Mildred Louisa Robinson, a native of Lyn, died August 24, 2007 in Victoria, B.C. She was 83 years old.
She was born in Lyn on October 6, 1923, the younger daughter of Hiram Harris McNish and the former Ellen Mary Nutley.
She attended Yonge Mills Public School and Mallorytown Continuation School. It was during these years that she was stricken with polio, a disease that left her with lung and back problems, but never slowed her down.
During the early 1940s, she participated in the Wartime Emergency Training program. After attending business college in Ottawa, she was employed as an executive secretary by the Canadian civil service in Ottawa, in the Ministry of Defence, office of the deputy minister.
She married Harold E. Robinson in Lyn in 1949 and they moved from Ottawa to Victoria, B.C. in 1972, where Mrs. Robinson continued working for the Department of National Defence and DREE (Special ARDA) before her early retirement in 1979.
She was a member of the Church of St. John the Evangelist in Ottawa and a member of the Church of St. John the Divine in Victoria. She served for many years on the executive committees of the Anglican Church Women in both parishes. Among her hobbies were knitting, art appreciation, literature, history and genealogy. She carried on her mother's heritage of a love of music, especially the symphony and the opera. She was a member of the Anglican Church Women, the Canadian Club, the Public Service Superannuation Association, the B.C. Post Polio Awareness Society, the Canadian Historical Society and the Leeds and Grenville Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society.
Mrs. Robinson consistently supported her church in active service and will be remembered by many for her beautifully hand-knitted clothing which she donated to those in need. She was a steadfast and compassionate friend to many people in Ottawa and Victoria. She kept careful records of family history. She archived pictures, documents and heirlooms in order to keep the family aware of their heritage.
Mrs. Robinson was predeceased by her husband, her brother, Philip H. McNish, of Lyn, and sister, Margaret Zysman (Mrs. Benjamin), Old Greenwich, Conn.
She is survived by two nieces, Nancy Chantraine (Pierre), of Kingston, and Karmian Zysman, Pristina, Kosovo, and nephews, Edward P. McNish, Vancouver, and Andrew H., John D. and Norman R. McNish and their families of Lyn.
Funeral arrangements were by McCall Bros. Funeral Directors, of Victoria, B.C. and by Irvine Funeral Home, Brockville. Visitation was at Irvine Funeral Home on August 30. The funeral service was held at St. John the Baptist Church in Lyn on August 31. Interment was at Pinecrest Cemetery, Ottawa.
Donations were to the Ontario Lung Association and the charity of choice.
Bess Elaine Moore, 77
ATHENS -- Bess Elaine Moore died September 11, 2007 at Brockville General Hospital after an illness. She was 77 years old.
Born on December 24, 1929 in Smiths Falls to Mansell and Sarah (nee McKim) Empey, she was raised in Easton's Corners and educated at Begley's School SS No. 13 and Smiths Falls Collegiate Institute.
She worked as a secretary in Ottawa for McMullin Supply and then Scarfe and Company before marrying Harold Moore on April 17, 1954 at the Empey homestead. The couple then farmed at Jellyby before retiring to Athens and relocating to Brockville.
A member of the United Church Women at Shiloh United Church, as well as a board member, Sunday school teacher and superintendent, she also belonged to the Athens United Church Friendly Circle and the Athenia Seniors Citizens Club, serving three terms as president.
Mrs. Moore wrote poetry, made crafts and loved to dance and play euchre. She made her family, friends and neighbours her special care and focus.
She is survived by her husband, daughter Kathryn Elaine Moore of Kingston, son Allan Harold Moore of Oakville, grandchildren Alannah and Patrick Moore, both of Oakville, sisters Jo Curry (Ken) of Bells Corners, Pat Mitchell (Forde) of Lanark and Donna Zahary (George) of Calgary, brother Bryce Empey of RR2, Merrickville, sister-in-law Irene Empey of Carleton Place, and several nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Moore was predeceased by her parents, brother Bill Empey of Franktown and sister Shirley Empey in infancy.
Funeral services were held September 13 at the Judson Funeral Home in Athens. Interment was at New Dublin Cemetery.
Donations to the Brockville and District Palliative Care Service are gratefully acknowledged by the family.
Douglas Greene, 59
ATHENS -- Longtime Athens resident Douglas Merrill Greene died September 8, 2007 at Kemptville District Hospital at the age of 59. He had been in failing health for the past year.
Mr. Greene was born on October 4, 1947, raised and educated in Athens. He was the son of Donald Greene and Mary Hawkins and part of a large family that included a brother and five sisters.
His interests included fishing, watching hockey games, listening to country music and he looked forward to the annual Cornfest in Athens. He lived in the village until 2006 when he moved to Brockville. In April of this year, Mr. Greene entered Hilltop Manor in Merrickville.
Mr. Greene was predeceased by his father in February 2002 but his mother still makes her home in Athens. His siblings include Rodney Greene (Sharon) of RR 4, Athens, Shirley Sheffield (Gary) of Athens, Donna McCann (Arnel) of RR 4, Athens, Marilyn Greene (Fred Watson) of RR 2, Lyndhurst, Phyllis Ogilvie (Dwight) of Brockville and Bev Conroy on Brockville.
