Services & Obituaries

Mary Beth Jennings, PhD

On May 5 after a lovely and temperate Spring day with the magnolia and early flowering bulbs heralding Spring’s arrival, Beth passed on into the twilight with Craig by her side at home. It was her time. She was at peace. Beth had a long journey with Ewing’s sarcoma, but on her terms, she always vowed to take the high road and keep going.

Beth was a proud Sudburian at heart and was born into an extended family with 3 generations living under one roof. She was a quick learner and as a child acquired tailoring skills from her Orcadian grandfather, Thomas Linklater, who ran a very popular tailor shop in Sudbury for many years specializing in men’s hats, suits and furnishings. When he became blind and deaf in one ear Beth became aware of how hearing loss can profoundly affect a person’s communication and she worked diligently to communicate with her Grandpapa. As their eldest child, her parents, Barbara and Gordon instilled in her and her brother Grant the Presbyterian family values of responsibility, compassion, respect and kindness.

At Laurentian University, Beth, a bright student, completed an undergraduate degree in Psychology.  
Along with fellow student, Jean-Pierre Gagne, Beth took courses in Sensation and Perception and Psychology of Hearing with Dr. R. H. Farrant who persuaded both of them to pursue a degree in Audiology. She completed a Master of Clinical Science (Audiology) Degree and later a PhD in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Western University in London, ON. J.-P. Gagne also obtained his PhD and subsequently became the Director of the École d’orthophonie et d’audiologie at the Université
de Montréal. Over the years, both J.-P. and Beth collaborated on several research articles.
 
Beth was a pioneer in her field in that she recognized that hearing technology was the start of a person’s hearing rehabilitation. She started work as an audiologist at the Canadian Hearing Society in Toronto where she developed and ran hearing help classes for adults with hearing loss. She was the driving force in providing an Elderhostel program that ran for 10 years. Through therapeutic community-based aural rehabilitation programs Beth encouraged individuals living with hearing loss to overcome their difficulties in understanding speech and improve their communication skills in the workplace, and in real-life social environments such as restaurants, sporting events, concerts, and theatre outings. On secondment from C.H.S., Beth participated in a research project in Dundas, ON that focused on hearing rehabilitation programmes in retirement homes. That project is what sparked her interest in research.

Beth was as an Associate Professor and for the past 20 years a faculty member in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Western University and an Associate in the National Centre for Audiology. Beth supervised, mentored and ‘mothered’ many Master of Clinical Science students in Aural Rehabilitation practicums as well as several MSc and PhD students. Beth provided significant contributions to audiology research, and the training of audiology and speech-language pathology students world-wide, but especially in Canada. Even in her last years, she remained a strong and committed research supervisor, editing a dissertation between surgery and rounds of chemotherapy. Her work in adult aural rehabilitation, family-centred care and counselling, innovations in workplace accessibility and participation for persons with hearing loss, social stigma and universal design for hearing loss is well known.

Beth was highly regarded within the global audiological community and was a frequent invited speaker at Canadian and international conferences where she shared her friendship, research and clinical knowledge. Beth was an innovative practitioner, researcher, teacher and her legacy is vast. Beth collaborated and published over 50 articles, and many book chapters, including one just recently published. Beth did her very best, every moment, to create a better future for people living with hearing loss. Many adults with hearing loss lead more active and participatory lives due to her insight, empathy, and wisdom. She will be greatly missed by all those who knew her.

During her career she developed many lasting friendships with colleagues in Canada, U.S.A., Europe and Australia. She was always the first on board to plan the menus for family events and the first caller online to book season tickets for the Stratford and Shaw Festivals which was an annual family outing. She maintained her skills in the rag trade and knitted many intricate patterned garments and took up felting just this past year. A keen reader, she proposed to read a huge collection of literature during her illness. Her hidden talents included playing piano and bagpipes, figure skating, culinary artist, tap dancer, orchid grower and want-to-be archeologist.

