Pirkko "Perky" Richards, 76, died May 13, 2004 at Brockville General Hospital after having a stroke eight days earlier.
She was born Pirkko Anneli Lehtonen on February 29, 1928 in Finland, the daughter of Martti Lehtonen and the former Lyyli Laine. She immigrated to Canada with her family in 1930 and was raised and educated in Vancouver, B.C.
In 1950 she married Ernest Henry Richards in Vancouver and in 1960 she moved to Brockville. She stayed here until 1978 when she returned to Vancouver. After retirement in 1991, she returned to live in Brockville.
She was a member of Centennial Road Standard Church and volunteered with its Project Reach Out Fund.
She was also a volunteer with the VON and Montessori School. She loved to travel, shop and spend time with her grandchildren.
Mrs. Richards is survived by her son David Henry Richards of Brockville and daughters Linda Lappan of Bancroft and Patty Skelton of Brockville, as well as seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her husband Ernie, brother Teijo Lehtonen, mother Lyyli and stepfather Vaino Kontlo and father Martti Lehtonen.
A service in celebration of her life was held May 15 at Centennial Road Standard Church, with Joan Thomas officiating. Burial followed at Oakland Cemetery.
The pallbearers were Tim, Ryan and Ian Lappan, Ed Skelton Sr. and Ed Skelton Jr. and Dustin Richards.
Memorial donations were directed to Project Reach Out Fund, the Victorian Order of Nurses and the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
Irvine Funeral Home, Brockville, attended to arrangements.
Paul Larocque, 53
Paul John Larocque, 53, died June 12, 2002 at Brockville General Hospital of complications from diabetes, a disease he had had for 23 years. He had been on kidney dialysis for two years.
He was born July 1, 1948, in Brockville to Alexander Joseph Larocque and the former Doris Greenwood. He attended Commonwealth Public School and Thousand Islands Secondary School, and belonged to the Brockville Rifles while in high school.
He married Sue Shire in Trinity Anglican Church, Brockville, on July 17, 1971 and lived in Brockville all his life.
Mr. Larocque worked for Ross Brothers Texaco, Sudbury Nickel Mines and Phillips Cables, until its closure seven years ago.
He identified with Trinity Church, was at one time a fifer with the Orange Lodge Fife and Drum Band, and belonged to the Brockville Infantry Company reenactors for nine years.
He also coached bowling (YBC Youth Bowling Council) and five-pin bowling, umpired slo-pitch and loved watching sports shows on television, as well as westerns, detective shows and classic shows. He also called bingo at the Brockville Bingo Centre.
Mr. Larocque was predeceased by his father and a sister, Doreen Sicard.
He is survived by his mother, Doris Dixon and husband Gordon, of Brockville; wife Sue of Brockville; and three daughters, Dawn of Brockville, Angela of Ottawa and Dianna of Brockville.
Also surviving are three brothers, Robert and wife Jane of Brockville, Dennis and wife Linda of Kenora and Ken and wife Peggy of Brockville, and one sister, Patricia Young and husband Peter of Brockville.
Friends called at the Irvine Funeral Home, Brockville, before the funeral in the Irvine Chapel on June 14. Rev. Ron Horst officiated, assisted by Rev. Faun Harriman. The Brockville Infantry Company formed an honour guard.
Burial followed at Roselawn Memorial Gardens.
The pallbearers were Rob McNish, Roger Lavoie Jr., Dean Connolly, Greg Young, John Chartrand and Tim Larocque.
Memorial donations to the Canadian Diabetes Society, Kidney Foundation, Canadian Cancer Society and Heart and Stroke Foundation.
Elva Fleury, 87
Elva Pearl Fleury, 87, formerly of Oshawa, died June 1, 2004 at Sherwood Park Manor after a brief illness.
She was born in Oshawa on April 23, 1917, to Russell Clark and the former Bertha DeMille. She went to school in Oshawa and married Joseph Edward Fleury there.
During the war years, her husband was away and she worked in a munitions factory for four or five years to support the family. She was a good cook and knew how to stretch resources, but the family experienced some challenging times.
When her husband returned, she was a housewife until her four children were grown, after which she became interested in caring for the sick and needy.
As an employee of the Oshawa Homemakers Bureau, she provided service to a diversified group, giving convalescing care to the elderly, those recovering from sickness and children with various needs. She would spend days or weeks in her clients' home, providing care while becoming part of the family. Her work left her feeling happy and fulfilled.
She attended church, prayed for others and read her Bible. She also enjoyed shopping and being with her family.
When her husband died, her life changed. She moved to Brockville in the summer of 1980 to be close to her eldest son, Joseph, and was later joined in this area by son Allan. She visited her other children's families in Alberta and British Columbia and also began giving homecare for families in Brockville until her own health began to fail.
