The family of Maria Seymour (nee Wesley) announces with great sadness her passing on Wednesday February 5, 2003 at the Kenora District Hospital at the age of 71 years.
Maria was recently diagnosed with cancer, and after a short courageous battle, Maria journeyed home to the Creator in peace. Surrounded with the love of her children, sisters, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, and friends, she was comforted in her battle with cancer. She has now found her endless blueberry patch without further pain.
She was predeceased by her husband Peter Seymour in January 2003, son Tony Seymour on July 10th, 1985, brothers Alex, Ernest, sisters Harriet Wesley, Eva Williams, Christine Lavand (Bluebird), Ida Bull and her biological parents Stanley and Isabella Wesley and stepmother Sarah Wesley (nee Pemmican).
Maria leaves to cherish her beautiful memory her children Alice (Wayne Zimmer), Marie (Rick Gratton), Bernice (Einar Berle), Gene, Randy, Louie and Glen (Sylvia Jamieson) sisters Kitty Everson of Sioux Lookout, Barbara Taylor of Caramat (Alex), Virginia Oakley of Hudson, Rena Wesley (Joe) Sandy Lake, Roderick Wesley (Emma), Lac Seul, Melvin Wesley (Phyllis), Lac Seul, six grandchildren Shelley (Len Boucha), Dennise, Travis, Rene, (Dale Savoyard) Maximos, Samuel, six great grandchildren, Ethan, Dustin, Kyra, Kendra, Kayla and Klayton, numerous nieces/nephews, and family and friends.
Maria was born and raised in Lac Seul First Nation (Poplar Island), Sioux Lookout, and Ontario. Maria met and married Peter Seymour on July 14th, 1951 in Sioux Lookout, Ontario and raised eight children. The family moved from Sioux Lookout, Morson and then settled on Wauzhushk Onigum.
Maria enjoyed many hobbies including knitting, beading, traditional arts and crafts, and garage sales never passing up a better bargain. Maria also enjoyed gospel singing, jigging, and square dancing, loved sharing her stories and rejoiced in sharing her laughter and hearing the laughter of others. Maria practiced living her traditional lifestyle with the tanning of moose hides, blueberry picking, attending pow wows, traditional dancing and singing, preparation and feasting traditional foods, storytelling, canoeing, and interpreting rock paintings. Maria was innovative in preparing wild foods and often times, made people laugh with her creations.
Some of her many accomplishments, to mention but a few, include being instrumental in developing and establishment of the Cat Lake First Nation Traditional Land Based Healing Center. Maria was the Executive Director for the Ojibway Cultural Center, original co-founder and chairperson for the Anishinaabe Kweg, regional representative for Native Arts and Crafts in Northwestern Ontario. Maria was instrumental in the development of the native language curriculum in Kenora.
In her earliest years, she studied to become a nurse in Sioux Lookout and worked for a brief period of time at the Zone Hospital in Sioux Lookout. Maria taught native language at the Confederation College in Kenora. She was a translator for the provincial courts in Kenora for a number of years. Maria also provided advisory services as an Elder to the various Anishinaabe organizations throughout northern Ontario including Migisi Alcohol & Drug Treatment Centre, Grand Council Treaty # 3, Weechi-it-te-win Child & Family Services, Ojibway Family Services, Abiinoojii Child and Family Services, Windigo First Nations Council, Equay-Wuk Women's Group, Co-Chair of the Women's Crisis Centre in Sioux Lookout, Maria was nominated "Women of the Year". She volunteered her services in the capacity of advisor and traditional instructor to many Anishinaabe activities. Maria received her traditional education in her earlier years from her father Stanley, Uncles John and Robert and credited much of her knowledge and wisdom to them. She shared this information freely with those who crossed her path in life.
Maria took the initiative at the age of 52 years to learn how to drive a vehicle and obtained her drivers license, for her this was a great accomplishment, which she felt very proud of and showed other woman in her situation of what women could do at any age with the will and
determination. Maria tirelessly and vocally stressed to everyone especially women they can do anything if/when they put their minds and will power to do it. She was an avid spokeswoman in the promotion of equality and transition for women's rights. Later on in life was a loving and nurturing caregiver for children that were placed in the system. Later on, she took on the role as the caregiver to her father Stanley Wesley and his wife Sarah until she made the painful decision to place them at a nursing home when she could no longer care for them as well as she wanted to because of her own health. She strongly believed everyone deserved the best in life. She always compared how her life was and how it was now.