Predeceased by her mother Barbara (Linklater), she will be forever remembered by Craig, her partner, Gordon, her father, her brother Grant (Christine), nephew Collin and nieces Brittany and Brianne. She will be missed by many in-laws, relatives, friends, and work colleagues.  

A huge round of applause goes out to the entire healthcare team that allowed Beth to spend her last 7 weeks in the comfort of her home during very challenging times. This includes her PSW, Maria, the LHIN Co-ordinator Susan Arnold, Dr. Namita Kanwar, and the nursing staff including Ewa, Florence, Sara and Paolo who along with the medication injected a shot of compassion and kindness. We also owe a great debt of gratitude to Dr.’s Orsini, Bertrand and Oncologists Dr. Welsh and Dr. D’Souza, and all the nurses and staff at the London Regional Cancer Program and the Oncology Unit at Victoria Hospital.   

Beth valued and appreciated the patience, understanding and support from everyone who helped her during her illness, this includes the many family, friends, and neighbours who supported her on her journey. Many thanks to the women at St. James Lutheran Church in New Dundee for handcrafting the finely knitted prayer blanket that provided Beth with great comfort.
   
A service and interment at Parklawn Cemetery in Sudbury are being planned for a later date.

Arrangements entrusted with A. Millard George Funeral Home, 519-433-5184. Online condolences, memories and photographs shared at www.amgfh.com

‘Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May. And summer’s lease hath all too short a date.’

NEWMAN, John Becher…

John Becher Newman, 98, avid iPhone, FaceTime and social media techie, barbershop singer, gardener, wood carver, bingo player, crossword solver and Sudoku master was born on May 25, 1921 and peacefully left us on Saturday, May 2, 2020. John was a true gentleman, with a kind heart and a twinkle in his eye who inspired everyone through his joyful attitude toward life. Born in Adiscombe Surrey, South London, UK, John spent his childhood growing up in Brighton. He served in the British Air Force in WW2, 1941-1946, before emigrating to Canada with his beloved wife Betty (nee Heason), to build elevators in 1950.

John is survived by his second wife, Brenda Newman. Loving father of Keith, Steve, Wendy, and Mark (Claudia) Newman and Laura Stinson. Proud grandfather of Matt (Megan), Sarah, Mitch and Nick. He will be greatly missed by a host of extended family in Canada, USA, United Kingdom and Australia. His absence will be felt by friends both young and old, who were inspired by his retirement home adventures.

John was a rare combination of someone who had a deep love of life and a firm understanding of what was important – being kind, always saying “Please and thank you”, and telling others how much he loved them. 

John bought his first iPhone at 93 and quickly became a Snapchatting, selfie snapping, Facetiming, mobile banking techie. To him it was a crisis when he was unable to transfer mobile photos onto his HP computer. Technology kept him connected and entertained as he frequently checked his Find Friends app to confirm Sarah and Laura’s whereabouts. When his puzzles were done for the day, he used his QR code scanner to investigate everything with a barcode.

John will be fondly remembered by family and friends as a sincere, intellectual, and inquisitive man with a youthful curiosity and a mischievous chuckle. He will be dearly missed by his many friends and the wonderful staff at Royalcliffe Retirement Residence, who are likely relieved his days of delighting fellow residents by speeding about and spinning circles in his electric wheelchair have come to an end. Thank you to the Royalcliffe staff for a rich and exciting two years of retirement home living!

Cremation has taken place. A celebration of John’s life will be held at a later date.

Shortly before being uploaded to his own cloud, John wished that “Everyone would have a safe and happy life”. In support of this wish, donations in John’s memory can be made to an organization of your choice assisting those in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Arrangements have been entrusted to A. Millard George Funeral Home, 519-433-5184. Online condolences, memories and photographs shared at www.amgfh.com

“When I come to the end of the road and the sun is set for me,

I want no rights in a gloom filled room. Why cry for a soul set free?

Miss me a little but not too long and not with your head bowed low.

Remember the laughter and joy we shared and lovingly let me go.”