He is also survived by several aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. Mr. Greene's brother-in-law Ron Conroy predeceased him, as did his grandparents: Wilfred and Nellie Greene, and Arthur and Marion Hawkins.
Visitation took place at the Judson Funeral Home and Chapel on Tuesday, September 11 with funeral services there the following day, officiated by Pastor Robert Bourque of New Brunswick. Special music was provided at the service by Tom Wilson. Pallbearers were four of Mr. Greene's nephews: Wayne, Chris, Mike and Matthew McCann, and two of his friends, Neil Carkner and Dave Bradley. Interment was at Athens Cemetery.
Herbert St. John, 49
Herbert St. John, 49, died in Maitland on August 16, 2007, following an eight-month battle with pancreatic cancer. He died with his wife, Jennifer, his four children and other family members by his side.
He was born on May 19, 1958, in Brockville to Bruce St. John and the former Noreen Smith. He was raised along with sisters Gail and Amy at his parents' country home on Byers Road, north of Cardinal. He attended South Edwardsburgh Public School in Johnstown and graduated from Prescott's South Grenville District High School in 1977.
Following a short career as a labourer for Belhaven Turf Farms and as a certified backhoe driver for Dave Baker Excavating, Mr. St. John returned to school to complete an honours bachelor of commerce program in accounting at the University of Ottawa from 1982-86. He achieved his Chartered Accountant designation in 1988 after articling with the firm Ward Mallette Chartered Accountants in Bell's Corners.
He continued to work for Ward Mallette in Ottawa and later managed a satellite office for BDO Ward Mallette in Kemptville. In 1992, Mr. St. John left public accounting to work as the controller for the Merrickville-based company, Grenville Castings Limited. Over the course of 14 years, he worked diligently for the company, achieving the position of vice-president and chief financial officer before leaving in November 2006.
As well as taking great pride in his work, Mr. St. John was equally passionate about his family. In 1985, he married Jennifer Appleby of Prescott. In 1992, they began their family while living in Oxford Station with the arrival of their first two daughters, Elizabeth and Rachel. In 1997, he and his young family moved to Osgoode and shortly after, his son Paul and daughter Hannah were born. In 2002, the St. John family moved to Maitland, purchasing the historic house known as Maplehurst.
His leisure time was spent doing landscaping, carpentry or renovation projects, as well as coaching his children's soccer or baseball teams. On vacations, Mr. St. John enjoyed golf and travelled to play courses in the Maritimes, Mexico, the Caribbean and the southern United States.
He is survived by his wife, Jennifer, his children Elizabeth, Rachel, Paul and Hannah of Maitland, his parents Bruce and Noreen of Cardinal, sisters Gail Barton (Wayne) of Spencerville, Amy Arthurs (Scott) of Maitland, his grandmother Irene St. John of Prescott and his mother-in-law Shirley Appleby of Prescott.
Mr. St. John is also survived by his sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. He will be fondly remembered by many in the community, including a special friend, Betty Weatherall.
A celebration of Mr. St. John's life was held on August 20 in the chapel at Barclay Funeral Home in Brockville. Father Claude Delorme of St. John Anglican Church in Prescott officiated and eulogies were delivered by Bev Appleby, Wayne Throop, Muriel Merkley and Mr. St. John's closest friend, Dan Carrothers.
Pallbearers were John Appleby, John Smith, Wayne Throop, Herb Roduner, Paul Malcolmson and Dan Carrothers.
In remembrance, donations can be made to the Canadian Cancer Society or the building fund for St. John Anglican Church in Brockville.
June Marie Elliott, 83
June Marie Elliott died September 20, 2007 at Sherwood Park Manor following an illness. She was 83 years old.
Born on February 18, 1924 in Brockville to Moses and Elizabeth (nee Risley) Lameront, she was raised and educated here, attending St. Francis Xavier School.
A housewife and later a house cleaner, Mrs. Elliott enjoyed watching The Young and the Restless and working on puzzles.
She was predeceased by her parents, husband Gerald Elliott, companion Ken Delaney, sons William and David, daughter Donna and brother Michael Lameront.
She is survived by sons Ronald (Mary) of Prescott, Robert (Cheryl) of Brockville, Bruce of Montreal and Stephen (Rhonda) of Cardinal, daughters Carolyn Henry (Albert) of Brockville, Gail Sayles (Ron) of Hannon, Sandra Manuell (Doug) of Brockville and Tammy Halladay (Rick) of Charleston Lake, as well as 12 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
She is also missed by sisters Katherine Kelly (Victor) of Brockville and Marguerite Miller of Prescott as well as several nieces and nephews.
A graveside service on September 24 at Oakland Cemetery was arranged by the Barclay Funeral Home and officiated by Reverend Helen Wilson.
Donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation and Sherwood Park Manor are gratefully acknowledged by the family.
