Betty Rome
Elizabeth (Betty, Oma) Ruth Rome died suddenly Nov. 14, 2009 at Stratford General Hospital, after losing a brief and hard fight with ailing health. She was a dedicated volunteer of Stratford Hospital and known for her special personal touch. She led an active life to the end that included curling and sailing and a passion for Bayfield, both the port and the summer home. She knew no limits, and in her last year, at age 74, she demonstrated her zest for life by ice skating on the Rideau and kayaking on northern Georgian Bay. She was a daughter of late Alfred and Mae Hansen of Stratford. She is survived by her husband Gerald Landriault of Romeo Court, Stratford, and children Steve Rome and his wife Nancy from Oakville, and Cathy Wicke (Rome) and her husband Randy of Rostock. She was predeceased by her husband Don Rome. Visitation was at the Heinbuck Funeral Home and a funeral service was held at Zion Lutheran Church. Interment in Avondale cemetery
Bonnie Tiano
Bonita Georgina Mary Tiano (Mercer), 47, died suddenly at home on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2009. She was born in Grand Falls, Newfoundland, a daughter of the late James and Mary Mercer. She is survived by her husband Dominic Tiano her son Frankie Tiano. She also leaves behind her dog Bailey. A funeral service was held at the W.G. Young Funeral Home. A funeral Mass will also be held at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, Badger, Newfoundland, with burial in the Parish cemetery.
Maria Tiano
Maria Tiano, 73, of Stratford, died at the Stratford General Hospital on Nov. 18, 2009. She worked for over 30 years at FAG Stratford. She is survived by her sons Joseph Tiano, Dominic Tiano, Vince (Melissa) Tiano of London and Mario (Tracey) Tiano. She was predeceased by her husband Francesco in May 2002 and daughter-in-law Bonnie Tiano. Visitations will be held at W.G. Young Funeral Home on Friday, Nov. 21 from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. A funeral mass will be held at Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church on Saturday at 11 a.m. Interment at Avondale cemetery.
Douglas Tompkins
Douglas William Tompkins, 65, of Stratford, died at the Stratford General Hospital on Nov. 14, 2009. He was born in New Brunswick, a son of the late William and Violet Tompkins. He worked for many years with Laidlaw as a truck driver. He was a fan of Peterbilt trucks and loved fishing. He was the husband of Darlene (Burge). He is survived by his children Shelley Hocking, Douglas Tompkins and Dale Tompkins. A funeral service was held at W.G. Young Funeral Home on Thursday.
George Bruce Bateman
George Bruce Bateman, 83, of Stratford, died Nov. 1, 2009 at Stratford General Hospital. Born in Ethel, he was a son of the late Cecil and Mary Bateman. He served overseas with the Royal Canadian Army, 21st Artillery Division. He had worked with Crane Canada until his retirement. He is survived by his wife Ursula (Gerngross) and children Ben Bateman (Iris), Marjorie Shier, Rose Ballantyne (Keith), Denise Crosby (John), Pat Illman (Walter), and George Bateman (Tammy). Visitation was at the W.G. Young Funeral Home where a private family service was followed by interment in Mt. Pleasant cemetery , Ethel.
Jean Corrie
Alice Jean Corrie, 90, died Oct. 29, 2009 at the Blue Water Rest Home in Zurich. Born in Stratford, she was a daughter of the late William and Marie MacDonald. She was a lifelong member and volunteer of Knox Presbyterian Church and was active with the Sunday School and Nursery in her younger years. She was a member of the Stratford Festival City Kiwins and was a volunteer with the CNIB. She enjoyed golfing and feeding and tending to her birds. In 2005 she was predeceased by her husband Jack Corrie. She is survived by her son Robert Corrie. Visitation will be held at the W.G. Young Funeral Home on Saturday, Nov. 8 from 10 a.m. until the time of the memorial service at 11 a.m. Interment in Avondale cemetery.