PHAM, Kim… 

Unexpectedly, on Monday, April 27, 2020 Kim passed away at University Hospital, London, in his 56th year. Loving father of Tan Pham (son), Kyle (son), Troy Pham (son), Doan Ngo Tuong Vy (daughter-in-law), Brandon Pham (son), Mary (daughter), Victoria Pham (daughter). Adored by his best friend, soulmate and his true love Tuoi Tran. He will also be dearly missed by Theresa Eveleigh, Tam Nguyen, Quy Tran, Christian Nguyen, Andy Nguyen, Hiep Le, Huyen Nguyen, David Nguyen, Tony Nguyen, Long Nguyen, Thu Tran, Ha Nguyen, Ly Na Nguyen, Susan Nguyen, Sal Nop, Hoan Pham, Kim Bui, Nam Muoi, Nga Nguyen, Tung Nguyen, Ý Nguyen, Ly Sa Nguyen, Derek Nguyen, Monica Nguyen, Quang Nguyen, Sang Vo, Dung Nguyen, Than Nguyen, Phuong Pham, Dung Pham, Thuy Pham, Linh Pham,  Tuoi Truong, Hung Dang, Hoang Son Lam, Vinh Hua, Phuong Vo, Vung Phan, Linh Lam, Thom Bui, Nhoc Nguyen and many more family and Friends. 

A private family service will take place with cremation to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the London Vietnamese Alliance Church, 310 Vesta Road, London, ON N5Y 5J1. Arrangements entrusted with A. Millard George Funeral Home, 519-433-5184. Online condolences, memories and photographs shared at www.amgfh.com

HILBORN, Mary….

Peacefully, Mary Elizabeth (nee Collison) Hilborn, passed away on April 27th, 2020, at the age of 99. Thankfully Dan was able to be with her which was an incredible comfort to her as well as to her other children and grandchildren. Thank you to Dan and his wife Nancy for their support and communication to all of us during this period of pandemic isolation.

Our mother was a lovely, witty, graceful, and strong woman. She was a much loved mother to Peter, Nancy (Boudewyn), Tom, Anne (Greg) and Dan (Nancy). She was a loving Grandmother to Wesley (Meagan) and Andrew Turney, Aidan and Holly Hilborn, and Catherine van Oort. She was also Great Gramma to Jack, Olive, Ingrid and Matilda Turney.

Mary was an avid figure skating enthusiast her entire life. She belonged to the London Skating Club for many, many years and was even the Southwestern Ontario Ladies Junior Champion in her late teens. She spent much of her youth skating in ice shows across Ontario and in Detroit with Sonja Henie. She enjoyed lifelong friendships with her skating partners, bridge club members, St. Luke’s Anglican Church women’s group and neighbours.

In her early 20’s she and her friends drove a Red Cross truck and collected scrap metal for the war effort as well as knitting socks and sweaters for the soldiers. She lived through so many changes in the world and always managed to keep up with the times. She enjoyed reading the newspaper and keeping all of us informed by clipping out articles of interest and saving them for us.  She made individualized scrapbooks for the grandchildren as well! Mom was also an avid card and letter writer, we all received cards and letters for every birthday, anniversary and holiday. They now serve as great memoirs of the times, together with her daily diaries dating from 1928!

Mom loved to get the family together and was very proud of how “we all get along”. About one week before she passed away, she told Dan that ‘there is going to be a big audience and they are going to clap and say we did a good job’. What more can we ask for than the belief that we did well in this life?

Mary is predeceased by her husband, Leonard Hilborn, her brother Tom Collison, mother Kathleen McIntyre, and father John Collison. She will be well remembered as a wonderful friend, a calm and gentle person who always put her children and others ahead of herself. Rest In Peace Mom, you did a wonderful job!

Our Family would like to extend a very special thanks to the wonderful staff at Chartwell Long Term Care Residence (Blackwater Road, London) for their loving, kind and compassionate care of our mom. Also, we’d like to add that her death was not virus related.

