McGee, Donald William Sunday, 01 Jul 2007
Victoria, BC
Oct. 4, 1913 - July 1, 2007
Don died peacefully with family by his side. He will live forever in the memories of his loving wife LaVerne, this their 64th year of marriage; his children, Donna (Bonnie), Alan (Lily), Arlene, daughter-in-law Janet, grandchildren Jade (Anne), Jennifer (Scott), and great-grandson Jade Jr. (J.J.), nephews David and Robert, and niece Maureen.
Born in Victoria, Don grew up in Bamfield and built a business career in Vancouver, B.C., then Hamilton and St. Catharines, Ontario. In business, as in daily life, he was a gentle gentleman who believed in fairness, kindness, honesty, hard work and humour.
Ever mindful of the needs of others, he was active in his church, St. Paul St. United, and worked tirelessly for the Association for Community Living. He was instrumental in having a school built with the help of Gyro, and was the inspiration behind the building of independent living residences and a thirty-bed residence. He spearheaded the annual Burgoyne Golf Tournament at the St. Catharines Golf and Country Club that continues to raise funds for Community Living.
In 1969, he was named Citizen of the Year of St. Catharines and he received the honour of the Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary International. He was so proud to belong to a group of men who played golf three times a week and also enjoyed the Lamplighters, an investment club.
Don and LaVerne moved back to B.C. in 1997 to be closer to family.
There will be a private Remembrance Gathering in Victoria.
The family especially wants to thank the staff and management of Oak Bay Kiwanis Pavilion for their wonderful care. Donations in memory can be made to either Victoria Association for Community Living (3861 Cedar Hill Cross Road, Victoria, V8P 2M7) or Oak Bay Kiwanis Pavilion (3034 Cedar Hill Road, Victoria, V8T 3J3).
GILBERT M., GILBERT M. Tuesday, 13 Mar 2007
Victoria, BC
July 16, 1944 to March 13, 2007 passed away suddenly at home in Nanaimo.
Survived by sister Doreen, brothers Phil, Dennis, Stan, & Lloyd. Daughter Shiela, wife Jenny, stepchildren Lesley, Nina, & Julie, 10 grandchildren.
Predeceased by his father Lloyd Sr., mother Nell & grandparents.
Celebration of life will be held 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Thurs. March 22, 2007 at 4383 W. Saanich Rd. Donations may be made to The Heart & Stroke Foundation.
Poisson, Helen (NEE FERGUSON) Friday, 14 Mar 2008
Courtenay, BC
February 14, 1911 – March 14, 2008
Helen died peacefully at home. She is loved and missed by daughters Renee and Therese, grandchildren Damien and Sarah, brother Douglas, extended family and friends. She is predeceased by Rodney, her beloved husband of 64 years.
Helen was born in North Bay, Ontario to the Rev TJS and Amy Ferguson. From her beginning she had a radiant energy, an enthusiasm, curiosity and zest for life. Growing up in North Bay, Lanark and Kingston Ontario, she played both the piano and the violin, often performing with her family. In 1925 the family moved to Vernon, B.C., where Helen completed high school. She earned her university fees picking apples in Okanagan orchards and teaching swimming and diving in Nelson, B.C. After completing her BA at UB.C., Helen won a summer scholarship to England to study a new Swedish approach to natural movement, a method she was to use successfully during her years instructing physical education in the B.C. school system. Returning to B.C., Helen spent another year at U.B.C. to get her teacher's certificate and taught high school physical education and art while completing her M.A. in history. In 1942 she married Rodney Poisson who became a professor of English Literature at Victoria College (now the University of Victoria). As the wife of a professor and the mother of two children Helen's fascination with the scholarly approach led her to become an invaluable researcher and capable editor of Rodney's academic writing. During the mid '60's, Helen was Dean of Women at Mount Allison University in Sackville, NB, where Rodney was teaching English Literature. Rodney and Helen's final academic years were in London, Ontario, where Rodney was Huron College's Dean of Arts . They retired to Comox, B.C. in 1979 to enjoy their grandchildren, their friends and sail their dinghy. Helen was an active member of Courtenay Youth Music Centre and the University Women's Club. She was a patron of the Amy Ferguson Institute, a non-profit organization offering educational support to promising young singers from the Kootenay Valley. At the age of 90, combining her talents as a letter writer and archivist, Helen wrote and published "Sing as You Go, " a history of her mother Amy's work as founder/director of the groundbreaking Nelson Boys' Choir. Helen spent her last two years playing piano, engaging in stimulating conversations, picking blackberries in her garden, archiving her papers and writing letters to her friends all over the world. As Helen's daughters we would like to thank the homecare nurses, doctors, home support workers, hospice volunteers and friends for helping us take such good care of our mother.
