Brockville dentist Gordon Anthony Di Labio, 48, died at his home February 17, 2004. He had been ill for the past year.
Born December 25, 1955, in Renfrew, he was the son of Norman Di Labio and the former Mary Wells. He was raised and educated in Renfrew and attended the University of Western Ontario, graduating in dentistry in 1980.
On August 18, 1979, he married the former Linda Jeffrey in Sarnia.
He came to Brockville in 1981 and established his own dental practice here in 1983. He was a member of the Canadian and Ontario Dental Associations and The Royal College of Dental Surgeons.
Dr. Di Labio was a founding member of the local Habitat for Humanity agency. He was also an active member of the Brockville Cycling Club and Masters Swim Club and was an avid outdoorsman. Ottawa and Boston marathons were favourite events and he completed Ironman Triathlons in Canada, United States and New Zealand.
Dr. Di Labio is survived by his wife Linda, daughter Laura, sons Jeffrey and Anthony "Tony" and his mother Mary Di Labio of Ottawa. Also surviving are a brother, Ron Di Labio and friend Helen Dumych, and a sister, Jo Anne Di Labio, all of Ottawa, several nieces and nephews and his mother-in-law Peggy Jeffrey.
He was predeceased by his father Norman Di Labio, sisters Norma Trembley and Marianne Di Labio and his father-in-law Douglas Jeffrey.
Friends called at the Irvine Funeral Home, Brockville, on February 20. The funeral was held February 21 at First Presbyterian Church, with Rev. David Jones officiating. A committal service and cremation followed at the Roselawn Tribute Centre and Crematorium, Maitland. A private burial was held later at Roselawn Memorial Gardens Columbarium.
The pallbearers were Dr. Layne Boivin, John Hunt, Michael Hunt, Pat McNeely, Jim Merkley and Rick Solc. The honorary pallbearers were Kim Mack and Connie Spencer.
Memorial donations were directed to Habitat for Humanity.
Lee Hinson, 93
Lee Hinson, 93, formerly of Texas, died peacefully January 15, 2004 at St. Lawrence Lodge.
She was born Elgah Lee McCown on January 29, 1910, in Paris, Texas, the daughter of Benjamin Owen McCown and the former Fannie Maude Beasley.
She lived in Seadrift, Texas, graduated from high school in Port Lavaca, Texas, and attended the University of Texas.
She married Carl James Hinson in Texas in about 1936 and moved to North Carolina, where she was an office worker for the railway, in Wilmington, N.C., in the late 1930s. They moved back to Texas and she was deputy county clerk in Port Lavaca, Texas, in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
In 1965 she immigrated to Canada and lived in Kamloops, B.C., where in about 1969 she worked as the cook at a fishing camp, a job she thoroughly enjoyed.
She moved to North Augusta in 1970 and lived there until 1978. Until her retirement in 1975, she was a clerical worker for the Brockville Co-op.
From 1984 to 1990, she lived in Antigonish, N.S., and after that in Mallorytown and other places until finally moving to St. Lawrence Lodge.
She identified with Brockville Wesleyan Church most recently; she had previously attended Thousand Islands Baptist Church.
Mrs. Hinson was an artist who painted in oils; many of her paintings won first place at the Spencerville Fair over the years. She loved to cook, garden, travel and entertain friends. She also loved birds and dogs.
She is survived by her son Jim and his wife Lois of Brockville, eight grandchildren (five in the United States and three in this area: Lisa Johns and husband Vince and Kim Cooper and husband John, all of Brockville, and Cathy Hinson of Kemptville), many great-grandchildren, and brothers Hollis and Gerald McCown and their wives of Seadrift, Texas., as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her husband, her parents, son Wallace and his wife Edith, a grandson and granddaughter, sister Dorris Mullins and four brothers, Eugene, Glen, Billie and Milton McCown.
Her funeral was held January 15 in Brockville Wesleyan Church, with Pastors Vernon and Stuart Marples officiating. Her son Jim gave the eulogy, daughter-in-law Lois sang a solo and granddaughter Lisa played a flute solo.
Memorial donations were directed to Brockville Wesleyan Church or charities of the donors' choice.
Arrangements, including cremation, were made through the Barclay Funeral Home, Brockville.
Glen Willows, 75
Glen Roy Willows, 75, died of cancer February 28, 2004 at St. Vincent de Paul Hospital, after a seven-year illness with cancer.
Born June 1, 1928 in Kitley Township, he was the youngest of seven children born to A. Roy Willows and the former Lillian Halladay. He was raised on the family farm on Kitley Line 3, near Newbliss, between Toledo and Jasper. He attended rural public schools at Newbliss and Coad's and went to high school in Athens.
On May 31, 1952 he married Mary Willison in Athens Baptist Church.
He farmed with his brother on the family farm until he left farming in 1972 to work for Burnbrae Farms, in Lyn. He was supervisor of grading for 23 years, retiring in 1994.
He moved to Spring Valley when he began working at Burnbrae. Later he moved to Brockville's Harbourview condominium.
