Doris Caldwell, 63, died suddenly January 23, 2003 at Brockville General Hospital.
Born Mary Doris Madeline Chisamore on January 26, 1939 in Hallecks, she was the daughter of Almer Ervin Chisamore and the former Muriel Rebecca Jones. She grew up in several places in Front of Yonge Township and attended Caintown School and Mallorytown Consolidated School.
She moved to Brockville to train as a nurse and married James Lorne Caldwell on November 28, 1959 in Trinity Anglican Church.
She graduated from Brockville General Hospital's school of nursing in 1959 and worked as a registered nurse until 1962, retiring to become a full-time mother and homemaker.
Mrs. Caldwell was affiliated with Trinity Anglican Church for a long time and more recently also with Thousand Islands Baptist Church. She was at times active with Brockville Seniors Club 85 and the Golden Entertainers.
She enjoyed gardening, playing cards, singing in Trinity Church Choir and with the Golden Entertainers, and spending time with her family and friends.
She is survived by her son Robert Caldwell of Cornwall and three daughters, Shelly Bernier of Cole Harbour, N.S., and Debbie Forbes and Julie MacDonald, both of Brockville, as well as six grandchildren, Laura Bernier, Traci Webb, Brandy Forbes, Diane MacDonald, Steven MacDonald and Rebecca Caldwell.
Also surviving are four Chisamore brothers, Kenneth of Brockville, Clifford of Lyn, Carman of Scarborough and Hiram of Brockville; six sisters, Florence Simpson of Stouffville, Ethel Stevenson of Rockfield, Joan Cavanaugh of Washago, and Helen Throop, Jean Gibson and Pauline Jenkins, all of Brockville; and many nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her parents, her husband James on November 18, 2002 and several brothers-in-law.
Friends called at the Barclay Funeral Home, Brockville, where on January 27 the funeral was held, with Rev. Ron Horst, of Trinity Anglican Church, Pastor Chris Haggith, of Thousand Islands Baptist Church, and Rev. Faun Herriman officiating. Cremation was arranged.
Memorial donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, Canadian Diabetes Association and The Gideons were gratefully acknowledged by the family.
Reginald W. Burton, 83
Reginald "Reg" William Burton, 83, retired personnel manager at the former Parke Davis plant in Brockville, died of pneumonia February 19, 2003 at Brockville General Hospital. A resident of Rosedale Retirement Centre, he was in hospital for just two weeks but had been in declining health for three years.
He was born September 23, 1919, in Calgary, Alberta, to James Burton and the former Retta Davis. His father died in 1924 and two years later his mother also died. Young Reg was sent to live with relatives in Amherst, Nova Scotia, until they too died, and he went to live with other relatives in Kingston.
There he attended Kingston Collegiate and Vocational Institute and then Queen's University, where he graduated in 1941 with a bachelor's degree in commerce.
Following graduation, he found a position with the Parke Davis Pharmaceutical Co. plant in Windsor, where he lived for 15 years.
He married the former Margaret Elizabeth Brown in Windsor on December 29, 1944, and they raised three children.
When Parke Davis built its Brockville plant in 1956, Mr. Burton transferred to this city. He was the plant's personnel manager until his retirement in 1983. He was a respectful, well-mannered, considerate and polite man. These qualities served him well in his position as personnel manager, which required sensitivity and diplomacy.
He was a member of Sussex Masonic Lodge in Brockville and of the Industrial Accident Prevention Association while he worked at Parke Davis. He was the vestry clerk at his church, Trinity Anglican, for many years.
During the years his children were involved in sports, he assisted with sports teams. A supporter of the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team, he was constantly disappointed by the team's lacklustre performance.
He was extremely happy in his 53-year marriage to Margaret and recalled his pleasure in watching his dogs Lassie, Rosie and Brie follow her around. Mr. Burton loved family trips to Florida and especially enjoyed family gatherings at his home or at his daughter's home when his wife was not well. All birthdays, Christmases and other holidays were celebrated as a family. Having been orphaned at an early age and growing up in several families, he was especially pleased that his own family was loving and stable.
After his wife's death in 1997, he moved from his waterfront home on Hartley Street, where they had lived for more than 40 years. He enjoyed following the political career of his son-in-law, Ben TeKamp, from city councillor to mayor of Brockville. After giving up driving himself, he enjoyed weekly drives and a visit to Dairy Queen with his daughter, Cathy TeKamp.
In his last years, his granddaughter Robin TeKamp McElrea gave him special attention, and his grandson, Mark TeKamp, in a master's program at Dalhousie University, was always able to make him laugh.
Mr. Burton is survived by his son Richard Burton and partner Mary of Ottawa and daughter Cathy TeKamp and husband Ben of Brockville; four grandchildren, Robin TeKamp and husband Greg McElrea, Sarah and Jenny Burton and Mark TeKamp.
Also surviving are his cousin, Heather Logan Taylor and husband Dr. Edwin Taylor of Chicago, and daughter-in-law Dr. Faith Silver of Ottawa.
He was predeceased by his son Dr. John Davis Burton in 1992.