After the untimely deaths of her two oldest sons, she decided to stay in Brockville, near her daughter-in-law Mary Jane Fleury. She began attending the Salvation Army Church, enjoyed the women's ministries and offered to help wherever she could. She eventually moved to Sherwood Park Manor.
Mrs. Fleury is survived by her son Wayne and wife Darlene of Alberta, daughter Joanna Dall-Vicenza and husband Mick of British Columbia, daughter-in-law Mary Jane Fleury of Brockville, and grandchildren Keith, Kevin, Ryan, Melanie, Sara, Cameron, Carman and Angela, as well as five great-grandchildren. Also surviving are special friends Marjorie Brown, Gladys Williams and Doris Thurgood.
She was predeceased by her husband Joe, sons Joseph Keith Fleury and Allan James Fleury, granddaughter Carolyn and brother Lloyd Clark.
Friends called at the Barclay Funeral Home, Brockville where on June 5 the funeral was held, with Major Alfred Wilson of the Salvation Army officiating. A tribute was given by longtime friend Marjorie Brown. Burial followed at Oakland Cemetery.
The pallbearers were grandsons Keith and Kevin Fleury and Carman Dalla-Vicenza, and family friend Todd Barclay.
Memorial donations were directed to the Salvation Army, Brockville, and to Sherwood Park Manor.
Roddy Laming, 90
ELGIN -- Roddy Laming, 90, of Kingston, died of pneumonia June 9, 2004 at his home on the Rideau River, five miles from Kingston. He had been ill for three years.
Born at Daytown on July 28, 1913 to George Laming and the former Lillian Moore, he was raised and educated at Forfar, along with 13 siblings. He married Verona Eyre on January 29, 1938 in Smiths Falls.
Mr. Laming lived in Toledo and Plum Hollow before moving to Kingston in 1956. He and his wife raised his sister Kathleen's children after her death, officially adopting the youngest, Veita. He did road maintenance and winter plowing for the ministry of transportation until his retirement in 1978.
He identified with the United Church and enjoyed gardening, talking on the telephone, watching the ducks and geese from his patio door and walking around the square and talking to his neighbours. He was an easy-going man who loved visitors and enjoyed his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He is survived by daughter Veita Veley of Kingston, with whom he was residing until his death, four grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, his sister Doreen Blunden of Brockville, nephews/nieces Jean Tuepan, Giles Laming, Irma Chant, Orville Laming and Allan Laming and several great-nieces/nephews.
Mr. Laming was predeceased by his wife Verona; nephew Gordon Laming; four brothers, Clifford, Hallie, Ralph and Gerald; and eight sisters, Lucille, Rhoda, Mabel, Ethel, Pansy, Kathleen and, in infancy, Florence and Anna.
Friends called at the Scotland Funeral Home, Elgin, where on June 12 the funeral was held, with Pastor Bob Boutilier, Free Methodist of Kingston, officiating. Burial followed at Plum Hollow Cemetery. The pallbearers were great-nephews Orley, Dwayne and Roger Mather, and friends Doug Campbell, Ken Moodie and Darrel Laffeniere.
Memorial donations were directed to All-Care Nursing, Children's Wish Foundation and CHEO (Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario).
Helen Liscumb, 72
PRESCOTT -- Helen Margaret Liscumb, 72, retired RCA employee and a former volunteer of the year, died May 21, 2004 at Brockville General Hospital.
She was born August 25, 1931 at Temiskaming, Ont., the daughter of Claude Burns and the former Mary Brown.
She married Darcy Liscumb on November 29, 1952 in Maynard. While raising two daughters, she was also a line worker at the RCA electronics plant in Prescott.
She spent her adult life serving her community. She was a longtime member of the Prescott St. John Ambulance Corps and taught first aid and CPR. She was a member of Wellington Rebekah Lodge No. 108.
She also worked on the Spencerville Fair and volunteered in the scouting movement.
In 1994 she was named Prescott's Volunteer of the Year.
Mrs. Liscumb is survived by her daughters, Darlene Poulter and husband Bazel and Nancy Oliver and husband William, and five grandchildren, Darcy and Jennifer Poulter, Diana Arbeau and husband Steve, and Matthew and Andrew Oliver.
Also surviving are her six sisters, Marion Desjardin, Jane Farella and husband Dominic, Elaine Perrier and husband Rod, Linda Lionsdale and friend Kurt Roduner, Iris Burns, and Joanne, as well as several nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her parents, husband Darcy, granddaughter Tara and brothers Bob and Walter Burns.
Friends were received at the Chris Slater Funeral Home, Prescott, where on May 24 the funeral was held, with Rev. Laurie Milito officiating. Cremation was followed by burial at Sandy Hill Cemetery.
The pallbearers were Andy and Eddie Bertrand, Rick Howelling, Sean Thomunson, Allan Liscumb and Rick Tourger.
Memorial donations were directed to Hospice of Providence Palliative Care (St. Vincent de Paul) and the Oddfellows/Rebekahs' Humanitarian Services Fund.
