ATHENS -- Franz Banks, 79, formerly of Lyndhurst, died September 19, 2002 at Kingston General Hospital. He lived most recently on Graham Lake Road.
Born in Kingston General Hospital on November 21, 1922, he was the son of John Banks and the former Ellen Smith of Perth Road, where he grew up.
He served during the Second World War, from 1939 to 1945, with the general Canadian Army, remaining in Canada.
For most of his adult life, Mr. Banks lived in Lyndhurst where he operated heavy equipment.
In 1986 he moved to the Brockville area, purchasing a farm in Addison. He ran his own heavy equipment business from his farm and enjoyed the work so much he never managed to retire completely.
He is survived by his children, Roger Banks and wife Nancy of Kingston, Gail Fano and husband Dave of Alberta, Debbie Johnston of Kingston and Reg Banks and wife Debbie of Frankville. Also surviving are six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
He was predeceased by eight brothers and one sister.
His funeral was held September 21 at the Judson Funeral Home, Athens, with Rev. Katherine Powell officiating. Burial followed at Sand Hill Cemetery, near his family.
John W. Somerville, 58
John W. Somerville, 58, died of bone cancer October 13, 2002 in the palliative care unit at Hospice of Providence-St. Vincent de Paul Hospital.
He was born June 29, 1944, in Ottawa to William John Somerville and the former Margaret Smith. He grew up in South Mountain and came to Brockville in 1963.
He married Shermaine "Sherry" Frood on April 3, 1970, in First Presbyterian Church, Brockville.
For 33 years he worked at the Phillips Cables plant in Brockville until it closed in 1996. Then he worked for a short time at Troy Manufacturing in Elizabethtown Township. At the time of his death he was co-owner of Sterling Cleaners.
His interests included hockey, particularly the Toronto Maple Leafs, golf, playing cards and horseshoes, horseracing and especially spending time with his family and friends. He was a fun-loving man who put family and friends first.
He also loved to garden and planted a large garden each year. He took special care of and pride in his dog, Kali.
Mr. Somerville is survived by his mother, Margaret Smith Somerville of Morrisburg, wife Sherry Somerville, son Sean of Athens and daughter Lorrie Rage of Athens.
Also surviving are his aunts Marjorie Stearns of Metcalfe and Elsie Manuell of Brockville and several cousins.
He was predeceased by his father.
Friends called at the Barclay Funeral Home, Brockville, where on October 17 the funeral was held, with Rev. David Jones, of First Presbyterian Church, officiating. Burial was at New Dublin Cemetery.
The pallbearers were Arnold Alder, Roger Blanchet, Kevin Currie, Paul McKittrick, David Standen and Jeff Tristram.
Honorary pallbearers were Robert Alguire, Clarence Blanchard, Michael Key, Jim Miller, George Quinn and Don Riddell.
Rene Mathieu, 89
CARDINAL -- Rene Joseph Mathieu, a longtime CASCO employee and Cardinal resident, died November 10, 2002 at Brockville General Hospital, aged 89.
He was born January 2, 1913, in Sorel, Quebec, to Adelard Mathieu and Elma Grenier. The family later moved to Cardinal. He married Rose Lanieu December 2, 1929, in Cardinal.
Mr. Mathieu identified with Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, Cardinal. He worked as a labourer at CASCO for more than 40 years.
He is survived by his wife, Rose, daughter Janice and husband Elwood McNeilly of Cardinal, and grandchildren Michelle and husband Karl McLaughlin of Kingston and Allan and wife Tiffany of Prescott. He was the great-grandfather of Ashley, Hillary and Jackson and had several nieces and nephews.
Mr. Mathieu was predeceased by his parents, brothers Leo, Lucien and John and sisters Lucienne and Roma.
A private family service was held at the Marsden and McLaughlin Funeral Home, Cardinal, November 13 with Father John Appelman officiating. Interment was at Sacred Heart Cemetery. Pallbearers were Jack Tousaw, Michelle McLaughlin, Karl McLaughlin and Allan McNeilly.
Mabel Welch, 93
Mabel Welch, 93, died November 11, 2002 at St. Vincent de Paul Hospital.
She was born Lucy Mabel King Harriott in Aberdeen, Scotland on March 20 1909, and came to Canada in 1911. In 1918 she was adopted by her foster parents, Alex and Lila Munro, of Clayton, Ont. She was educated in Clayton and Almonte.
On September 3, 1937, she married John W. Welch in Brockville where she lived the rest of her life. She stayed home as a housewife and raised six children. Her life centred on her family and friends.
Mrs. Welch is survived by her son John Welch and wife Holly; five daughters, Joan Lougheed and husband Bob, Gladys Preston and husband Gary, Alberta Lougheed and husband Ken, Ruth Welch and Helen Lougheed and husband Ted; 10 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her husband John Welch on October 10, 2001, and by eight brothers and six sisters.
Friends called at the Barclay Funeral Home, Brockville, where on November 14 the funeral was held, with George Poole and Wayne Hutchison officiating. Burial followed at Oakland Cemetery.
The pallbearers were John Lougheed, John Peterson, Charlie Hoare, Don Hazelwood, Ken Brownlee and Stu Jones.
Memorial donations were directed to the Hospice of Providence Palliative Care.
May Tennant, 75
Mary "May" Tennant, 75, formerly of North Augusta, died September 10, 2002 at the Rosedale Retirement Centre, where she lived. She had been in failing health for the past two years.
She was born in Kirkintillock, Scotland, on February 27, 1927, to William Crombie and the former Elizabeth McCasserty. She married Norman Tennant on September 12, 1945, in Scotland and moved to Canada to start her family. In 1959, she and her husband moved to North Augusta and raised their family there. She was active in St. Peter's Anglican Church in North Augusta.
In 1962 she started working at the Automatic Electric plant in Brockville and remained there for 25 years until her retirement in 1987.
She enjoyed reading, knitting, the family cottage on the Rideau River and spending time with her family.
She attended Centennial Road Standard Church and was active in Bible study with a group affectionately known as the "Golden Girls, " a label describing not their age but their character.
Mrs. Tennant is survived by her son William and wife Linda and two daughters, Janet Lake and husband Tom and Norma Hindman and husband Ron, all of Brockville. Also surviving are six grandchildren, Christine Bax and husband Herman, Daniel Tennant, Karen Tennant, Brenda Haystead and husband Robin, Cindy Hindman and Darren Hindman, all of Brockville, as well as two great-granddaughters, Rebecca and Nicole Bax.
She also leaves a sister, Isobel Findlay, in Scotland, and sisters-in-law Wilda Stefanyk and husband Harry in Ohio and Eunice Janis in Perth, and several nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her parents and her husband, as well as sisters-in-law Marjorie Levia and Hughena Cooke.
The funeral was held September 13 in the chapel of the Barclay Funeral Home, Brockville, with Rev. Laurence Croswell officiating and Rev. Randy Hopkins assisting. Her son William gave the eulogy. Burial followed at Roselawn Memorial Gardens, Maitland.
The pallbearers were Wayne Dooley, Jim Robertson, Dan Tennant, Darren Hindman, Robin Haystead and Herman Bax.
