CARDINAL -- Albert Francois, 90, retired Canada Starch employee, died March 8, 2005 at Wellington House Nursing Home, Prescott.
He was born December 22, 1914 in Combermere, Ont., to Matthew Francois and the former Agnes Lavallee. In his early years he worked at a sawmill near Madawaska, in a feldspar mine and on the highways during the Depression.
On November 8, 1938 he married Grace Lehman in Madawaska. The couple moved to Cardinal in 1942. Mr. Francois got a job at Canada Starch where he worked until he retired in December 1979.
In 1982 he and his wife moved to Golden Lake. He was known for his sense of humour, his respect for the land and the river, his propensity for nicknames and his non-materialistic nature. His family was important to him and he always taught his children the importance of being honourable and truthful in their dealings with other people.
Mr. Francois is survived by his wife Grace and their 10 children: Ron and spouse Cathy of Brockville, Donna and spouse Les Wood of Cardinal, Sandra Jackson of Orillia, Bryne and spouse Annie of Brockville, Yvonne and spouse Butch Stevenson of London, Bonnie and spouse Dick Willis of Cardinal, Mark and spouse Cassie of Stoney Creek, Roger and spouse Sue of Prescott, Cora Kinch and friends Steve Casselman of Williamsburg and Dora Jordan and spouse Brian of Maitland.
Also surviving are 25 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his parents, infant daughter Evangeline, infant brother Anthony, brothers Joe, William, Lorne, Danny and Jimmy Francois, and sisters Mary Crawley and Margaret Francois.
Friends called at the Marsden and McLaughlin Funeral Home, Cardinal on March 11. The funeral was held March 12 at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, Cardinal, with Father Appelman officiating. Burial followed at Sacred Heart Cemetery, Cardinal.
The pallbearers were grandsons Dan Francois, Todd Wood, Jeremy Kinch, Joshua Jordan, Matthew Francois and Scott Francois.
Memorial donations to Wellington House Nursing Home and St. Lawrence Lodge will be gratefully acknowledged by the family.
Anson Swerdfeger, 60
Anson James Swerdfeger, 60, of Renfrew and formerly of Brockville, died suddenly at his home on July 29, 2005.
He was born July 26, 1945 in Brockville General Hospital to Clifford John Swerdfeger and his wife, the former Ruth Barclay. He was raised and educated in Morrisburg.
Mr. Swerdfeger was employed as an auto mechanic. He liked cars and drove stock car No. 198 in the early 1970s. He loved hockey, baseball, football and NASCAR races. He also coached Little League baseball.
He identified with the Baptist Church.
He is survived by his wife, Cheryl Bowes Thompson, son Anson Swerdfeger of Peterborough and daughters Jennifer of Windsor and Julie of Brockville, as well as stepson Dean and stepdaughter Danielle.
Also surviving are his sisters, Marilyn Slack of Lyn and Carolyn Sauve of Maitland, several grandchildren, two nieces and three nephews, as well as stepmother Bessie Swerdfeger and stepbrother Morris Henaphy and wife Ethel and stepsisters Pat Strader and Dorcas Henaphy.
He was predeceased by his parents.
The funeral was held August 1 at the Barclay Funeral Home, Brockville, with Rev. Roland Glendinning, retired Baptist minister officiating. Burial followed at Oakland Cemetery.
The pallbearers were Ron Sauve, Anson Swerdfeger, James Catellier and Jamie Moll.
Memorial donations were directed to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
Michael O'Grady, 92
ELGIN -- Michael James O'Grady, 92, died July 21, 2005 at Smiths Falls Community Hospital with family members by his side.
On January 31, 1913, he was born in the O'Grady homestead in the Harlem/Toledo area, the only child of Michael William O'Grady and the former Margaret Dempsey. He attended school at the Old Brick Schoolhouse, located at the corner of County Road 5 and County Road 8.
He had various jobs over his long life. He worked for Brundige Construction, was a caretaker for cottages, and was a part-time bus driver. He did fencing and masonry work and general labour in addition to owning and operating a dairy farm.
On May 25, 1949 he married Etta Lawson, his sweetheart and next-door neighbour, in St. Philip Neri Church, Toledo. They lived in the Harlem/Toledo area and raised nine children.
Mr. O'Grady loved to keep busy. He enjoyed mowing grass, tending gardens, looking after his farm animals (and was still feeding his chickens until a few months before he died), making maple syrup and cutting wood. He also enjoyed car drives and watching birds. A family man, he enjoyed holiday dinners with all the family.
He identified with the Catholic church and regularly attended St. Philip Neri Church in Toledo.
