Services & Obituaries

JACKSON, Leonard Ross “Len”…..Of London, on Saturday, February 19, 2011 at St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital, in his 87th year.
Dearly loved husband of Margaret Elizabeth (Overton) “Sandy” Jackson his beloved war bride of 66 years. Together they returned often to Sandy’s home in Lincoln England. Dear father and grandfrather of Keith Jackson and Betty (Jason, Jeffrey, Shannon and Jamie) of Apsley Ontario and Sandra Broere and Henry (Michelle, Jennifer and Michael) of St. Thomas, Ontario. Sherry Sunderland and David of Sheffield U.K.. Also 10 Great Grandchildren. Dear brother of June Francis and Bob of London. Predeceased by his brothers Clayton, Aubrey, George, Herbert, Grant, Donald, Walter and his sister Dorothy. Len served proudly with 12th Squadron RAF Wickenby aboard Lancasters as a rear gunner. Survived by engineer Geoff Robinson of Scunthorpe U.K., also with 626 RAF Wickenby and 429 RCAF Leeming. Proudest moments of service were “Manna” food drops over the Netherlands and returning POW’s from Brussels and Italy. Len enjoyed working at Labatt brewery as Manager of Printing and Telecommunications Department (1946-1979). After retirement, bartending in their “Staff” club. Cremation has taken place. Friends will be received by the family from 7 to 9 pm on Friday, March 4, 2011 at the A. Millard George Funeral Home, 60 Ridout Street South, London. As an expression of sympathy, in lieu flowers, donations may be made to The Salvation Army, 371 King Street, London ON N6B 1S4 or Canadian Cancer Society, 123 St. George Street, London ON N6A 3A1. Online condolences accepted at www.amgfh.com

POLCI, Lynne Diane…..Peacefully at Parkwood Hospital on Monday, February 14, 2011, Lynne Diane Polci of London in her 63rd year. Dear mother of Jason Polci and Justin Polci and his wife Shannon all of London. Also loved by her grandchildren Mikey and MacKenzie Polci. Dear sister of Cheryl Ladouceur and her husband Rob, Kim Stewart and his partner Bonnie all of London and Dave Stewart and his partner Jamie of Brampton. Missed by her special friends Susan, Danielle, Michelle, Rick, Cheryl, Lindsay and Manny and their children. Also survived by several nieces and nephews. Cremation has taken place. Friends will be received by the family on Wednesday, February 16, 2011 from 7-9 p.m. at the A. Millard George Funeral Home, 60 Ridout Street South, London, where the memorial service will be conducted in the chapel on Thursday, February 17, 2011 at 11:00 am. As an expression of sympathy memorial donations may be made to Canadian Diabetes Association, 442 Adelaide Street North, London, Ontario N6B 3H8 or London Regional Cancer Program, 747 Baseline Road East, London, Ontario N6C 2R6 or the London Humane Society 624 Clarke Road, London, Ontario, N5V 3K5. Online condolences accepted at www.amgfh.com

DENT: Lila M. (Dennis, Hook)
On Sunday, February 13, 2011, Lila Dent of London, Ontario passed away peacefully at the Dr. John Gillis Memorial Lodge, Belfast, PEI. Loving wife of the late Jim Dent (2009). Beloved mother of Becky Eagles (Robbin) of Georgetown Royalty, PEI, and the late Martha Rush/Patterson(1998) and mother-in-law of the late Ian Rush(1996). Cherished Gran of Nicole Eagles, Scott Eagles (Raffaela Prencipe), Sandy Rush(Anngela), Rob Rush(fiancee Rachelle Tekatch). Also survived by sister-in-law Shirley Dennis, nephew Stephen Dennis, niece Debbie Broderick and cousins in Tillsonburg, Ontario. Predeceased by her parents, Ray and Myrtle Dennis, brothers Mac Dennis and Bill Dennis and sister-in-law Helen Dennis. A Memorial Service to celebrate Lila’s life will be held at A. Millard George Funeral Home, 60 Ridout St. S. London, on Saturday, March 5 at 1:00 p.m. Cremation and interment at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, London, has taken place. Kind remembrances may be made to Calvary United Church Memorial Fund 290 Ridout Street South, London, ON N6C 3Z1 or the CNIB 749 Baseline Road East, London, ON N6C 2R6. Online condolences may be made at www.amgfh.com