There will be a celebration of her life as soon as we are able to travel and be together.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the London Food Bank, 926 Leathorne Street, London, ON N5Z 3M5. Arrangements entrusted with A. Millard George Funeral Home, 519-433-5184. Online condolences, memories and photographs shared at www.amgfh.com

STEBBINS, Betty…

Betty Stebbins passed away on Friday, April 24, 2020 at Dearness Home, London, at the age of 86. Interment in Woodland Cemetery, London on Friday, May 1, 2020. Arrangements entrusted with A. Millard George Funeral Home, 519-433-5184. Online condolences, memories and photographs shared at www.amgfh.com

FETCHISON, Constance “Connie”….
 
Peacefully at Victoria Hospital, London, on Friday, April 24, 2020 Constance Isabel Fetchison (nee Watt) in her 96th year.
 
Beloved mother of Robert Fetchison and his wife Chantale, and Barbara McLatchie (nee Fetchison) and her husband Kenneth. Dear “Nana” of Andre (and Cindy), Nicolas (and Mariah) and Camille Fetchison, and Christopher and Matthew McLatchie, and loving great-grandmother of Mason Johnstone and Liam Fetchison. Also survived by her younger sister Joan Watt. Predeceased by her husband Joseph (1986).
 
Connie had a great love of learning and literature and she enjoyed a rewarding career as a librarian. After graduating from the University of Western Ontario in 1950, she studied library science at the University of Western Reserve in Cleveland, Ohio, receiving her M.L.S. in 1951. She first worked at the Oshawa Public Library as a Children’s Librarian. Thereafter, Connie returned to London to raise her family and to continue her career with the London Public Library. Starting in September 1964, she worked at various locations including the Central Library and several branch libraries (Carson, Argyle, Westown and Landon). She also served as Head of the Mobile Libraries in the early 1970s, and had a key role in the development of library services to shut-ins. Retiring in June 1987 after an almost twenty-three year career at the London Public Library, Connie was able to take time to enjoy her favourite pastimes of travel, theatre and music. But her greatest joy and pride was always her family, and she enjoyed spending more time with her children, grandchildren and eventually great-grandchildren.
 
Cremation has taken place. A private family graveside service will take place at Woodland Cemetery, London. Connie will be sorely missed and will be forever in our hearts. A memorial service will be held to celebrate her life when we are able to gather again. In lieu of flowers, donations in Connie’s memory may be made to the London Health Sciences Foundation, 747 Base Line Road East, London, ON N6C 2R6. Arrangements entrusted with A. Millard George Funeral Home, 519-433-5184. Online condolences, memories and photographs shared at www.amgfh.com
 

JAMES, Patricia…

Peacefully at Victoria Hospital, London on Wednesday, April 22, 2020 Patricia James in her 77th year. Beloved wife of the late Henry “Harry”  James (1998). Loving mother of Cathy Krywulak (Timothy), Peter James (Suzette), Jennifer James Jack (Peter) and Esther Smith (Stephen). Cherished grandmother of Miranda and Isabella. Dear sister of James Beatty (Susan), Robert Beatty, David Beatty (Ann), Ruthanne Stinton (Stephen) and sister-in-law of Carol James and her family. Also missed by her friend Bill Booth and many nieces and nephews. Cremation has taken place. As an expression of sympathy donations may be made the Heart and Stroke Foundation,180-633 Colborne Street, London, ON N6B 2V3 or The Lung Association, 401-18 Wynford Drive, Toronto, ON M3C 0K8. A. Millard George Funeral Home entrusted with arrangements, 519-433-5184. Online condolences, memories and photographs shared at www.amgfh.com

SMEDLEY, Dennis …

Dennis Smedley, 88, passed away peacefully Wednesday, April 22, 2020 at Victoria Hospital, in London, Ontario. Dennis was born March 24, 1932 to James and Florence (Kidd) Smedley in Manchester, England, the youngest of three children.

While evacuated to a small town 75 km south of Manchester during WWII, he lost his father suddenly; however, the childhood memories of the years spent in this village were nothing short of happiness and pure joy. He later served two years in the British Army, spending time in Egypt, Eritrea, Jordan and Sudan.