He was a healthy man all his life, but in the past five years Alzheimer's disease gradually took over his life. His first-ever stay overnight in the hospital was in April 2005, when he fell and broke his hip. After surgery, he returned home and was cared for by his wife and family until a week before his death, when he was again hospitalized.
Mr. O'Grady is survived by his wife Etta and nine children: Bonnie Smith and husband Richard of Delta, Anna Pegg and husband Roland of Lombardy, Theresa Riel and husband Del of Toledo, Mary Gifford and husband Winston of Forfar, Cathy Metcalfe and husband Ron of Bath, Gerald O'Grady and wife Nancy of Toledo, Karen Townsend and husband Earl of Harlem, Marlaine Hart and husband Brian of Plum Hollow and Michael O'Grady and wife Tracy of Portland. Seventeen grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren also survive.
Friends called at the Scotland Funeral Home, Elgin, on July 22. The funeral was held in St. Philip Neri Church on July 23, with Father Julius officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery.
The pallbearers were eight grandsons, James Baker, Donald Gifford, Murray Riel, Jason Gravel, William O'Grady, Shawn Hart, Jeremy O'Grady and Chris Townsend.
Memorial donations were directed to the Alzheimer Society or charities of the donors' choice.
Rita MacDonald, 83
Rita Mary MacDonald, 83, died July 31, 2005 at Brockville General Hospital.
The daughter of Leo Pellerine and the former Victoria Richard, she was born November 9, 1921 in Larry's River, Nova Scotia, where she was raised and educated. She met Alexander MacDonald in Halifax during the Second World War and they were married there in about 1942.
The couple lived in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, for many years. About 1968 they moved to the Toronto area to be near their children. After the death of her husband in 1977, she moved back to Dartmouth to care for her elderly parents until their deaths. While in Nova Scotia, she joined a senior citizen group and enjoyed events and outings planned through it.
She moved to Brockville August 1, 1997, again to be near a number of her children. She lived with one of her daughters. Aside from caring for family members, her interests included sewing and knitting, particularly making children's mitts to donate to the poor at Christmastime. She identified with the Roman Catholic church.
Mrs. MacDonald is survived by her children - son Daniel MacDonald of Brockville and five daughters: Ann Craig and husband John, Vicky Douglas and husband Dennis and Elsie St. Clair and husband Jim, all of Brockville, Patsy Nichols and husband Tony of Peterborough and Mary Feltmate and husband Russ of Nova Scotia.
Also surviving are her sister Lillian MacDonald of Nova Scotia, 10 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
Besides her husband, she was predeceased by brothers William, Arthur and Ronald Pellerine and grandson Terry Nichols.
Friends called at the Irvine Funeral Home, Brockville, on August 2. The funeral was held in St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Brockville, on August 3, with Father Brian Price officiating.
The pallbearers were grandsons Paul, James and Andrew MacDonald, Steven Nichols, Brian Healy and Chris Winslow.
Burial was at Assumption Catholic Cemetery, in Mississauga, Ont.
Memorial donations were directed to the Canadian Cancer Society.
Terry Steacy, 53
Terry Gene Steacy, 53, died July 19, 2005 in Brockville.
He was born March 4, 1952, in Kingston to George Steacy and the former Violet Lawson, who both predeceased their son. He was raised and educated at Seeleys Bay and in Brockville.
He married Sharon Warner on April 21, 1973 in Brockville and they had four sons.
Mr. Steacy worked as a labourer at Burnbrae Farms, the egg producer at Lyn.
He enjoyed fishing and working on cars. He also liked looking after and playing with his grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife Sharon, sons Terry, Jamie and spouse Laura, Bob, and Tim and spouse Mary, all of Brockville, as well as nine grandchildren.
Also surviving are three brothers, David and wife Betty of Brockville, Bob and wife Judy of Seeleys Bay and Richard of Brockville, and five sisters, Shirley Kelly and husband Fred of Mallorytown, and Gloria Steacy, Patsy Warren and husband Brent, Judy Burtch and husband Earl and Nancy Steacy, all of Brockville, as well as several nieces and nephews.
Friends called at the Barclay Funeral Home, Brockville, before the funeral on July 21. Reverend Roland Glendinning officiated and burial followed at Oakland Cemetery.
The pallbearers were George Pringle, Nancy Steacy, Tom Kelly, Cory Burtch, John Durant and Ken Kelly. The honorary pallbearers were Jeff Kelly and Jeff Kirkby.
Memorial donations were directed to the Canadian Cancer Society and the epilepsy society.
