BUCKINGHAM - SHIRLEY TERESA [with photo]
Vancouver Sun March 25, 2008 (Tuesday) [same article in The Province]
Born 27 April 1928 passed away peacefully on Good Friday, 21 March 2008 with her loving family by her side. Predeceased by her husband Bill in 1990, Shirley is survived by her seven children Paul (Bev); Brenda (Ray); Pamela; Ron (Wendy); Madge (Tim); Jack (Terri) and Tom (Carrie) as well as 9 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren and her youngest sister, Dorothy Cossitt (nee Kelly) who lives in Cornerbrook, Newfoundland. Shirley was born in Cornerbrook the second youngest of 11 children. In 1958 Shirley and Bill packed six children into their car and drove across the country to B.C. and finally settled in Surrey where they raised their family. Her family and children were the center of her life and she will be dearly missed. A special thank you to the nursing staff on the 4th floor cardiac unit at Surrey Memorial Hospital for their kind and loving care. There will be a private family gathering to celebrate her life. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Shirley's memory to the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Fraser Heights First Memorial 604-589-2559.

CHAMP Betty
Vancouver Sun August 2, 2008 (Saturday)
Passed away peacefully, age 69, on July 17, 2008, in Victoria, B.C., surrounded by family. Betty is deeply missed by her five children, 14 grandchildren and one great-grandson: Kathy Edwards (Bill) and Michelle, Melissa (Andy), Matthew and Mark; Debbie Champ (James) and Allison, Nicholas, and Alex; Betty-Ann Wassill (Rene) and Sarah, Danielle and Michael; Marie Champ and Jessica (son Seth) and Marcy; and Paul Champ (Jennifer) and Donald and James. Betty was predeceased by her husband of 30 years Donald Champ, loving friend J.J. Morie, and sisters Sheila Fitzpatrick and Mary Bodnarchuk, and is survived by her brothers Harry and Jim Fitzpatrick, as well as numerous nieces and nephews who were always very close to her.

Betty was born in Newfoundland, raised in Toronto, and spent many happy years in Vancouver before her Victoria retirement, but it was in Regina, Saskatchewan, where she lived her most active years, raising a large family and sharing widely her talents of sewing, ceramics, upholstery and baking. A service will be held in Victoria, B.C., at 3:00 p.m., on Wednesday, August 20, 2008, at the Royal Canadian Esquimalt Legion, 622 Admirals Road. In memory of Betty, donations may be made to the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of Canada or a charity of your choice.

COOPER, RONALD "RON" C.
[with two photos, one as young man, one older]
October 28, 1912 - October 27, 2008
Vancouver Sun October 31, 2008 (Friday)
On October 27^th, as a Golden Eagle symbolically circled above, Ron Cooper passed away at Marjorie Willoughby Snowden Memorial Hospice Home in Kamloops BC on the eve of his 96^th birthday. His wife Elaine, daughter Lynne of Kelowna, sons Mel of Victoria, Ron of Kamloops, Gary of Kamloops, and Wayne of West Vancouver, were there for him as he had been there for them all his life.

Ron was the respected and admired founder of what is now known as Cooper's Foods in the BC Interior. Born in St. John's, Newfoundland, he struck out on his own at the age of 17, starting his first small confectionary store with less than $70 in his pockets. A popular St. Bon's athlete, he was once described as "the strongest man of his size I've ever met." Working with his wife, the late Mildred (Brophy) at his side, he grew his business to include the popular Signal Hill Grocery. Answering the call to "go west," Ron, Mildred and family moved to Vancouver in 1945. Ron's Magee Grocery was his entry into the business world in BC. Moving to the BC Interior (Revelstoke) with sons Ron, Gary and Wayne, the Cooper's spread their wings, adding supermarkets in Kelowna, Kamloops, Vernon and beyond. Honesty, integrity and hard work were his by-words.

In 2001, Ron and wife Elaine settled down in peaceful Logan Lake, where he was seen every day walking his dogs and breathing in the fresh air. The family wishes to thank Elaine for her love and care of their father. She was always there for him. Ron will be missed by stepsons Jeff and Randy Craddock, both of Vancouver, and by many friends. Ron also leaves 17 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren, six great great grandchildren and six step grandchildren. His always positive approach to life will be their inspiration. Ron's parting words to people, friends and family were always, "God Love Ya." We too say to Dad "Poppo" as our final wish ..."God Love Ya."

