family and friends, at the Chatham Kent Hospice in his 69th year. Beloved son of the late George and Nancy Cannata (née Thomson}, Bob will be sadly missed by his sister Connie McAleese, brother Ross Cannata, all of his nieces, nephews and  their families, his many  Cannata cousins, as well as Bob’s other family of lifelong friends Jack, Peter, Bob, Al, Roy, Merlin and his close friends in Erieau. For those that were lucky enough to know Bob, his ever present sense of humour, his wry smile and easy, unassuming way made him an instant friend to all. If someone was measured by the number of friends one has made in the course of a lifetime, “Bobby “, would stand out in a crowd.

Bob, it may be your last call at ” The Sandbar ” , but your memory will live on in all of our hearts forever. Good Day!  A gathering of Bob’s friends will take place at the Sandbar in Erieau on Saturday, January 28, 2017 at 7pm. (cash bar).

Visitation, Funeral Service and burial will be in Toronto with a date to be announced next week.

In lieu of flowers, kindly make a donation to Chatham Kent Hospice Foundation. We will be forever grateful for the loving care they provided Bob in his final days www.chathamkenthospice.com

Glen “Smoke” Embury passed away on Monday January 23, 2017 at the age of 94 years. He leaves behind his daughter Patricia Johnson and her husband Garnet, his grandchildren Matthew Johnson, Kevin Johnson, Suzanne & Tim Vaughan, Bill & Andrea Turner and his great-grandchildren Kaylie Vaughan, Harley Vaughan, Reece Turner, Miya Johnson and Landon Johnson. He is also survived by his son-in-law Gillis Turner. He was predeceased by his wife Merle (Pardo) Embury, his daughter Janice Turner and his brothers and sisters Edwin Smith, George Embury, Fern Bond, Hazel Scoyne, Ken Embury, Fred Embury and Gordon Embury.

Glen was a sports enthusiast who loved baseball and hockey but mostly baseball. As a young man he tried out to be a pitcher for the Detroit Tigers. He loved small game hunting and could often be found tracking ducks, pheasants, geese and rabbits. He was a fan of Springer Spaniel dogs.

When Glen was 21 years old, he enlisted with the Kent Regiment which later became the Essex Scottish Regiment and was awarded the rank of Sergeant. He spent 6 years overseas during WWII fighting in France, Normandy, Holland and Belgium. In October, 2014 the French Government bestowed on Glen the French Legion of Honour medal which is the highest honour that is given.

Two years after he returned from war, Glen married his wife Merle and started a family. Friends will remember him from his days of working at A.J. Sales, Union Gas and Motor Wheel in Chatham.

Family and friends are invited to the Blenheim Community Funeral Home on Wednesday where visitation will take place from 2 – 4 and 7 – 9 p.m. The Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 185 will conduct a service at 6:45 p.m. A Funeral Service for Glen will be held at the Blenheim Community Funeral Home on Thursday January 26, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. Interment will take place in Evergreen Cemetery.

Friends wishing to remember Glen with a memorial donation are asked to consider either the Blenheim Freedom Library & Military Museum, VON or the Alzheimers Society.

John Brian Haverty of Morpeth passed away in his 95^th year on Sunday January 22, 2017 at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance.  John was a WWII Veteran.  He was born in London, England on February 8, 1922.  He emigrated to Canada after the war.  John is survived by his wife Janet (Nichol) Haverty, by two sons Tom and Sean and by two grandchildren Katie and Shane.  He was predeceased by his son David in 2015.  In keeping with John’s wishes, cremation has taken place.  An interment of John’s urn will take place at a later date.  Blenheim Community Funeral Home entrusted with arrangements.

Peter James Coholan of Dealtown passed away on Thursday January 19, 2017.  Peter was born in Saint John, New Brunswick 62 years ago.  He will be missed by his wife Kerry (Finn) Coholan, by his children Erin Booth, Kasey & Michael Maguire and Peter “PJ”, by his grandchildren Colbie, Claire and Grant.  He was anxiously awaiting the birth of his fourth grandchild soon.  Peter is also survived by his siblings Beth, Lynn, Patty, Kim, Mark, Paul and Mike.  He was predeceased by his parents Marie and Patrick Coholan and by his brother John.  He will be sorely missed by his four legged daughter Mabel.

Peter was a sports enthusiast, a lifelong supporter of the Montreal Canadiens and the Hamilton Tiger Cats of the CFL.  He studied Sociology at the University of Waterloo before accepting a position at the Southwestern Regional Centre in Dealtown.  Following his retirement in 2008 he worked for five years in the cafeteria of UCC “The Pines”.

In keeping with Peter’s wishes, cremation has taken place.  Friends and family are invited to the Blenheim Community Funeral Home on Tuesday January 24, 2017 where a gathering will take place from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.  Words of remembrance will be shared at 3:30 p.m.

Friends wishing to remember Peter with a memorial donation are asked to consider the Pet and Wildlife Rescue project (PAWR) in Chatham-Kent.

Frances Elizabeth Stothart, affectionately known to all as “Frani” passed away with family by her side at the Chatham-Kent Hospice on Friday January 20, 2017. She was predeceased by her husband Frank Stothart on March 19, 2004.

Frani was the first child born to her late parents William & Dona (Humphrey) Nealey. Her 69 short years were spent loving and caring for everyone around her.  She was an awesome Mom to Susan Longbottom of Chatham, Carol & Chuck Huckle of Blenheim, Leigh Anne & John O’Brien of Sault Ste. Marie and Butch Stothart of Blenheim.  She was the best Grandma to Missy & Tim Randall and their children Jocelyn and Megan, to Matthew & Rochelle Stothart and their children Hudson and Harper, and to Noah and Abby O’Brien.  Sadly she was predeceased by her grandson Tyler.