Mr. Willows was a member of Toledo United Church and later of Wall Street United Church, and in his later years he volunteered with the Victorian Order of Nurses, delivering Meals on Wheels.
He was a past member of the Loyal Orange Lodge and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. He served for many years on the board of the Ontario Pork Producers and was a leader in the Junior Farmers organization and the 4-H program in early years.
He loved all aspects of country life. He farmed the land, hunted and fished, and grew a large productive vegetable garden, especially in his retirement years. He enjoyed music and sang in the gospel quartet with his father and brother and friend, as well as in church and community choirs, including the men's barbershopping organization, SPEBSQSA (Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America Inc.). He also loved country music and dancing.
Travel was a special interest. He made several trips to Europe and the British Isles; drove to all the provinces and territories in Canada except Labrador and Nunavut; went camping and boating with close friends Garnet and Lorna Baker; and travelled in most of the United States, focusing on Nashville, Tenn., and Branson, Missouri, Texas, and Arizona's Grand Canyon.
He also enjoyed games and card-playing, but his main interests were his home and family.
Mr. Willows is survived by his wife Mary Willows; two sons, David and wife Norma of Moose Jaw and Garry and wife Angie of Brockville; three daughters, Dawn Urbaniak and husband Ron of Strathmore, Alta., Marjorie Vandermeer, and Muriel Ashe and partner Ray Ritchie, all of Brockville; and nine grandsons and two granddaughters.
Also surviving are four sisters, Irene Bushfield and Edna Jarvis, both of Brockville, Wilma Shackleton of Kitchener and Eleanor Drummond and husband Bob of Smiths Falls, and numerous nieces and nephews.
He is survived by his mother-in-law, Margaret Willison of Brockville, and sisters-in-law Jean Haggett of Addison and Muriel Campbell and husband Bill of Ottawa.
He was predeceased by his parents, brother Lloyd, sister Mary and father-in-law John Willison.
Friends called at the Irvine Funeral Home, Brockville, where on March 3 the funeral was held, with Rev. Dr. Alan Bennett, of Wall Street United Church, officiating. Memorial tributes were given by sons David and Garry and nephew Keith Drummond. Burial followed at Roselawn Memorial Gardens, Maitland.
The pallbearers were six grandsons, Doug and Dan Willows, Chris Urbaniak, Michael and Ryan Ashe and Nathan Vandermeer. Employees of Burnbrae Farms Ltd. formed an honour guard.
Memorial donations were directed to the Canadian Cancer Society and the Hospice of Providence Palliative Care, St. Vincent de Paul.
Jean Whiteland, 77
Jean Dorothy Whiteland, 77, who contributed her time and talent to local sports and music organizations, died January 9, 2004 at Wellington House, Prescott, after a five-year illness.
She was born February 15, 1926 in Ottawa to Rev. Hubert Fresque and the former Luella Letts. She was raised in various places thoughout Canada but spent her teen years in Maynard and her high school years at Prescott High School.
While in training in the 1940s as a nurse at the Brockville Psychiatric Hospital and at the Ottawa Civic Hospital, she underwent back surgery, which precluded a nursing career.
In spite of this surgery and after her marriage to Charles Whiteland on January 15, 1949 in Perth, she developed her interest in sports. She was one of Brockville's top five- and 10-pin bowlers in the 1960s, winning many individual and team awards.
From the late 1960s to the mid 1980s she was a top golfer at the Highland Golf Club and the old Sherwood Golf Club.
She enjoyed teaching the fundamentals of bowling and golf to Brockville's youth. She coached young bowlers for many years at Cadillac Lanes and young golfers at the old Sherwood Golf Club. She was even a coach for a boys' Legion baseball team in the early 1960s and a statistician for the Babe Ruth League.
Mrs. Whiteland's love of music began as a young girl playing the piano and organ during her father's church services. She sang for many years in the First Presbyterian Church choir and was a charter member of the Thousand Islanders Lady Barbershoppers.
The Brockville Operatic Society was her main love for four decades. She was a performer, producer and president of the society. Her many years of service culminated in her receiving a life membership.
Her life centred on her husband and family. She and her husband took the family camping in summers and supported activities in which their children were involved. She instilled in them a love of sports and the arts.
She and her husband would have celebrated 55 years of marriage in January but she died from the effects of vascular dementia a week short of that milestone.
Mrs. Whiteland is survived by her husband Charlie, daughter Laura Reilly and husband Dave of Brockville, and three sons, Ted and wife Susan of Brockville, Randy of Charlotte, N.C., and Barry of Brockville, as well as four grandchildren, Allison and Terry Whiteland and Casey and Jamie Reilly.
Also surviving are her brother Rev. Gordon Fresque and wife Dorothy of Kingston and many nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by both parents.
Arrangements were handled by the Barclay Funeral Home, Brockville. Burial will take place at Roselawn Memorial Gardens in the spring.
Memorial donations were directed to the Alzheimer Society.