Helen asked that we celebrate her life with a Tea Dance, which will be held at D'Esterre House, 1801 Beaufort Ave, Comox, on April 20, from 4 to 6 p.m. Everyone is welcome. She is hoping that we will all dance! In lieu of flowers we would appreciate donations be made to The Amy Ferguson Institute, 3949 Malina Road, Nelson, B.C. V1L 6X6.
Dier, Mary Jane Thursday, 13 Mar 2008
Courtenay, BC
April 1, 1915 – March 13, 2008
Mary Dier passed away peacefully in Comox on March 13th, 2008. She was predeceased by her husband Frank Dier. Mary leaves to mourn; her son Joseph William Dier (Betty Dier) of Courtenay, her daughter Nora Tsatsaros of Vancouver, B.C. her grandchildren; Lisa Tsatsaros-Tyagi, Michele Walmsey and Chrystal Nickerson, her great-grandchildren; Amber Cyr, Marjian Tsatsaros-Tyagi, Darian Nickerson, Brandon Nickerson, Kiera Walmsey and Kaliegh Walmsey, her nieces Betty Winnichuk, Margaret Belyk and Lorna Bussieres and her nephew Alvin Yager. Mary raised two loving families whom she always placed first in her life with her kindness and her generosity. In her leisure time Mary enjoyed gardening, knitting, cooking, bingo and collecting beautiful butterflies. At 92 years of age she learned to play poker. She loved baking and sharing cookies with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and working in her flower garden. She really enjoyed her last 5 years at Casa Loma with all her friends, they have been touched by her butterflies over the years. She liked flowers, especially pink carnations and pink roses. One of her favourite pastimes was the mystery tours and Olympics, here at Casa Loma. The family would like to extend a “Thank You” to Dr. Musgrave for always being there and the staff of Oceanview for their love and care of Mary Dier.
Delaney, Sean Wednesday, 12 Mar 2008
Courtenay, BC
October 3, 1926 – March 12, 2008
Sean Delaney passed away peacefully at home in Courtenay on March 12th, 2008. He was predeceased by his parents Theresa and James Delaney, his sister Peggy and her husband Alf Parker and his first wife Jean Owen Delaney. Sean is survived and will be dearly missed by his wife Anne Delaney, his sons; James of Calgary, Mark (Lynette) of Nanaimo and Paul (Jackie) of London, England, his daughters; Anne and Jane both of London, England, his grandchildren; Ruth, Ellen, Rebecca, Scott, Shane and Ross as well as his sisters; Eileen (Vincent) and Bernice (Gerard) both of London, England. Sean served in the British Navy and was a member of the Knights of Columbus. He came from England to the Comox Valley to farm 23 years ago and enjoyed pig farming as a hobby. Sean was a loving husband and father and he will be sadly missed by all those who knew him. A Mass of Christian Burial was held at Christ the King Roman Catholic Church on Saturday, March 15th, 2008 at 2:00 P.M. with Father Paul Murphy celebrant.
Arrangements entrusted to COMOX VALLEY FUNERAL HOME, CREMATION & RECEPTION CENTRE, COURTENAY. Donations in Sean’s memory made to Comox Valley Hospice Palliative Care would be gratefully appreciated.
Callander, Robert Wednesday, 12 Mar 2008
Courtenay, BC
January 20, 1921 ~ March 12, 2008
Bob left this world to continue his journey on Wednesday afternoon comfortably from his own home. He leaves behind Nelia, his wife of 57 years, four generations of family and a countless number of devoted friends. He will be missed by his A.A. family, his logging buddies and his fellow community minded associates. People will remember him when they see a crib board, a steam train or an old John Wayne movie!