Special thanks from the family to the warm and friendly staff at Kamloops Hospice, Dr. Mavis Hollman, and the staff at Royal Inland Hospital. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, November 3, 2008 at the St. John Vianney Parish, 2826 Bank Road, Westsyde, Kamloops. Monsignor Jerry Desmond, Celebrant. A reception and celebration of Ron's life will follow in the church hall. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate if donations were made in Ron's memory to the Marjorie Willoughby Snowden Memorial Hospice Home, 72 Whiteshield Cr., South, Kamloops BC V2E 2S9. Kamloops Funeral Home 1-866-420-7758 Condolences may be emailed to the family from: www.kamloopsfuneralhome.com

EDWARDS Monica Mary
Vancouver Sun April 30, 2008 (Wednesday)
Born March 22, 1923 in St. Lawrence, NFLD, passed away peacefully April 26, 2008. Predeceased by her loving husband Cassimer in 1986. Loved and missed by her family: Cass and Cheryl, Terry and Anne, Harry and Brian; grandchildren Melanie, Chad, Cassandra, Brady, Ryan, Derek, Kevin, Tara, Richelle, Andrew, Kent, and their spouses and children; sisters and brothers Maud, Betty, Steve, Rich and Ed; plus many dear friends, relatives, and the caring staff at Burquitlam Lion's Care Centre. Prayers will be held at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, April 30 at All Saints Roman Catholic Church, 821 Fairfax St., Coquitlam. Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 10:00 am on Thursday, May 1, 2008. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Monica's name to Burquitlam Lions Care Centre, 560 Sydney Ave. Coquitlam, BC, V3K 6A4.

GILES - BLANCHE MARIE (DUNPHY)1914-2008 [with photo]
Vancouver Sun March 19, 2008 (Wednesday)
Passed away peacefully on March 14^th, 2008 at Kensington Gardens Nursing Home, Toronto. A registered nurse for 45 years (from 1942), she served in Montreal, Halifax, and the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps in the U.K., France, and Germany in WWII (Star and War Medals) and later Abadan General Hospital, Iran and St Joseph Hospital in Vancouver. Blanche was a vivacious, generous, caring, and loving person, who shared an adventurous life with husband Donald, for 57 years, travelling widely from the late 1940's onwards, living mainly in Iran, Europe, and Canada. She leaves behind loving children, Wenona (Peter Murphy), Christopher (Terry Giles), and Kevin (Sandra Ledingham), four granddaughters, Siobhan, Amber, Hayley, and Zoey, and many Dunphy family members in Newfoundland and Ontario. In later years, in Vancouver, she was an active member of Immigrant Services, the Newman Association, the Vancouver Women's Music Club and the Cenacle. Special thanks to Elizabeth "Beth" Rodrigo and the Staff on the first floor of Kensington Gardens, Toronto and Norma Elec, Lisa Tecson and the Staff of Youville Nursing Home, Vancouver for making Blanche comfortable and happy in her final years. A prayer service will be held on March 24^th at 7:00 pm, St John the Apostle Roman Catholic Church, 5457 Trafalgar Street, Vancouver; a funeral mass, Tuesday, March 25^th, 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Kensington Gardens Nursing Home, Toronto, and the Newman Association of Vancouver.

DR. RICHARD FRASER GOSSE, Q.C. (DICK GOSSE) [with photo]
Vancouver Sun November 29, 2008 (Wednesday)
Dick Gosse died on November 18, 2008, on the eve of British Columbia's 150^th anniversary in Vancouver, the place of his birth. He was born on March 25, 1924 to Annabelle Maude (nee Fraser) and Richard Josiah Gosse, son of Capt. Richard Edward Gosse, originally of Spaniard's Bay, Newfoundland. After graduating from Prince of Wales High School in Vancouver, Dick served as a pilot in the RCAF and was posted to a Bomber Command squadron in Yorkshire. He went to McGill University (B.A.) and UBC (LL.B.) and articled with Davie Fulton in Kamloops before becoming the first lawyer to open a practice in Kitimat. He then spent three years in Oxford where he received a D.Phil. in Law. Dick joined the newly formed Faculty of Law at Queen's University in 1960, became counsel to the Ontario Law Reform Commission in 1967, the first full-time member of the Law Reform Commission of BC in 1970 and Professor of Law at UBC in 1972. In 1977 he became Deputy Attorney General in Saskatchewan under Roy Romanow. He said this was the most satisfying job he ever had due largely to the warm-hearted, straightforward people of Saskatchewan. He was appointed the first Inspector General of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service in 1985 and became the first Chairman of the RCMP Public Complaints Commission in 1988.

