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Deaths & Funerals

CRIPPS, Phyllis Ion Burrows Died peacefully on October 29th, 2012 at St. Charles Manor in Victoria at the age of 94. She was born in Wapella, Sask., and her passion was music.

CRIPPS, Phyllis Ion Burrows

Died peacefully on October 29th, 2012 at St. Charles Manor in Victoria at the age of 94. She was born in Wapella, Sask., and her passion was music. An accomplished classical pianist, she earned a degree in piano from the Toronto Conservatory of Music and, among other achievements, played in concert with the Regina Symphony Orchestra at age 18. She also taught organ and piano lessons for many years. In later life she played bridge and often entertained on the piano at her seniors' home, usually popular standards of the 1940s and '50s, and she was known for her sense of humor. Phyllis was married twice, to John Ross MacRae, an advertising executive who was also a fine musician, and to Fred Cripps, a television and radio broadcaster. She is survived by her three sons, Paul (Sheila) and Scott (Denise) MacRae and Mark Cripps (Christine), and daughter-in-law Sherry Brydson, as well as nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild. The family appreciates the loving care given her by the staff at Somerset House and St. Charles Manor.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, November 3rd, 2012 in the Garden Room of Royal Oak Burial Park at 4673 Falaise Drive, Victoria, from 2: 30-4 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be sent to the Victoria Conservatory of Music, which accepts donations online. We will miss her.

CROMB, Marilyn Ann (Lynn)

December 20, 1933 - October 25, 2012

Suddenly at home.

"You will be missed."

Service will be held on Friday November 2nd @ Royal Oak Burial Park, 4673 Falaise Dr., Victoria, BC.

Condolences: www.earthsoption.com

FORSYTH, James Bruce

October 9, 1932 - October 29, 2012

Passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family at the Victoria General Hospital. James (called Bruce) was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Bruce was raised in a small farm east of Winnipeg. He started an electrical apprenticeship in 1949. Bruce worked as an electrical contractor back in the days when electricity was introduced to the Interlake (Eriksdale) area in Manitoba. There he met Phyllis Irene, his wife to be, of 57 years. The couple moved to Winnipeg and began to start a family. Bruce was still in the electrical industry and with the help of his wife Phyllis, in 1970, started their first of many business ventures. They moved to Victoria in 1986 where Bruce became involved in real estate. He became an active member of the Elks of Canada Lodge in Victoria. His passion for flying had him flying all over North America. Bruce is predeceased by his oldest son, John Wayne and his mother and father, John and Iris. Bruce leaves behind his loving wife, Phyllis; son, Grant (Marcia); grandchildren, James and Susannah; brother, Victor (Yolanda); sisters, Joy (Cornie) Schenkevld, Gayle (Lock) Lundy, Susan (Wayne) Nicholas and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Bruce was hospitalized briefly at the Saanich Peninsula and Victoria General Hospitals where he was attended to in the most professional and caring manner. His family would especially like to thank all the doctors and nurses at both hospitals.

A Memorial Service will be held at St. Paul's United Church, 2410 Malaview Avenue, Sidney, B.C. on Saturday, November 3, 2012 at 2: 00 pm. A reception will follow in the Church Hall. In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to The Elks and Royal Purple Fund for Children. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mccallbros.com.

GROOTENDORST, William Jacob Martin

July 9, 1958 - October 29, 2012

It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden death of our beloved husband, father, son, brother, grandfather, uncle, cousin and friend. William is survived by his wife Lynn, sons Christopher (Sue) and Jeremy (Heidi), daughter Alisha Drews (Jon), mother Wilhelmina, his sisters Hennie (Chris) and Joan (Ted), his brother Paul (Penny) and grandchildren Tavia, Ayden, Emma, Jacob, Ava, Krista and Anika and many cousins, nieces, and nephews. William touched many hearts everyday. William, we will always love you. We miss you.

The service will held at the Fleetwood Christian Reformed Church (604 584 6244) located at 9165 160th Street, Surrey, BC V4N 2X7, on Saturday, November 3rd, 2012 at 3pm, followed by a coffee reception. The family invites everyone back to their home for a celebration of life following the coffee reception. All whose lives were touched by William are welcome to join and support the family during this difficult time.

You are invited to leave a personal message of condolence at the family's on-line obituary at www.myalternatives.ca.

HARRIS, Richard Christopher Somerset

April 27, 1945 - October 30, 2012

Richard passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family. He is survived by the love of his life Geraldine and his three treasures Khrystyne (Kip), Tyler and Philip; as well as his grandchildren, Kai and Dawson, his brother Derek (Lena) and brother-in-law Robin. He is predeceased by his parents Daphne and Roy and his sister Diane. Richard was born and raised in Victoria. He and Geraldine met in Vancouver in November, 1970. They were engaged within a month and were married in May, 1971. They believed in being kind to each other every day. Richard lived each day to the fullest and greeted every morning with a rooster call. He was hardworking, energetic and he lived life the way he wanted to. The family would like to thank Dr. Marsh for his support and the palliative care staff at Saanich Peninsula Hospital.

Family and friends are invited to the family home on Saturday, November 3rd, 2012 between 2: 00 and 4: 00 p.m. to remember Richard's life.

