Greg Ernest De Linden, 45, of Maitland, died February 26, 2005 at Kingston General Hospital of complications following a lung transplant more than four years ago.
Born in Montreal on January 26, 1960, he was the son of Terry De Linden and the former Margaret Lunn, of Pointe-Claire, Que. He was raised and educated in Pointe-Claire.
He worked for Kraft Foods, at Ingleside, in computer site support. He came to the Brockville area in 2002, two years after double lung transplant surgery.
He was always grateful for this gift, for it allowed him to live longer and be with his family.
He married Ellie Gilmer on September 21, 2002 in Christ United Church, Lyn.
He liked quilting, baking, spending time with his family and playing with his children.
He made teddy bears for his children, went bicycling and dancing, and enjoyed going to the trailer at Lucky Loon Campground.
Mr. De Linden is survived by his wife Ellie, son Frederick and daughter Fiona, all at home.
Also surviving are his mother, Margaret De Linden, sisters Paula De Linden and husband Jim Stroud of Pointe-Claire and Alison De Linden of Ottawa, nephews Adam and Shawn, mother-in-law Elizabeth Gilmer and brother-in-law Michael Gilmer of Mallorytown. His cat Gabby also survives.
He was predeceased by his father Terry De Linden, father-in-law Robert Gilmer and sister-in-law Irma Jean Gilmer.
Arrangements were entrusted to the Barclay Funeral Home, Brockville.
Memorial donations were directed to the Lung Association.
Ben Lyons, 75
John Benjamin "Ben" Lyons, 75, of RR 2, Brockville, died February 15, 2005 at Brockville General Hospital. He had been diagnosed with leukemia 18 months earlier.
He was born February 18, 1929 at Newbliss to John Lyons and the former Bella Dodd. He was raised and educated in Newbliss and came to Brockville in 1955. On September 1, 1956 he married M. Jean Chamberlain in Toledo.
He worked for the Brockville Public Utilities Commission and was an electrical supervisor for the PUC at the time he retired 14 years ago.
He identified with the Anglican Church and was a member of the St. James Masonic Lodge, at Bethel, having served as a master.
His special interest was horses. With his son Tim he enjoyed training and racing standardbred horses. He also enjoyed hunting, doing handyman jobs and visiting with friends.
Mr. Lyons is survived by his wife Jean and three sons, Tim and wife Angie of Prescott and Chris and wife Kim and Randy and wife Norma, all of Brockville, as well as four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Also surviving are his sisters, Myrtle McGillis of Smiths Falls and Irene Kinch of Newbliss, and many nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his parents.
The Barclay Funeral Home arranged cremation and the committal service was held March 1 at Roselawn Memorial Gardens, Maitland, with Pastor David Downing officiating. A celebration of his life will be held Sunday, March 20, 1-4 p.m., at St. James Lodge hall, in Bethel.
Memorial donations were directed to the Canadian Cancer Society and the St. James Masonic Lodge.
Mabel Whitteker, 90
WILLIAMSBURG -- Mabel Gladys Whitteker, 90, a retired schoolteacher and lifelong resident of this area, died February 17, 2005 at the Dundas Manor nursing home.
She was born in Archer on January 7, 1915, the eldest of two children born to Ellison Dennison and Lillian Shaver. Her mother had trained to be a nurse and her father farmed. Her younger brother, Max, died when he was only 22 years old.
Growing up, she attended the Archer school, Williamsburg public school and Morrisburg high school. She then went on to Ottawa normal school (teachers' college) in 1933-1934. After graduation, she accepted a teaching position at SS No. 22, Froatburn.
She began teaching when she was 19 years old and retired some 46 years later at the age of 65. During that time she taught each of her children and at each of her schools, she served as principal. She taught Grades 1 to 8 with some 41 pupils at SS No. 22 between September 1934 and June 1938.
On July 16, 1938, she married Lloyd Eugene Whitteker at St. Peter's Lutheran church in Ottawa, with Rev. W. H. Mundinger presiding. They went to live with his parents for a year, where he helped on the farm and drove her to and from school.
She then taught at various schools throughout the area over the years.
In September 1945 Mr. Whitteker began driving children to Morrisburg high school. During that time the family moved to Walter Whitteker's farm, which they rented and Lloyd farmed. In October 1946 they bought a farm from Willis and Vera Mcintosh and moved in on October 31, 1946.
Mrs. Whitteker started having her family while she was teaching. In those days there were no extended maternity leaves. She would take three or four days off school after childbirth before returning to the classroom.