In the nineties Dick focused his efforts on aboriginal justice issues, as the Law Foundation Professor at the University of Saskatchewan College of Law and later as a special representative of the Federal Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs. He traveled throughout Europe and Asia and made many friends especially in Israel, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and China. He was a great skier and long distance runner. He canoed the Rideau Canal, hiked the West Coast Trail and ran the Ottawa Marathon at the age of 64. Later in Victoria Dick achieved Life Master status in contract bridge and in 1999 he returned to university to study astronomy. One of the high points in his life was winning a bronze medal in the 10k at the Russian National Track and Field Championships in Moscow in 1991. Although he would confess there were only two other runners in his age group he would put forward this achievement, along with his practice history, as evidence that he was a runner in body, mind and spirit.

He leaves behind his three children - Richard, Gisela and Alex, their mother Jean, daughter-in-law Chen Jie, granddaughters Paula and Olivia, Alex's partner Michael Wurstlin and grandson Lucas. At Dick's request there will be no funeral. To contact the family you can email his son Richard at richardgosse@shaw.ca

KING [with three photos of same man, at different stages of his life]
Vancouver Sun February 9, 2008 (Saturday)
Ian Grant King passed away at home, at the age of 84, on January 31, 2008. He was born August 27, 1923, in St. John's, and moved to Vancouver in 1957. He worked as a Newfoundland Ranger, director of health agencies, and management consultant. He leaves behind his wife, Ethelwynne (nee Winsor); four children: Derrick (Jasmine), Dianne (Peter), Graham (Denise) and Lynda (Don); ten grandchildren; his sister, Enid (Roy); and many beloved cousins, nieces, and nephews. Brothers Hedley and Bill predeceased him. He modeled integrity and romance (still doting on his "Darling" after 56 years), and made improvements to health care. He was happiest trailering with his family and will be dearly missed. His life will be celebrated February 16^th, 3 p.m., at St. Andrew's Wesley, 1012 Nelson St., Vancouver. RSVP Dianne 604-263-5261. Donations in his memory can be made to the BC Cancer Foundation or the Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

Vancouver Sun January 26, 2008 (Saturday)
VAN ULDEN, Joseph (Joost) Maria [with photo] - 62, Dartmouth, NS, passed away Friday, January 4, 2008. Born in Leiden, The Netherlands, Joseph immigrated to Canada in 1968. He enjoyed rewarding careers in the hospitality and automotive industries. Joseph was the quintessential Dutch gentleman. He is survived by his beloved wife Shelley Clayton van Ulden. Joseph's legacy lives on in his sons Dirk (Sheree Wolansky), Kelowna, BC; Joost (Julie Robb), North Vancouver, BC; Philip and Leo, St. John's, NL. Much loved grandson Willem, Kelowna, BC. Mother of his sons, Inge van Ulden, St. John's, NL. Siblings and extended family around the world. Memorial service was held in Nova Scotia. Donations to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation are greatly appreciated. Words of remembrance may be made at vanulden@telus.net

Vancouver Sun December 9, 2008 (Tuesday)
WILKINSON Marcella - Marcella passed away peacefully on December 4^th, 2008 in Richmond, BC. She is survived by her loving husband of 63 years, Robert, 3 sons Michael (Fiona), Alan (Monica) and James (Lori), 2 grandchildren Craig and Leah, sister Hazel Janes of St. John's, Newfoundland and other relatives and friends. Officially a war bride, Marcella and Robert enjoyed 63 wonderful years of marriage with humour as its foundation. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, December 11, 2008 at 10:00 a.m, St. Paul's Church, 8251 St. Alban's Rd., Richmond, Msgr. Dennis Luterbach, PH Celebrant. In lieu of flowers, donations gratefully acknowledged to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, 303 - 1212 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC, V6H 3V1. Interment to follow at Gardens of Gethsemani, Surrey, British Columbia. Kearney Funeral Services 604-736-0268.