Fern (Lad) Ladouceur
Fernand Joseph Ladouceur, known as “Lad” or “Fern”, 88, of 42 Campbell Crt., died Nov. 1, 2009. He was born in Ottawa, a son of Solomon and Fredeline Ladouceur and had lived in Stratford since 1952. In 1944 he graduated from the Ontario Agriculture College in Guelph. He went on active service with the Royal Canadian Volunteer Reserve and served on the high seas until the war ended in 1945. He attended the Ontario College of Education and earned his specialist in Physical and Health Education in 1948. He began his teaching career at North Essex High School in Belle River and later taught at Leamington District High School before being hired in 1952 to teach Physical Education at Stratford Collegiate Institute. He assumed the headship of Physical Education in 1956 and became Chief Instructor of the 223 Stratford Central Secondary School Cadet Corp in 1961. He attained the rank of Lt. Col. in the Cadet Services of Canada and spent many summers training cadets at Ipperwash Army Cadet Camp. As a lad he was an outstanding horseshoe pitcher and was inducted into the Horseshoe Hall of Fame in 1999. He was an active member of Kilroy Council #1431 of the Knights of Columbus and a fourth degree member of the Justice J.M. King Assembly. He was a past Grand Knight of the Council and a 45-year member of the Royal Canadian Legion. He retired in 1984 after teaching at Stratford Central Secondary School for 32 years. Throughout his career he coached basketball, track and field and volleyball but his forté was gymnastics and football. He is survived by his children Patricia Anne (Fred Anderson) of Stratford, Debra Jeanne (David Salayka) of Dunster, B.C. and Catherine Louise of Stratford. In 1999 he was was predeceased by his wife Clover Helena MacDonell, whom he married in 1946. In 2004 he was predeceased by his second wife Margaret Delphin Hartman. His son Garry Joseph died in 1993. Funeral home visitation will be at the W.G. Young Funeral Home on Friday, Nov. 7 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Knights of Columbus service at 6:45 p.m. A funeral memorial mass will be held at St. Joseph’s Church at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday. Rev. Dick Bester will be the celebrant. Interment will follow in Avondale cemetery.
Barbara Whittaker
Barbara Whittaker, 84, of Cedarcroft Place, Stratford, died Nov. 1, 2009 at Stratford General Hospital. Born in Rochdale, England, she was a daughter of the late Juan and Beatrice (Wilson) deVega. She had been employed at Kroehler Manufacturing in Stratford for many years. She was a former member of Radiant Chapter #134, Order of the Eastern Star, and a former member of The Daughters of the Nile. She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Arthur Whittaker, and by her children Alan Whittaker and his wife Sheryl of Stratford and Kathleen Watson and partner her Jamie of Hamilton. A funeral service was held at the Heinbuck Funeral Home. Interment in Avondale cemetery.
Ann Thistle
Ann Elizabeth Thistle, 52, of Stratford, died Sept. 19, 2008 at Stratford General Hospital. Born in New Brunswick, she was a daughter of the late Vincent Whalen and the former Eva Lewis. She is survived by her sons Dan Thistle, Steve Thistle and Ben Thistle. Visitation was at the W.G. Young Funeral Home. A funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church. Interment in Avondale cemetery.
Doris Wheatley
Doris Irene Wheatley, 77, of Stratford, died Sept. 18, 2008 surrounded by her family at Stratford General Hospital. She was born in Seaforth, a daughter of the late George Thorn and the former Winnifred Veale. She was a member of St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Stratford. In 2006 she was predeceased by her husband Jack Wheatley. She is survived by her children Larry Wheatley (Marilyn), Carlingford; Nancy Gardner (Bob). Stratford; and Karen Adair, Stratford. A funeral service was held at the W.G. Young Funeral Home. Interment in Avondale cemetery.
Howard Ballantyne
Howard Wallace Ballantyne, 69, of RR 3, Stratford, died Sept. 9, 2008 at Stratford General Hospital. He had farmed all his life at RR 3, Stratford which has been in the Ballantyne family for three generations. He is survived by his mother Jean Herborth, a resident of People Care; his wife Marlene (Ehgoetz) Ballantyne; his daughter Elisha, Minneapolis, Minn.; and his son Craig, Toronto. He was predeceased by his father Wallace Ballantyne. A funeral was held at the W.G. Young Funeral Home. Interment in 1st John’s Lutheran cemetery , Seebach’s Hill.
John Grey Fair
John Grey Fair, 86, died Sept. 11, 2008 at Stratford General Hospital. Born at Saint John, N.B., he was the youngest son of the late Andrew Grey Fair and Ida Campbell Harper. He served from 1940 to 1945 with the Royal Rifles of Canada and was captured by the Japanese at the Fall of Hong Kong. He was imprisoned in various labour camps in China and Japan from 1941 to 1945. Settling at Stratford in 1948, he first worked for Canadian National Railways and later in the construction trades as an electrician before retiring in 1980. He was a lifetime member of the Royal Canadian Legion the Hong Kong Veterans Association, the Masonic Temple and the Ontario Electrical League. Earlier this year he was predeceased by his wife of 61 years, Martha Sarah MacKenzie. He is survived by his sons Barry of London and Ron of Mississauga. A private family funeral was held at the W.G. Young Funeral Home followed by interment at Avondale cemetery