Maria played an instrumental role for everyone as a surrogate mother especially towards her siblings, Kitty, Barbara, Ida, Eva, Christine, Harriet, Alex, Melvin, Roderick, Archie, Virginia, Rena, her nieces, Irene, Isabelle, Linda, Allan, great nephew Craig, Emma, Winnie, Shirley, Caroline, friends, Laura Calm Wind, Sophie (nee Paul) Copenace, Nancy Holloway surrogate grandmother to their children, Dean, Delena, Laura's son Misquatasiines, Sophie's son Jonathon, Winnie's children, Reggie, Denise, Kenny; Shirley's children, Norma, Nerrisa, and Danny, Carolines Children, Skyler and Spencer.
Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, February 8, 2003 at the Golden Eagle Casino on Wauzhushk Onigum First Nation at 11:00 am, followed by a reception at the casino.
Viewing will be on Friday, February 7, 2003 at Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Centre from 7:00-9:00 pm, with a traditional wake to follow at Golden Eagle Casino.
Maria has wished for cremation services, and her ashes will be placed at her place of birth, later by family and friends.
In memory of Maria, her family wish to extent their heartfelt thanks for the kindness, care and understanding of staff at Thunder Bay Regional Hospital, 5th floor, and the nursing staff of Kenora District Hospital, the third and second floors, our thanks.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Lake of the Woods Hospital for the purchase of a CT Scanner or the Cancer Society.
Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Centre entrusted with arrangements.
Meegwetch
O-shii-taan
Funeral Services
11:00 a.m., Saturday, February 8, 2003
Golden Eagle Casino
Dr. Lloyd Joseph King
Peacefully, surrounded by his family at the North Bay General Hospital-Scollard Site, on Tuesday, January 7, 2003, in his 70th year.
Lloyd Joseph King, was the beloved husband for 45 years of Sally Evelyn Farlinger. Proud father of Bill King (Camille) of North York, Bob King (Sandra) of North Bay, Michael King (Lyn) of Ottawa, Jim King (Cheryl) of Toronto, Barbara Hawton (Kevin) of North Bay and Nancy King of Wilmington, North Carolina. Loving grandfather of Josh, Nick, Travis, Shelby, Allie, Salessa, Emily, Gregory and Elizabeth Anne. Dearly loved brother of Lillian Clemmens, Marjory Dingwall and uncle to many nieces and nephews.
Predeceased by his parents Bill and Rose Alba King and by his brother Bill King.
Visitation was held in the MARTYN FUNERAL HOME on Thursday from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Funeral Services were held at the Martyn Funeral Home Chapel on Friday, January 10th, at 11:00 a.m. Interment in North Bay.
If desired, donations to the Emmanuel United Church Memorial Fund or the North Bay General Hospital Foundation will be gratefully acknowledged as expressions of sympathy.
Martyn Funeral Home, 464 Wyld Street, North Bay, Ontario P1B 1Z5 705-472-8810
Adeline Hoshwa (nee Zrobok)
Adeline Hoshwa passed away peacefully with her family by her side January 11, 2003 after a brief illness.
She is survived by her husband Peter; her son Dan and granddaughters Anna and Tessa of Calgary; daughter Nadine (Bob Reid) and
granddaughter Katerina of Kenora; sisters Jo-Ann Zrobok of Kenora, Eva Fleurie of Fort Frances, Lina (John) Rankin and Theodora (Jim) Isaac of Winnipeg, and Mary (Steve) Romano of Gonor; special niece Karen (Blake) Stockham and children Caleb, Nicole and Jared of Kenora and many other nieces and nephews; sisters-in-law Bertha Zrobok and Lois Hoshwa of Kenora; brother-in-law Ben (Kay) Brykalo of Winnipeg.
Adeline was predeceased by her parents Sennie and Theodore Zrobok and in-laws Maria and Dmytro Hoshwa; brothers Alexander, Peter and Nestor (Casey) Zrobok and infant son Joseph David.
Adeline was born November 9, 1929 in Kenora, ON. In her youth she spent summers cleaning cabins at tourist camps on Lake of the Woods. On November 22, 1952 she married Peter Hoshwa who was the love of her life. She and "Geezil" had just celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary this past November. As Adeline became less mobile due to Rheumatoid Arthritis, Geezil was there to provide the loving care she needed. She enjoyed the company of her family and her five sisters were her best friends. She spent many summers among them at the family camp on Black Sturgeon Lake. Her children and grandchildren brought her much joy and she was very proud of their accomplishments.
Adeline was active within the St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church Parish. She taught "Ukrainian School" for many years and was involved with the children of the parish. Adeline was a member of the church choir and an active member of the Ukrainian Catholic Womens' League of Canada. She could always be counted on to help with their endeavors whether it be making holupsi in the kitchen or selling paska in the mall.