Mrs. Whitteker's sixth school, Caughnawaga, was a one-room school located on land that had once been part of their farm. She taught there from 1954 until the school closed in June 1963 and the land reverted to the Whittekers. The old school house was sold to their daughter Sylvia and her husband Ray and remains Sylvia's home to this day.
The last 17 years of her teaching career were spent as teacher and principal of SS. No. 11, Matilda central public school, which became Dixon's Corners public school when the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry School Board took over. She taught there from September 1963 until her retirement in June 1980.
After her retirement, she travelled to California, Kentucky and Vancouver. She also worked as bookkeeper for the Whitteker bus lines.
She always enjoyed gardening and flowers, and she liked to read, play cards, listen to country music and visit friends.
She was active for many years as a member of St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Williamsburg.
In 1998 she suffered a stroke. She moved to the Hartford Retirement Home in March 2001. Due to declining health she was admitted to Winchester Hospital on October 30, 2004 and then Dundas Manor in November 2004.
Mrs. Whitteker was predeceased by her husband in August 1978 and is survived by her five children: Ron and wife Freda of Griffith; Sylvia Barkley of RR 3, Williamsburg; Dennis and wife Linda of Graham Lake; Marilyn McInnis of Brockville; and Lyn of Cornwall. Also surviving are 13 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Friends called at the Marsden and McLaughlin Funeral Home, Williamsburg, on February 21. The funeral was held February 22 at St. Peter's Lutheran Church, with Rev. Jo Barkley-Probst officiating. Burial was at New Union Cemetery, Williamsburg.
The pallbearers were grandchildren Kevin, Jeff and Rob Whitteker, Rodney Barkley, Eugene McInnis and Angie Merkley.
Honorary pallbearers were grandchildren Randy, Derek and Jamie Whitteker, Kim Hubbard and Rick Barkley.
Memorial donations to the CNIB (Canadian National Institute for the Blind) and St. Peter's Lutheran Church will be gratefully acknowledged by the family.
Jean Gill, 80
Jean Elizabeth Gill, 80, died January 29, 2005 at Brockville General Hospital with her family by her side. She had suffered for many years with severe arthritis and recently had a number of strokes, which eventually took her life.
She was born February 12, 1924, in North Bay to John Eldon Capes and the former Agnes Margaret Semple. After the death of her mother, she was forced to leave school at an early age to care for her younger brother and sister.
On September 18, 1948, she married John Francis Gill, a member of the Royal Canadian Regiment, at Trinity Anglican Church, Brockville. Shortly after the birth of their son Wayne, they were relocated to Petawawa. Her husband was sent to serve in the Korean War and was killed in action on January 1, 1953.
After a short stay in St. Catharines with her husband's family, Mrs. Gill and her son returned to Brockville. They took up residence on Hubbell Street, where she lived until her death.
A few years after returning to Brockville, she met Hughie Edward McKay with whom she shared her life until his death in 1982.
Her life revolved around her family, as a wife, mother and homemaker. In her earlier years, when she was in better health, she enjoyed playing cards, bowling and traveling on short trips. She loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren very much.
Mrs. Gill is survived by her son Wayne Gill and his wife Rose, of Brockville, and her two daughters, Sandra Dixon and her husband Earl, of Lyn, and Judy McKay at home.
Also surviving are her sister Eva Fawcett of Brockville, brothers-in-law Ron McKay and wife Sheila of North Augusta, Ron Gill and wife Susan of St. Catharines and sisters-in-law Rosetta Gill of St. Catharines and Victoria Capes of Brockville.
She is survived by six grandchildren, Doug Gill, Mark Gill, Christine Brown, Jason Huntley, Jamie Dixon and Darryl Dixon and four great-grandchildren, MacKenzie Gill, Courtney Gill, Dustin Brown and Ainsley Brown and several nieces and nephews.
Besides her parents and spouses, she was predeceased by her brother Orville Capes and her brothers-in-law Sydney Gill, Richard Gill, Mervyn McKay and Dalton Fawcett.
Friends called at the Irvine Funeral Home and Chapel, Brockville, where on February 2 the funeral was held, with Rev. Ron Hörst officiating. Her son Wayne gave the eulogy. Burial followed at Roselawn Memorial Gardens, Maitland.
The pallbearers were grandsons Doug and Mark Gill, Jason Huntley and Jamie Dixon, nephew Larry Capes and Gary Cutway. The honorary pallbearers were Jim Hoy, Ron McKay and Earl and Darryl Dixon.
Memorial donations were made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, the Kidney Foundation and the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario.