GILPIN, Margaret Cleve

Beloved wife of the late Robert George Gilpin (1998). Dear mother of Peter, James (Laura Markl), John (Susan) and Liz (Ray Pierce). Loving and supportive grandmother of Andrew (Jessica), Christopher, Ben (Ashley), James and Kyle. Great grandmother of Kaia and Finnley. Predeceased by her parents Charles and Mabel Noice and her son Robert William. Friends will be received by the family on Friday, February 18, 2011 from 4 – 8 pm at the A. Millard George Funeral Home, 60 Ridout Street South, London. The funeral service will be conducted from St. James (Westminster) Anglican Church, 115 Askin Street, London, ON N6C 1E7 on Saturday, February 19, 2011 at 11:00 am with Reverend Dr. Gary Nicolosi officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations to the St. James (Westminster) Anglican Church Foundation would be appreciated. Online condolences at www.amgfh.com

GRUNSELL, Margaret Anne…Passed away peacefully at Parkwood Hospital, London, on Saturday, February 12, 2011. M. Anne (Bratt) Grunsell in her 71st year. Dear mother of Stephen Grunsell and his wife Kathryn of Straffordville. Loved by her partner of 40 years Manuel Claro. Also loved by her grandchildren Victoria, Justin Grunsell and Kyle Stewart. Dear sister of Peter Bratt of Bedford, MA and sister-in-law of David and Wendy Grunsell of Kitchener. Survived by her nieces and nephews Sharon Banker, Melissa Gorbatov, Paul Grunsell and his wife Cheryl, and Rebecca Hempey and her husband Brent and by her great-nieces and great-nephews. Also missed by her extended family Mary and Henry Bueckert, Lisa Froese and Jake Knelson. Cremation has taken place. Friends will be received by the family on Thursday, February 17, 2011 from 5pm until 6pm (1 hour prior) at the A. Millard George Funeral Home, 60 Ridout Street South, London where a memorial service will be conducted in the chapel on Thursday, February 17, 2011at 6pm with Reverend Brian A. McKay officiating. As an expression of sympathy, donations may be made to London Regional Cancer Program, 747 Baseline Road East, London, ON N6C 2R6 or St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation (Parkwood Hospital Palliative Care), 268 Grosvenor Street, London, ON N6A 4V2. Online condolences accepted at www.amgfh.com

CHORLEY, Daphne E. (nee DESLAND)
Born January 10, 1923 in Woolwich, England and died at Sunrise of Unionville, on Tuesday, February 8, 2011. Widow of George, her beloved husband of 58 years. Dearest mother of Helen Billing (Alan) of Toronto; Alexa Coupland (Ron Schieck) of Sarnia; and Leila Chorley (Jim Sims) of West Vancouver. Also loved by her five grandchildren: Christopher, Malcolm, Laura, Kevin, and Katie, and by her great grandchildren: Evan, Ava, Nicole, and Jamie. The family wishes to thank the wonderful staff at Sunrise for their care, encouragement and attention.
During WWII Daphne joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service in England and was posted, as a radio intercept operator, to Egypt, where she met the dashing RAF Sergeant, George Chorley. After they emigrated to Canada in 1951, Daphne found a new home in London, where she lived until a year ago. Daphne loved Ontario summers and enjoyed many camping trips with George. She had fun on numerous trips overseas, particularly to Italy. Daphne leaves us with many memories – including embroidered tablecloths, quilts, and pictures.
Cremation has taken place. A memorial service celebrating Daphne’s life will be held at the A. Millard George Funeral Home, 60 Ridout Street South, London (1-877-246-7186) on Saturday, February 12th. Friends will be received by the family from 10:00 am, service at 11 a.m. with reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated to the Alzheimer Society (Research) or the charity of your choice. On line condolences accepted at www.amgfh.com