Pallbearers are Blake Stockham, Caleb Stockham, Jesse Zroback, Dean Konoski, Dennis Konoski, and Bill Reid.
Prayers will be held at 7:00 p.m. Monday, January 13, 2003 and the Funeral Mass at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, January 14, 2003 at the
St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church with the Very Reverend Canon Father Daren Gallivan
In lieu of flowers donations to the Lake of the Woods Picture of Health CT Scanner Campaign, 21 Sylvan St. W., Kenora ON, P9N 3W7 would be appreciated.
Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Centre entrusted with arrangements.
Funeral Mass
10:00 a.m., Tues. Jan. 14, 2003
St. Nicholas Ukrainian Church
Peter Seymour
December 26, 1909 - January 11, 2003
Pete passed away peacefully at the age of 93 on January 11, 2003 at Pinecrest Home.
Pete was born on December 26, 1909 in Red Lake, Minnesota and then traveled to the Morson area with his family and settled in Wauzhushk Onigum. Pete was the last surviving member of the Saganaquat clan. He was the eldest son of Elizabeth (Chatelaine) and Joseph Seymour. He and his brothers and sisters, Angelique, Louie, Marie, Rosa, Dave and Agnes moved throughout Treaty #3 territory and the States. Pete talked of this time with great memories: it was a hard life but it taught him great lessons. Pete married Maria Wesley on July 14, 1951 and they raised eight children. The family moved from Sioux Lookout, Morson and then settled on Wauzhushk Onigum. He worked until his retirement in 1974 from the provincial government.
Pete believed in hard work and worked all his life - in logging camps, in a Saskatchewan school as boy's supervisor, a firefighter and scaler for Lands and Forest and then a community Developer for Native Community Branch from where he retired. Along with working he earned extra money through trapping and guiding. He regularly took his family to the trapline on Dryberry Lake and he made many a tourist happy guiding at McKenzie Portage Lodge and Smith Camps.
Pete is survived by his wife, Maria and children, Alice (Wayne Zimmer), Gene, Randy, Louie, Bernice (Einar Berle), Marie (Rick Gratton), Glen (Sylvie Jamieson); by his
grandchildren Shelley (Len Boucha), Dennise and Travis, Rene (Dale Savoyard), Samuel and Maximos, his great-grandchildren, Ethan and Dustin, Kyra, Kendra, Kayla and Klayton. He was predeceased by his son, Tony.
Pete was a veteran of WWII and served in the Lake Superior Motor Pool. He enlisted on July 2, 1940 and trained in Halifax and was stationed in England and saw battle in Holland and Belgium. Pete was proud that he was able to defend his country, so much so, that he gave up his treaty rights to volunteer for the army.
Pete contributed to the communities in which he lived. he was a Chief of Big Grassy first Nation, the Grand Chief of Treaty #3, a band councilor of Rat Portage and once he settled there, his contributions to Kenora were many. He was a founding member of the Notre Dame Credit Union and a member of the Kenora School Board. Pete believed in education; he bought a piece of land off-reserve so he could send his children to the separate school system and not be forced to attend the residential school system.
Pete had many interest but his greatest love was singing at PowWow's. He was a great songwriter and brought the PowWows back to Treaty #3 in the 1960's since Indian and Northern Affairs forbid any gatherings to take place prior to this time. Pete has participated in them ever since and was able to sing one last time at the July PowWow at Wauzhushk Onigum with the Whitefish Bay Singers. He has traveled extensively in the area attending PowWows and helped Andy White and his family form the Whitefish Bay Singers. He gave them many songs and provided them with advice along their travels.
In his later years he continued to compose PowWow songs, carve pipes, make toys and cradle boards for his grandchildren, and when he was 90 years built the cabin he lived in until his move to a nursing home. Pete was a determined man and his life reflected this. His family and friends will miss him but he lived his life the way he wanted and it was a good life.
Funeral Services were held on Wednesday, January 15, 2003 at the Golden Eagle Casino on Wauzhushk Onigum First Nation followed by a reception at the Casino. Viewing was held on Tuesday, January 14 at Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Centre from 7:00 -9:00 p.m.
In accordance with Pete's wishes, cremation will take place with his ashes being buried at a place selected by himself.
The family would like to thank Dr. Beveridge for his care, the 3rd floor nursing staff at Lake of the Woods Hospital and in particular the staff at the Pinecrest Home for the care given to Pete
during his last days with us.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the CT Scanner Fund c/o Lake of the Woods District Hospital.
Meegwetch!
We will miss you Dad but we know you are paddling the lake of
"Bepeeqaowonga Sagahigan"
Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Centre entrusted with arrangements.
