Mary Nixon
May 30, 2008
Dr. Mary Nixon passed away suddenly but peacefully on May 29, 2008.
Lucille Elsa Reniero
May 30, 2008
Reniero – Lucille (nee Molin) passed away peacefully after a brief but courageous battle with cancer, on May 20, 2008 in Victoria, BC.
John Leroy Climenhaga
May 30, 2008
Born on Nov. 7, 1916, at Delisle, Saskatchewan, Dr. John L. Climenhaga died peacefully at home surrounded by family on May 27, 2008. Predeceased by his wife of 58 years, Grace (Garratt), he is survived by his wife Ila, daughter Joan Millar (Garth) of Victoria and son David Climenhaga (Luanne) of St. Albert, Alberta, his grandchildren Kathryn Robin Climenhaga and Lily Maeve Climenhaga of St. Albert, and many nieces and nephews. He will also be missed by Ila’s children, Allan (Sue) Buffam and Melody (David) Swanson, and grandchildren Laura Buffam and Eric Buffam. John was awarded a B.A. Honours degree in Physics and Mathematics in 1945 and an M.A. in Physics in 1949 from the University of Saskatchewan. In 1949, he joined the faculty of Victoria College, which in 1963 became the University of Victoria. At Victoria College, while teaching physics, he began research in astronomy at the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory in Saanich, work that would lead to a M.A. in astronomy and, in 1960, to a PhD from the University of Michigan. As Head of the Physics Department at Victoria College and UVic, a position he held until 1969, John was an effective advocate of the college’s transition to a university. He campaigned for the creation of a program in Astronomy, which became reality in 1965. In the early 1970s, he championed UVic?s participation in TRIUMF, the Tri-University Meson Facility located at UBC and oversaw expansion of research efforts at UVic. In 1969, he became the university?s Dean of Arts and Science, a position he held through a turbulent period until 1972. He was remembered by his colleagues for his fair-minded and consistently honest approach to resolving conflicts. In 1972 and 1973, he spent a sabbatical carrying out research and teaching in Japan, South Africa and Poland. After his retirement in 1982, John was honoured by the establishment of a scholarship in his name for a senior student in physics or astronomy. The same year, the observatory on the roof of UVic’s Elliott Building was named the Climenhaga Observatory. During retirement, John continued to teach for twleve years, and gave many popular talks on astronomy in the community. On his 70th birthday, he was honoured by the International Astrophysical Union when it assigned the name Climenhaga to an eight-kilometre asteroid (Minor Planet 3034 Climenhaga), which orbits the sun between Mars and Jupiter. In 1996, UVic granted him the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science.
John was a man of faith, loved and respected by his family and his friends. He was known for his steadfastness, and for his commitment to his family, his church and his friends and colleagues.
The family would like to express their thanks to Dr. Brian Pound, and to Angela, Addey, John, and Halil for their compassionate care and support to John and Ila at the end of John’s life.
A funeral service will be held on Tuesday June 3, 2008, at 1:00 pm at Emmanuel Baptist Church, 2121 Cedar Hill Cross Road. If desired, donations may be made in John’s memory to the John L. Climenhaga Scholarship, c/o the University of Victoria Development Office, PO Box 3060, Victoria, V8W 3R4.
Melanie Nicole Girard
May 28, 2008
Passed away suddenly in Victoria BC. May 23, 2008.
Norma Jean Slater
May 28, 2008
SLATER, Norma Jean (nee Parker) June 19, 1910 May 22, 2008 Norma passed away peacefully shortly before her 98th birthday, at Victoria’s Oak Bay Kiwanis Pavilion. She was predeceased by her husband Leonard James Slater in 1957 and her eldest son Merril (Gene) Slater of Stonewall, MB in 1999. She is survived by her sons Barry (Del) Slater of Prince George, Howard (Theresa) Slater of Victoria and daughter-in-law Margaret Slater of Stonewall; grandchildren and greatgrandchildren Howard (Brenda) Slater (Joshua, Aaron, Evan), Kathy and Jeff Slater of the Winnipeg area; Bob (Sue) Slater (Chelsea, Carly) of Prince George; Denise (Kirk) Turner (Cierra, Joel) of Edmonton; Trisha (Mike) Sidhu (Liam, Zack, Kira) and Cindy Slater of Victoria. Norma also leaves her niece Kathleen Arnott (Goodall) a life long friend and confidant. A fiercely independent and private woman, Mom was born in an old farm house on the Esquimalt Lagoon, into one of Colwood’s pioneer families and spent her entire life in the Victoria area. She was one of the first telephone operators for Colwood and later worked at the BC Motor Vehicle Branch until she retired. Norma was also recognized for her many years of volunteering for the Red Cross Blood Donor Clinics. It seems that she was always knitting or crocheting a project for one of her family or friends, often donating her work to many worthy causes. Services are to be held at McCall’s Chapel, Johnson and Vancouver Streets, on Friday, May 30th, 1:00 pm. Internment will follow, at the Pioneers Cemetery adjacent to St. John the Baptist Church on Glencairn Lane in Colwood. The family would like to thank the staff of the Oak Bay Kiwanis Pavilion for allowing Mom’s last time with us to be spent with her independence and dignity in tact. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Oak Bay Kiwanis or charity of your choice.
Betty Florence Mary Wilson
May 27, 2008
Betty Florence Mary Wilson (Blake)
September 27, 1920 – May 23, 2008
It is with great sadness that the family announces the passing of our wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend, Betty Wilson.
Betty is survived by her wonderful husband, Alex, of 64 years, her children, Neil (Peggy), Pam (Russ) and Peter (Jean) and her eight grandchildren: Geoffrey, Meghan, Blake, Kristen, Brent, Bekki, Andrew, Katrina and her great grandchildren, Logan & Gabriel.
Constance Margaret Martin (nee Ashcroft)
May 27, 2008
Donald Winston Smith
May 26, 2008
Died peacefully in the early hours of May 20th at the Gorge Road Hospital. Donald was born November 24th, 1923 in Khedive, Saskatchewan the second child of Ed and Amy Smith. Predeceased by brother Gary and sisters Eugenia and Eleanor (Mann), Don is survived by loving sisters Carol Smith and Norma Smith, along with nephews Steve, Ross and David Mann; nieces Karen Mann and Marlene McClure and many great nieces and nephews. Donald was raised in Horse Creek, Saskatchewan, and later moved to Moose Jaw, then Calgary, and settled in Victoria around 1960. He worked for Don’s Tractor Service, eventually buying the company and running a successful tractor business for many years. Funeral service for Donald is planned for noon on Wednesday, May 28th at McCall’s Floral Chapel, Johnson at Vancouver Streets. A reception will follow in the McCall’s Family Centre. In memory of Donald, donations may be made to Western Christian College or a charity of your choice.
McCall’s Honoured as Finalist for the 2008 Business of the Year
May 25, 2008
McCall Bros. Funeral Directors was a Finalist for the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce’s Business of the Year for the category 26 to 75 employee category.
Commander (Ret) Ernest Maurice (Chad) Chadwick
May 22, 2008
Naval Officer, Artist.
b. May 6th, 1921 d. May 19, 2008.
Served his country in peace and war, died peacefully May 19, 2008 in Victoria.
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