JONES, Dorene

June 7, 1926 - October 29, 2012

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Dorene. She was predeceased by the love of her life Leonard who she was with for 63 years. She leaves behind daughters, Wendy Hales (Ken), Susan Pliszka (John), Brenda Hay, and son Donald Jones (Stephanie). Grandchildren, Becky (Kevin), Gillian, Lindsay, Nichole, Meghan (Jed), David (Crystal), Kyle (Kirsten), and five great grandchildren, brother Kendal Sisson, sister Muriel, sister in law, Vivien, brother-in-law, Gary and numerous nieces and nephews. She was pre-deceased by her twin brother, Donald, brothers Gabe, Dick, Bob, sisters Greta and Marion (Stan). Dorene was born and raised in Dutchess, Alberta, she moved to Sooke in 1946 to be with her sister Marion and husband Stan. She met Stan's twin brother Len, and they married in 1947. They were both proud to be part of the Sooke community and Mom spent countless hours working for the Community Association and numerous other community organizations. Mom's was most proud of her family and always gave all of herself to her children and grandchildren. Summers at the Enchanted Forest, May 24th at China Beach, Nana Buns, Quilts, the list is endless of the things she did without reservation for us all. She taught us the true meaning of family and unconditional love; a wonderful gift she gave each one of us.

Service will be held 11.00 AM Friday, Nov. 2nd, 2012 at the Sands Chapel, 317 Goldstream Ave. A reception will follow. In lieu of flowers please donate to the Canadian Diabetes Association or the Sooke Elderly Citizens Housing Society. The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the caring Staff at VGH 4 South, Dr. E. Anderson, and the wonderful caring staff at Mom's most recent home, Ayre Manor.

HAWES, Susan Joyce

Born October 13th, 1920. Passed peacefully into the presence of her Lord on October 24th, 2012 at Luther Court in Victoria, B.C. Throughout her life Joyce took on many roles as teacher, friend and faithful partner to her husband. She is predeceased by her husband, Roy, and her beloved brother, Davis King. She is survived by her daughter Marilyn (son-in-law Monty), her son Mark (daughter-in-law Dorothy) and her grandchildren: Tara-Lynn, Kevin, Ashley, Colin & Jenny. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother and will always be remembered for her many hours of service to her church and community. The family would like to express their gratitude to Dr. Innes and the staff at Luther Court for their unfailing support and care for mom during her three years there.

A celebration of life will be held this Saturday, November 3rd, 2012 at 12 noon at Oaklands Chapel, 2736 Fernwood Rd. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Camp Imadene.

McCURDY, Elizabeth Blois (Jefferson)

September 28, 1922 - October 27, 2012

Died peacefully after a long illness at Luther Court Society in Victoria, BC, at the completion of a full and generous life. Beloved wife of Sherburne for nearly 64 years, and very dear mother of Margaret (Terry Mackey), Earle (Tracy Button), Bruce (Anna Bellamy) and Jan (Sharon Gallagher). Much-loved grandmother to Beth (Dave Waldbillig) and Sarah (Jamie Burns) Mackey; Peter (Sofia Del Rio), Iain, and Fraser McCurdy (their mother, Charlotte Strong); Kevin (Roseanne MacDonald) McCurdy; and Jesse, Claire (Matt Cowlrick), and Shawn (Kaelin Hubbard) Horwood (their father, Gary Horwood). Devoted great-grandmother to Annabelle Waldbillig. Honorary grandmother for Ange, Meaghen, Measha, Noah, and Breanna. Predeceased by her husband, her son David, her parents Evans and Belle (Clarke) Jefferson, and her sister Priscilla and brothers John and Philip. Survived by her brother Stephen and her sister Barbara, as well as brothers-and sisters-in-law. The family wishes to thank the staff at Luther Court for their imaginative and tender attention to Betty over the past five years and especially during the last week of her life.

A Memorial Service will be held at Cadboro Bay United Church, Victoria, BC, at 3 p.m. on Wednesday November 7th, 2012. Condolences may be left for the family at www.firstmemorialfuneral.com and, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the David McCurdy Memorial Scholarship Fund at Memorial University in St. John's, NL, to the United Church of Canada, or to a charity of choice.

MUNRO, James Douglas Huntly

May 31st, 1938 - October 27th, 2012

Passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family and friends. Son of James and Trudi Munro, Doug was a graduate of UBC and founding partner of chartered accounting firm Green, Horwood, Munro, where he practiced for over thirty years. Doug was a lifetime golfer who loved the game and his friendships with fellow players. He was a member of the Victoria Golf Club for more than fifty years, having joined as a junior member. In 2008 Doug and his wife Linda were honored with lifetime memberships. Doug won the club championship four times and served as men's captain. For some years he worked on the club's Conquer Cancer Tournament. Friends at the Victoria Golf Club called him "the gentleman golfer," and honored him this year with a friendly tribute to his exemplary "golf, deportment, and fellowship." Although he and Linda enjoyed traveling together and with friends, his greatest pleasure was coming back to Victoria to play his home course. Doug and Linda met in 1958 at UBC, and were married in 1962. Over the next fifty years, Linda worked on her golf game and Doug cheerfully encouraged her passion for the garden. Throughout their marriage they enjoyed walks around Oak Bay and games of bridge with friends. They celebrated their golden wedding anniversary quietly in July 2012. While his health was in decline, Doug never lost his dignity, courage, or wonderful sense of humor. A lifelong bridge, cribbage, and Scrabble player, he maintained his quick wit and thoughtful approach to problems in even the most difficult times. His friends and family knew him as a kind, patient, and generous man who lived his life simply and well. Doug is survived by his wife Linda, son Brian (Suzanne Chenier), daughter Karen (Amanda Morgan), and brother Ian (Paula.) The family is grateful to the Victoria Cancer Agency and Victoria Hospice, on whose board Doug served in the 1990s. Thanks also to all of the doctors and care workers who helped ease Doug's passing. In lieu of flowers, donations to Victoria Hospice would be greatly appreciated.

At Doug's request, a Celebration of Life will be held at the Victoria Golf Club on Friday, November 2, from 3: 00 - 5: 00 pm.