William George Brunlees, April 23, 1940 – October 27, 2011
It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Bill. He is survived by his loving wife Barbara of 24 years; sons Kieron (Tracy) and Kelly (Roberta); daughter Laurel (Jason); step-sons Brad and Randal (Michelle); 10 grandchildren and caregivers Carolina and Ronnel.
We would like to express our thanks to Dr. MacDonald for his care over the years and the many other caregivers who made a difference in his life. There will be no service by request. In lieu of flowers please make a donation in Bill’s name to the Powell River Hospital Foundation.
Natalie White (née Podvarkova), July 28, 1921 - October 26, 2011
Natalie died peacefully in Powell River General Hospital. She was predeceased by her husband Antony, three sisters Galya, Irene, Lyudmila and brother Mischa. She leaves behind daughters Juliet (Anthony) White, Helene (Bill) Skolnik and son Nick (Janet) White. She greatly enjoyed her grandchildren Jenny (Ian), Alec (Marie), Peter, Michael, Emma, Olivia and Emily and great-grandchildren Alistair and Elsie.
Natalie was born in Moscow, Russia to Maria Ivanovna Podvarkova and Samuel Abramovich Jivotovsky. The family fled post-revolutionary Russia and lived in Berlin, Germany. Unfortunately, World War II disrupted and eventually dispersed her family. In 1948 she fell in love with Antony, a Royal Naval officer and emigrated to the United Kingdom where their three children were born. They emigrated to Canada in 1957 and lived in St. Catharines, Edmonton, Thornhill, Niagara-on-the-Lake and West Vancouver before spending their last years in Powell River.
Natalie’s family was grateful for the excellent care she received at Powell River General Hospital and Evergreen Extended Care Unit. The family are very thankful for the compassionate care provided by Dr. Danielle Marentette and the fourth floor nursing staff in her last few months.
She will not be forgotten.
James (Jim) Price Wilson McWhirter, September 13, 1927 – October 27, 2011
It is with deep sadness we say goodbye to Jim who passed away after a brief illness, on Thursday, October 27, 2011, at the age of 84 years. Jim will be lovingly remembered by all of his caregivers, many friends and his family, especially his sister Genevieve Baxter of Nanaimo, BC.
A celebration of Jim’s life will be held on Thursday, November 3, at 2 pm at the Seventh Day Adventist Church. Those who so desire may make memorial donations in memory of Jim to the Seventh Day Adventist Church, 4880 Manson Avenue, PO Box 293 Stn Main Powell River, BC, V8A 4Z6.
Sylvia Rose (Bergot) Alexander, May 30, 1936 - October 26, 2011
It is with deep sadness we announce the passing of our Mother, Sylvia. She was the matriarch of our family. She held us all together in the face of adversity. Sylvia was proud of her accomplishments. She worked for Powell River Home Support for 25 years, retiring at 65 as top senior. She was president of its first union “SORWOC” and also cared for her grandmother Mrs. Wakelin. She lived at Myrtle Point for over 20 years and the beach was a good source of many good meals.
Sylvia was predeceased by her husband Ronald, father Raymond and mother Winnifren (Marianne). She has left behind seven children, 15 grandchildren: Cliff (Trish, Chris and Kevin), Keith (Pierrette, Robert, Richard and Ryan), Aurelle (Maggie and Byng), Jeannine (Jerry, Bonnie and Anthony), Vivianne (Chris, Amanda and Zach), Suzanne (Don, Michael and Megan), Michelle (Cam, Brook, Brody and Courtney) and four great-grandchildren Taaylor and Jacob Schreurs, Braden and Brendan Dewitt.
We would like to thank Dr. Hoffert and our dear Dr. Lafferty, as well as all the other hospital staff and the home support staff who helped our Mother in her three-year battle with cancer. There will be no service upon request and in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society’s Jean C Barber Lodge, 575 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver BC, V5Z 4C3.
Cpl Steven Verne Irwin, Reg #43153
On October 26, 2011, Steve, with his loving wife at his side, passed away peacefully after a lengthy and courageous battle with cancer. Steve will be sadly missed by his beloved wife Dawn-Carla; his three children Ryan, Jordan and Cole; his mother Shirley; brother Dave (Melody) and their children Julian and Jarod; his Uncle Bob; mother-in-law Virginia; father-in-law Lloyd (Jean); sister-in-law Dianne (Wayne) and their children Allan and Paul. Steve was predeceased by his father Ted and his grandmother Ruby.
A funeral service will be held on Friday, November 4 at 1 pm, at Connelly-McKinley St. Albert Funeral Home, 9 Muir Drive, St. Albert. An interment will follow at the Fort Saskatchewan Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Cross Cancer Institute, in memory of Steve. To send condolences, please visit Connelly-McKinley Funeral Home, 1.780.422.2222.
Mary Lorna Lamont
Mary was born on December 2, 1924 in Winnipeg, and died on October 24, 2011 in Powell River, BC. Mary Lamont was the eldest of five surviving children of John S. Lamont and May Bastin. She received her formal education at United College (B.A.) and the University of Manitoba (B.Sc. & LLB), though she always claimed that most of what she learned of significance was acquired growing up during the Depression in the bush on the banks of the Assiniboine River in Headingley, MB.
She was predeceased by brothers Charles and Frank of Winnipeg and by former husband Robert Mitchell. She is survived by brother John of Winnipeg and sister Jean Pycock of Havelock, PQ; by children James (Margaret) Mitchell of Ottawa, Gordon (Pamela) Mitchell of Powell River and Catherine Mitchell of Toronto; grandchildren Jack (Luba), Dave (Jess), Tom, Mike and Mary; greatgrandson Caius; and many nieces and nephews.
Like many Canadians of her generation her life was much affected by a childhood spent on the Canadian Prairie during the Great Depression, and by an early adulthood spent during World War II. Her father was a successful lawyer in Winnipeg, but nobody had any cash, so in 1930 he moved his family to a river lot in Headingley where it was possible to survive on what you could grow and on fees that were more likely to be paid in chickens than in coin. Though poor she felt she had a great childhood because “We didn’t know we were poor. Nobody else had any money either, and we had loving parents, good books to read, and the Assiniboine River at our back door.”
Mary served in the Canadian army during the war, something that was a source of great pride to her. She kept her battle dress in excellent condition and wore it every year on November 11. She was especially proud to wear it and be acknowledged as a Canadian veteran during a visit to Juneau Beach in 2004.
Mary had three occupations, the first as a mother, which she thought was society’s most important; then as a Manitoba lawyer; lastly as the editor of ProLife News. Her brother John nicknamed her Deliv, from the French de livre, because she was forever reading books. It was an apt nickname. She was extremely well read, with a correspondingly strong intellect. She encouraged all of her children, grandchildren, and nieces and nephews to develop a similar passion for reading.
Mary was possessed of a positive outlook and an engaging humour. She instilled confidence in others simply by being confident in them herself. She was an optimist; she liked people and rarely complained. As many of us age we shed the veneer of acceptable behaviours that we were taught as children. Mary had no veneer; her kind nature never changed. She spent the last six years of her life in care facilities in Powell River, mainly at Olive Devaud Residence. She did so with praise and gratitude for her caregivers.
Her family would like to thank the staff of Olive Devaud for their outstanding care. Those wishing to honour Mary’s memory please consider a donation to a charity that assists children. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, November 19 at 2 pm at Holy Trinity Church in Headingley, Manitoba.