Being the eldest of nine children, Frani helped her parents when it came to raising her siblings Marie Smith (Leonard), Pat Ryckman (Fred), Gloria Anson (Ed), Ken Nealey (late Linda), Stacie Beaton (Doug), Tami St. Lewis (John), Dona Bechard and the late Bill Nealey. She was loved by many nieces and nephews and by her good friend Bob Marlatt.

Frani was always a friendly face working at the local grocery stores. She was a lover of nature and believed in God.  She was a valued member of the Blenheim Baptist Church.  She will be missed.

Friends and family are invited to the Blenheim Community Funeral Home on Monday January 23, 2017 where visitation will take place from 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. A Funeral Service for Frani conducted by Pastor Bill Terris will begin at 2:00 p.m. Interment will take place in Evergreen Cemetery. Friends wishing to remember Frani with a memorial donation are asked to consider the Blenheim Baptist Church or the Chatham-Kent Hospice.

Mary Vegso formerly of Cedar Springs passed away at Riverview Gardens in Chatham on Saturday January 14, 2017 at the age of 94 years. Mary was born in Hungary, a country that she kept close in her heart and was able to return to for visits. When she was 6 years old, her mother Rose Hegedus brought Mary, her younger sister Helen Legroulx and her younger brother Joseph Hegedus, (both who have predeceased her) across the Atlantic Ocean to join their father Joseph Hegedus who had come before them to start a new life in Canada.

In 1947 Mary married Mike Vegso and eventually settled in Cedar Springs where they worked side by side growing and selling fruit at their fruitstand, Fairview Orchards.  Mary also will be remembered by students of CCI in Chatham and the Blenheim District High School where she ran the cafeterias.

Mary and Mike (who predeceased her in 1999) were the proud parents of Susan & Garth McDowell and Sandra & Kenneth Chauvin. They were also blessed in life with four grandchildren Shannon & Jim Rose, Shane & Wendy McDowell, Justine Chauvin and Taylor Chauvin as well as four great-grandchildren Sophie Rose, Katie Rose, Josie McDowell and Charlotte McDowell.

Family and friends are invited to the Blenheim Community Funeral Home on Monday where visitation will take place from 7 – 9 p.m. and again on Tuesday January 17, 2017 from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. when a Funeral Service conducted by Rev. Wanda Burse will begin. Interment will take place in Pardoville Cemetery.

Friends wishing to remember Mary with a memorial donation are asked to consider the Pet and Wildlife Rescue efforts in Chatham-Kent (PAWR) since animals and their welfare were very important to her.

John Robert Thompson passed away at the Chatham Kent Health Alliance on Tuesday January 10, 2017. John was born 66 years ago to his parents Bob and the late Jennie (Shepley) Thompson. He is survived by his sisters Rose Marie Johnston and Kathleen Donahue and by his step-mom Sandy Thompson. John was raised in Wallaceburg where he worked as a Welder and Journeyman, married and had a son who he named after his own dad Bob. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. Predeceased by his brothers-in-law Archie Johnston and Michael Donahue.

Friends and family are invited to the Blenheim Community Funeral Home on Saturday morning where a time to meet with John’s family will take place at 10:30 a.m. A Memorial Service conducted by Pastor Eric Skillings will begin at 11:00 a.m. In keeping with John’s wishes, cremation has taken place and a private family interment will take place in Evergreen Cemetery at a later date.

Friends wishing to remember John with a memorial donation are asked to consider the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada.

John’s family wishes to express many thanks to the staff of the Blenheim Community Village for the care and compassion that you gave to John over the past more than 10 years.

Paul Edwin Malott, formerly of Blenheim passed away suddenly at his home in Bourget, Ontario on Thursday January 5, 2017. Paul was born in Chatham 73 years ago to the late George & Ethel (Furman) Malott.  He was one of five children and was the last surviving member of his family, having been predeceased by his sisters Helen Knott, Jean Lewis, Barbara Fields and Nina Ward.

As a young man Paul helped his father work on cars in a shop on Lumley Street in Blenheim. He met the love of his life Roberta “Bunny” Haydon and began a journey that would span almost 55 years.  Together Paul and Bunny raised two children; Robert & Susan (Mayea) Malott and Vicki & Henry Petersen.  They are the proud grandparents of Christina & Gaetan, Shawn & Heather and Brittany & Zac and great-grandparents of Sophia and Benjamin.  Paul is survived by three brothers-in-law Murray Knott, Floyd Lewis and Donald Ward.  Also survived by several nieces and nephews.

Paul began a career at Southwestern Regional Centre as a Health Care Aide and retired from a Departmental Management position in Transportation. Earlier on in his spare time you would see Paul and his fishing buddy Dave Richards loading up his fishing boat to spend hours on the water trying to catch “the big one that always gets away”.  Later on Paul enjoyed helping Bunny raise Yorkie and Pomeranian pups, and travelling in their motorhome after they retired.

Family and friends are invited to the Blenheim Community Funeral Home on Wednesday from 2 – 4 and 7 – 9 p.m. A Funeral Service for Paul will be held in the Funeral Home on Thursday January 12, 2017 at 1:00 p.m.  In keeping with Paul’s wishes, cremation will follow.

Friends wishing to remember Paul are asked to consider a charity of their choice in lieu of flowers.