WELCH: Michael Charles….Just before dawn on Saturday, February 5th, 2011, the kindest, gentlest heart came to rest. At South Huron Hospital in Exeter, succumbing to a cruel disease, Michael, age 61 years, passed away leaving to grieve his wife of 40 years, Carole, his daughter Jennifer (Mike) and his son, Tony. Also his two lovely granddaughters, Avery and Emily, who will never get to know the best grandfather ever. Friends, family and work associates will all miss Mike’s quirky humour and loyalty but will have many laugh-filled memories of him. A gathering to remember Mike and share memories will be held at a later date. Many, many thanks to all the medical personnel involved in Mike’s care which was delivered with the utmost care and compassion. We request that any donations in Mike’s memory be made to the London Regional Cancer Program, 747 Baseline Road East, London, ON N6C 2R6 or the Sarnia-Lambton CCAC, 1150 Pontiac Drive, P.O. Box 185, Sarnia, ON N7T 7H9. He will be so missed, by so many. Online condolences accepted at www.amgfh.com (A. Millard George Funeral Home entrusted with arrangements 1-519-433-5184)
Gone too soon

MCCONNELL, Lorraine…..Peacefully at The Village of Glendale Crossing, London, on Saturday, February 5, 2011, Lorraine (Whitlock) (Arnott) McConnell of London in her 92nd year. Beloved wife of the late Frederick Stephen Arnott and also the late A. Lyle McConnell. Cherished mother of Ellen Stewart & her husband Gordon of London and Jane Gaul & her husband Neil of Stratford and mother-in-law of Arlene Kennedy of Bruce County. Loving stepmother of Douglas L. McConnell and his wife Marilyn of Lambeth, Patricia Hatt & her husband Clare of London and Linda Vrieswyck & her husband Gerry of Orillia. Predeceased by her son Thomas F. Arnott and her brother Thomas Whitlock. Also loved by her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren. Special thank you to all the caring staff of the Byron Neighbourhood at The Village of Glendale Crossing for the compassion shown to Lorraine. Friends will be received by the family from 7 to 9 pm on Tuesday, February, 8, 2011 at the A. Millard George Funeral Home, 60 Ridout Street South, London where the funeral service will be conducted in the chapel on Wednesday, February 9th, 2011 at 1:30 pm. Cremation to follow. Private family interment in Woodland Cemetery at a later date. As an expression of sympathy memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer Society of London and Middlesex, 435 Windermere Road, London, Ontario, N5X 2T1. On line condolences accepted at www.amgfh.com

FLETCHER, Joan…..With her family present, at Southlake Regional Health Centre, Newmarket, Ontario on Friday February 4, 2011, Joan Fletcher of London in her 90th year. Loving wife of the late Fred Fletcher (2003). Beloved mother of Eileen Fletcher and her husband Bruce Allen of Revelstoke, B.C., and Catherine Marsden and her husband John Marsden of Aurora, Ontario. Proud grandmother of Miranda, Kyla, Robert and Sarah. Predeceased by her brothers George and Herbert, and sister Sylvia. Joan was a teacher-librarian with the Thames Valley District School Board for many years and an active member of the Church of St. Andrew Memorial. Cremation to take place following a private family gathering on Friday. A memorial service celebrating Joan’s life will be held in the spring. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Canadian Diabetes Association, 442 Adelaide Street, North, London, Ontario, N6B 3H8 or to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, 150-633 Colborne Street, London, Ontario, N6B 2V3. Online condolences are accepted at www.amgfh.com. (A. Millard George Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements 519-433-5184)

DOUGLAS: At London Health Sciences Centre, University Hospital on Thursday, February 3rd, 2011 Mrs. Doreen (Stephenson) Douglas of London in her 80th year. Beloved mother of Murray Douglas and his wife Sharon of Kincardine, Donald Douglas, Shirley Douglas, Glen Douglas all of London, Nancy Vandebeek of Belmont and Brenda Laydon and her husband Andrew of Toronto. Also loved by her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren. Predeceased by her daughter Marilyn Douglas-Dieroff. Dear mother-in-law of Rob Dieroff (Cheryl) of Komoka. Dear sister of Grant Stephenson of Strathroy. Cremation has taken place. The family will receive friends one hour prior to a memorial service which will be conducted in the chapel of the A. Millard George Funeral Home, 60 Ridout Street South, London on Monday, February 7th at 1:00 p.m. with Reverend Robert W. Wilson officiating. As an expression of sympathy memorial donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, 123 St. George Street, London, ON N6A 3A1. Online condolences accepted at www.amgfh.com