In April 1956, he immigrated to Canada and made London his forever home. It was here that he met his cherished wife, Elizabeth (McGregor). A devoted husband of 56 years, loving father and grandfather, his commitment to family and lifelong friendships should be an example to all. He touched so many people throughout the years with his kindness, generosity, and gift of time to several charitable causes, including two decades volunteering at the London Food Bank.

In 1968, Dennis began his long-standing career with the LCBO, retiring in June 1992. Perhaps this is where he developed a passion for a nice rum and 7-Up from time-to-time, but it was his quest for trying new beer with willing participants that he enjoyed most in recent years.

Dennis is survived by his wife, Betty; daughters, Susan Smedley (Juan Manuel Cordeiro Rodriguez) and Karen van Hunnik (Michael); grandchildren, Jordan and Kaia van Hunnik, and numerous nieces and nephews in Canada, the USA and UK.  He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Josie Smedley. Dennis was predeceased by his parents, sister Florence Hampson, brother James Smedley and his brother-in-law Gordon Hampson.

Cremation has taken place. Join us for a celebration of life to remember Dennis and honour the impact he had on the many lives that he touched. Deeply devoted to family, friends, colleagues, and giving back to the community, he left a legacy of unconditional kindness, generosity, and love. It’s with this in mind that we won’t wallow in sadness, but celebrate the many wonderful memories etched into the hearts and minds of those fortunate to have known him.

The service will be held on Saturday, May 28, 2022 at 11:00 am at Chalmers Presbyterian Church, 342 Pond Mills Road, London. Masks are required to attend the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Chalmers Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund or a charity of your choice, as he supported so many wonderful causes over the years.

Arrangements entrusted with A. Millard George Funeral Home, 519-433-5184. Online condolences, memories and photographs shared at www.amgfh.com

PHILLIPS, Doug…

Peacefully at the Village of Glendale Crossing, on Monday, April 20, 2020, Earl Douglas Phillips, in his 85th year. Survived by his loving and devoted wife Mary of 28 years, who was never far from his side. Beloved father of Carlene and her husband Bob of Wallaceburg, Shari and her husband Mark of Ailsa Craig and Mike of London. Predeceased by son Doug (2018). Doug is also survived by his supportive sister Martha of Windsor, brother-in-law Dan Watson and his partner MaryAnn of Corunna, sister-in-law Karen Pell of St. Thomas, sister-in-law Jackie Hartford and her husband Don of St. Thomas. He will also be missed by 4 grand children and 1 great grand child, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Special thanks to the Brighton team at Glendale Crossing for all their care and support. Cremation has taken place. In lieu of flowers, donations in Doug’s memory may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, 201 King Street, London, ON N6A 1C9.  Honouring Doug’s wishes, no memorial service will be held. Arrangements entrusted with A. Millard George Funeral Home, 519-433-5184. Online condolences, memories and photographs shared at www.amgfh.com

CHRISTIE, Robert “Bob”…
 
Unexpectedly at his home, on Friday, April 17, 2020, Robert “Bob” Christie, in his 69th year. Family and friends will miss Bob’s loving spirit, his kindness, his keen sense of humour, his unending willingness to help others and his love of his rescue dogs.

Beloved brother of David Christie (Sharron), Deborah Christie-Squires (Doug) and Brian Christie (Evelyn). Cherished uncle of Jay, Shannyn, Kristy, Kevin, Jared, Ashleigh, Hilary, Heather and Geneleigh, and several grand nieces and nephews. Predeceased by his parents David and Violet Christie.

Cremation has taken place. Bob’s cremated remains will be buried with his parents in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, London. Donations in his memory may be made to the Humane Society London & Middlesex, 624 Clarke Road, London, ON N5V 3K5. Arrangements entrusted with A. Millard George Funeral Home, 519-433-5184. Online condolences, memories and photographs shared at www.amgfh.com