Bob LIVED until he died!
His family would like all who wish to join them in a celebration of life to be held Friday, March 21 (his 58 A.A. birthday) at 2 p.m. in the lower Native Sons Hall in Courtenay. A finger food pot luck reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations can be gratefully made to the Comox Valley Recovery Center.
Thomas, L. Jean Monday, 10 Mar 2008
Courtenay, BC
L. Jean Thomas passed away on March 10, 2008 at the age of 67. She is lovingly remembered by her husband, Bill Thomas; 2 sons: Doug (Shona) and Rick (Ann Marie); 1 grandchild, Corben; brother, Fred Monkley and mother-in-law, Peggy Thomas.
A special thank you to the emergency and especially the third floor staff of St. Joseph's Hospital who looked after her so well after her diagnosis with pancreatic cancer.
Memorial Services will be held on March 22, 2008 at 11:00 am at Piercy's - Mt. Washington Funeral Home with the Reverend Gordon Carter officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Joseph's - Palliative Care Project.
Pass, Joseph Edwin Monday, 10 Mar 2008
Courtenay, BC
June 25, 1933 - March 10, 2008
Joseph Edwin Pass passed away at St. Joseph's Hospital, Comox on Monday, March 10, 2008. All the eagles came to escort him home.
Joe lived his life the way he wanted with no rules and didn't care about the consequences. He enjoyed flying, fishing and logging. He loved his garden, having cocktails with his buds, making a very fine wine and chatting about the old days. He told many stories about how many logs he logged, how big the fish was and how he did even better than you, ha ha! At the point where he became too ill to do much, books and the computer became his passions.
He was predeceased by: his parents, brother Ted and by his young son Harvey. Joe leaves behind his partner Marlene of 29 years who took care of him until the end. His sons: Stan (Cathy) and family of Abbotsford and Paul (Angela) and family of Abbotsford, daughters Cheryl (Norman) and family of Aldergrove, Cindy (Wayne) and family of Surrey, Lisa (Mike) and family of Courtenay, his brother John (Marlene) and family of Regina, 9 grandchildren, and 7 great-grandchildren. His special grandkids in Courtenay called him "Gampie" and they will miss him a lot.
A Celebration of Joe's Life will be held at a later date.
Tulloch, William "Bill George Saturday, 08 Mar 2008
Courtenay, BC
December 6, 1936- March 8, 2008
After battling cancer with undaunted courage, Bill passed away quietly in his sleep at his home at Little River.
He is predeceased by his parents George and Edith and brother James.
He leaves behind to mourn, Elaine, his best friend and wife of 50 years; children, Christine (Keith) of Roberts Creek, Laurie (Mike) of the Comox Valley, Mark (Karen) of Abbotsford, Lisa (Tim) of Winnipeg; grandchildren Cory, Katey and Douglas; his brother Brian (Kathy) of Ontario as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Bill joined the RCAF in 1953 and served his country in Canada, with the United Nations in the Middle East, and with NATO forces in Germany. After retirement from the Canadian Armed Forces he worked locally at Hartman’s Auto Supply and Central Builders until his second retirement in 1997.
He was a lifetime member of the Third and Fourth Degree of the Knights of Columbus and active in numerous charitable fund raising efforts for community projects. In the 1980’s he was instrumental in starting the Comox Valley Charitable Bingo Association – an umbrella organization that supported various Valley charities. He served both as a board member and an executive member of the Bingo Council of B.C.
During the summer Bill loved to be outdoors, but especially enjoyed just being out on his boat. Winter would find him enjoying curling with the Seniors Curling League. At any time of the year you could find him tinkering in his workshop.
Bill’s family will be forever grateful to everyone who made his last six weeks at home possible.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Father Paul Murphy at Christ the King Catholic Church, Tunner Drive, Courtenay on Thursday March 13, 2008 at 11:00 am.
Memorial donations in Bill’s memory may be made to St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation - Palliative Care Project; or to the Youth Transition Project - Comox Valley Child Development Center - at 237-3rd Street. Courtenay B.C. V9N 1E1