Irvine Funeral Home and Chapel, Brockville, arranged cremation and a private committal service was held at the columbarium at Roselawn Memorial Gardens, Maitland, on February 21, with Rev. Ron Horst of Trinity Church and Rev. Stan Riley, retired former minister at Trinity, officiating. A reception for friends and the public was held at Irvine's following the committal.
Memorial donations to the Alzheimer Society of Leeds and Grenville and to Trinity Anglican Church were gratefully acknowledged by the family.
Reg Preston, 64
PRESCOTT -- John Reginald "Reg" Preston, 64, who lived on County Road 44, Spencerville, died February 12, 2003 at his home.
He was born April 2, 1938, in Ottawa to Elisha John Preston and the former Greta Wyman. He married Audrey Hoogwerf in Prescott on April 4, 1959.
He was employed as an assembly line worker at the RCA Electronics plant (later called Thomson Consumer Electronics) until it closed in 1997.
His main interests were his home and family.
He is survived by his wife Audrey Preston, mother Greta Preston, daughters Cheryl Massey and husband Larry of Cardinal, Elona Morley and husband Gord of Frankville and Ellen Lamothe and husband Claude of Cardinal, grandchildren John and Crystal Massey, Sarah, Jamie and Andrew Morley and Daniel Lamothe, and great-grandchild Zoey, as well as several nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his father, John Preston, and sister Anne Paul.
Friends called at the Chris Slater Funeral Home, Prescott, where on February 16 the funeral was held, with Pastor David Gogolin, of the Pentecostal church in Cardinal, officiating. Burial will be at Sandy Hill Cemetery in the spring.
Sister Mary Esther, SSJD, 85
Sister Mary Esther, SSJD, who frequently spent holidays in Brockville with her mother, the late Susan Wilson, and sister Audrey Beedie, died February 7, 2003 in the infirmary of St. John the Divine Convent in Toronto. She was 85.
She was born at Benson, Saskatchewan, on December 15, 1917, to Ernest Wilson and the former Susan Switzer. She was baptized Mary Isabella Beatrice Wilson. As a child she had come to know about God and Holy Scripture through "Sunday School by Post." When she was 19 she first experienced a call to the religious life, but she did not follow that call until later in life.
She first worked in different family homes in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, caring for young children. During the Second World War she moved to Ottawa with her mother and sister Audrey and was employed at the Inspection Board of the United Kingdom of Canada.
In 1947, she was a guest in St. John's Convent in Toronto and after two months was admitted as a postulant. On May 6, 1952, she was professed by Bishop Abraham as Sister Esther, of the Sisters of St. John the Divine. In 1974 her name was changed to Sister Mary Esther, SSJD.
She went to Regina, Sask., and cooked at St. Chad's Anglican School for Girls, then kept house for Father Hemming and the Brothers in Monastic House at Windsor, a society of St. John the Divine. In 1976 she moved to London, Ont., where she was associated with St. Paul's Cathedral for 25 years, visiting parishioners who were in nursing homes, hospitals and alone at home. For 10 years she led a senior citizens group, as well as an embroiderers group.
She had many talents, including book binding, upholstering, needlepoint, embroidery and small crafts and furniture making. She made Christmas ornaments such as angels and satin or beaded balls, which she gave to friends.
Sister Mary Esther spent holidays in Brockville and loved to travel. On one trip she went to New Brunswick and met Queen Elizabeth II. She travelled to England, Scotland, New Zealand and Australia and returned often to her beloved Saskatchewan.
Two years ago she relocated to Toronto to be closer to the convent and her family. Due to a heart attack and failing health, she was taken back to St. John's Convent and spent the last five months in the infirmary, cared for by the sisters and nurses.
She will be remembered for her many talents, her cheerful disposition, quick wit and exceptional sense of humour.
Sister Mary Esther is survived by her sisters, Ethel Selk of Estevan, Sask., and Audrey Beedie and husband Bill of Brockville, as well as nieces, nephews, great- and great-great-nieces/nephews, cousins, friends and particularly Ruth Ann Drozd, of London, Ont.
She was predeceased by her parents.
Helen Ferguson, 99
Helen Ferguson, 99, former school teacher and lifelong resident of Mallorytown, died January 10, 2003 at St. Lawrence Lodge.
She was born August 11, 1903, a daughter of Herbert Mallory and his wife, the former Mary Elizabeth Richardson. She attended Ottawa Normal School and Kemptville Agricultural College, where she won a medal in domestic science. Her 17 years of teaching school included time at Lilly's and Grenadier Island.
She was a member of the United Church and of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Royal Canadian Legion.
She loved to play the piano, embroider and crochet. One of her hobbies was painting and she liked to show scenic localities in her region as they appeared in the different seasons. She also loved to fish in Charleston Lake.
She is survived by three nephews and one niece. Besides her husband, she was predeceased by two sisters, Marion and Verna, and two brothers, Douglas and Donald.
Arrangements were entrusted to the Barclay Funeral Home, Brockville. Burial will take place at Roselawn Memorial Gardens, Maitland, with a graveside service at a later date.
Memorial donations to Mallorytown United Church will be gratefully acknowledged.
