A native of Poland, Jerzy Franciszek "George" Widzinski, 79, died at St. Vincent de Paul Hospital, on August 15, 2003.
He was born April 19, 1924 in Wolsztyn, Poland, the son of Jakob Widzinski and the former Anna Krause. He was demobilized from the Free Polish Army in 1947, having served in the military police of the Free Polish Army, stationed in England and affiliated with the 8th British Army.
He met his wife Aurea May Honey in England and they were married on December 18, 1948. In 1954 he came to Canada and joined the Cow and Gate Company. In April 1957 he took up employment with DuPont Canada, where he worked until his retirement in 1986. He and his wife also owned and operated Aurea's Smoke Shop in downtown Brockville.
Mr. Widzinski was a member of St. Francis Xavier Church and enjoyed golfing, sailing, wintering in Florida, activities with grandchildren and family life. For their 50th anniversary, he and his wife travelled to England and Poland, a gift from his two sons-in-law.
He is survived by his wife Aurea and his children Anna Hone and her husband Michael of Ottawa, Georgina Widzinski of Vancouver, Ian Widzinski and his wife Laurie of Athens, and Susanna Greene and her husband Bill of Sewickley, Pennsylvania. He is also survived by 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, and a sister Urszula Lorenzo of Germany.
He was predeceased by his parents, brother Zbigniecw and sister Ceycylia.
Friends called at Irvine Funeral Home and Chapel, Brockville. On August 19, the Liturgy of the Christian Funeral was celebrated at St. Francis Xavier Church by Father Brian Price. Burial followed at St. Francis Xavier Cemetery.
Acting as pallbearers were grandsons Michael Hone Jr., Gordon Greene, Christopher Hone and Stephen Hone and sons-in-law Michael Hone Sr. and William Greene. Ron Rimmer of Kingston was an honorary pallbearer and Corporal Eric Widzinski (air cadet) led as military honour guard.
Memorial donations to the Hospice of Providence Palliative Care Unit will be gratefully acknowledged.
Beryl Close, 77
Beryl Eileen Close, 77, died September 22, 2003 at Brockville General Hospital after an illness lasting about two years.
She was born January 24, 1926, at North Augusta to Manford Sheffield and the former Chloe Moulton. She was raised in North Augusta and attended public school there and high school at Brockville Collegiate Institute.
She came to Brockville in 1956 and worked downtown at Woolworth's and later at Zellers department store. She retired 20 years ago.
Mrs. Close identified with Centennial Road Standard Church and belonged to the Orange Lodge. Her main interests were her family and friends.
She also enjoyed gardening, especially growing roses, and took trips to Florida and the Dominican Republic with her family. She was very fond of her cat.
She is survived by her husband William Edward Close, sons William, James and Ron and daughters Diane Earl, Carol Portieous and Sharon Mallette and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her parents, brother Liston Sheffield, sisters Alberta Hutton, Bernice Smith and Fern Buell and a grandson Trevor.
Friends called at the Irvine Funeral Home, Brockville, where on September 25 the funeral was held, with Pastor Laurence Croswell, of Centennial Road Standard Church, officiating. Burial was at Oakland Cemetery.
The pallbearers were Chris Tyo, Bill Close Jr., John Portieous, Jim Close Jr., Rick Close and Greg Close. Honorary pallbearers were Matthew Close, Adam Cournyeau and Scott Hodge.
Memorial donations were directed to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
Matthew O'Shaughnessy, 23
Matt O'Shaughnessy, 23, son of a prominent Brockville lawyer, died December 23, 2003 at his home at Lily Bay. He had been ill with schizophrenia for the past 18 months.
Matthew Allan O'Shaughnessy was born in Brockville April 8, 1980, to Michael J. O'Shaughnessy and the former Inez Madill. He was raised in Brockville and attended J.L. Jordan Separate School, St. Mary Separate School, Brockville Collegiate Institute (BCI) and Ridley College in St. Catharines.
He studied for one year at St. Thomas University in Fredericton, N.B., and had completed a second year at SUNY Potsdam in New York state. In school he was known as a fellow who always had an opinion, says his father, and "without fail would hand his written work in late."
He was cruelly struck with schizophrenia in the late summer of 2002, as he was preparing to begin his third year of university.
He had been employed in the summers from the time he was 16. He first worked at Zigman Metals in the yard. In following summers he worked at Excel Marine, at the Brockville waterfront for the City of Brockville, and St. Lawrence Park for the City of Brockville.
He loved the river and his work on the waterfront. He met everyone with a big smile and a helping hand.
His love of the river also showed in his membership in the Brockville Yacht Club and as a fourth-generation rower at the Brockville Rowing Club (BRC). He was a "big boy" who at the age of 14 played on the BCI Red Ram senior football team, which won the league championship. He was also a member of many winning crews for BCI and the BRC.
When he went to Ridley College in St. Catharines, he took up rugby as well as continuing to play football. He was on the championship rugby team at Ridley and continued his love of this sport at St. Thomas University and SUNY Potsdam. He had also been a member of the Brockville Privateers. His nickname, "Ocean, " aptly described him.
He was also active in politics when he was younger, as a member of MP Jim Jordan's campaign team. He was a poll captain and in two separate elections won his poll for Jordan.
Matt O'Shaughnessy is survived by his mother Inez and father Michael, as well as his brother Dan, 21, who attends Syracuse University, and his brother Ben, 16, who attends BCI. Also surviving are his grandparents, Peter and Vera O'Shaughnessy of Brockville and Teresa Madill of Peterborough. Each family has nine children, so innumerable aunts, uncles and cousins survive.
Funeral arrangements were with the Irvine Funeral Home, Brockville, where on December 26 the family wake was held. His funeral was held December 27 at St. John Bosco Parish Centre, with Father Tim Harrison leading the celebration of his life and the mass.
The pallbearers were cousins Sean O'Shaughnessy, Joe O'Shaughnessy, Conlin McCabe and Jeff Kerluke, his coach Chris Marshall and his friend Matt Vander Baaren.
Memorial donations to the Brockville Rowing Club, 1 Ferry Street, Brockville, will be gratefully acknowledged by the family.
Gerald McCann, 88
Gerald Seymour McCann, 88, died December 19, 2003 at St. Lawrence Lodge. He had been in failing health for a number of years.
He was born November 4, 1915, to Charles McCann and the former Maude Cheetham. He was raised in South Crosby until 1926 and then moved to the Newboro area, where he lived and farmed at McCann's Corners until 1945.
He married Doris Stewart on April 22, 1931 in Athens.
In 1945 he and his family moved to Glen Elbe Road, where he owned and operated a dairy farm until his retirement in 1975. He and his wife then moved to Brockville.
Mr. McCann identified with Athens Baptist Church. He enjoyed outdoor activities and working the land. He liked gardening in his later years and enjoyed listening to music.
He is survived by his wife Doris McCann of Brockville; four sons, Lawrence and wife Yvonne and Dale and wife Marilyn, all of Glen Elbe, Roger and wife Debbie of Oak Leaf and Earl and wife Deborah of Kanata; and two daughters, Carol Pattemore and husband Oliver of Plum Hollow and Sharon Williams of Brockville.
He is also survived by four sisters, Vera Nixon of Kingston, Erma Marshall of Brockville, Muriel Patterson of Belleville and Phyllis Lickers of Osweken. Two brothers, Allan of Athens, and Trevor, survived him but Trevor died a week later, on December 26.
Seventeen grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews survive, as well.
He was predeceased by his parents, brothers Lawrence and Stuart, grandchild Andalyn McCann (at age one year in 1986) and great-grandchild Curtis Pattemore (at age three years in 2001).
The funeral was held December 22 at the Barclay Funeral Home chapel, Brockville, with Rev. Maryann Turcott, of Athens Baptist Church, officiating. Burial was at Roselawn Memorial Gardens, Maitland.
The pallbearers were grandchildren Scott Pattemore, Lianne McCann, Linda Charleton, Neil Williams, Uriah McCann and Jonathan McCann.
Memorial donations were directed to Athens Baptist Church and charities of the donors' choice.
Basil Levere, 91
SPENCERVILLE -- Basil Baldwin Levere, 91, of Shanly, died December 14, 2003 at Wellington House, Prescott, with his daughters by his side.
He was born February 17, 1912 at Vancamps in Mountain Township to Levi Edgar Levere and Ada Ethel Liezert. He was raised in a large Christian family where music flowed and all loved to sing and play the piano.
In 1935 he married Geraldine Elizabeth Fairgray of Glensmail, and they had three children, Terry, Arlene and June. During this time, he farmed, owned a local Cockshutt dealership, worked for J.F. Barnard and was road superintendent for Edwardsburgh Township for 11 years.
His wife died in 1965 and in 1973 he married Genewefa "Jean" Ozga and welcomed into the family circle her children, Teresa, Anthony and Christopher.
He knew how to fix farm equipment and spent his last working days at Cyr's Farm Equipment.
During his retirement, he and his wife Jean travelled near and far, until his health suddenly failed in 1998.
He based his life on his Christian faith and was involved in every aspect of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Spencerville.
Mr. Levere is survived by his wife Jean; children Terry, Arlene and husband Robert, and June and husband Ron; stepchildren Teresa, Anthony and wife Betty, and Christopher and wife Sheila; 13 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Also surviving are his brother Dwight and wife Rita of Johnstown.
He was predeceased by several brothers and sisters and daughter-in-law Janet Beach (who was the wife of Terry).
Friends called at the Grant Brown Funeral Home-Purcell Chapel, Spencerville, on December 16. The funeral was held December 17 at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, Spencerville, with Rev. Ian MacLean officiating. Burial followed at St. Andrews Cemetery.
The pallbearers were grandsons Darin Levere, James Hutchinson, Jason Hutchinson, Ian Smith, Jesse Ozga and Rick Ozga. Session members of the church were honorary pallbearers.
Memorial donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or Palliative Care Wellington House, Prescott, will be gratefully acknowledged by the family.
