Speers Funeral & Cremation Services

Speers Funeral & Cremation Services Obituaries/ Death Notices

Donald Michael “Don” Lemiski - Vernon Morning Star

Donald Michael (Don) Lemiski was born on August 6th, 1933 in Vegreville, Alberta and moved with his parents to Vernon, B.C. in 1944. He graduated from Vernon High School and studied at the University of Alberta where he met his future wife, Shirley Sutherland. They married and returned to Vernon to raise their family and start a dental practice. Don was a well known and respected dentist for 43 years in downtown Vernon and he also helped establish a permanent dental theatre in the Vernon Jubilee Hospital. Don was preceded in death by his parents, Isabel and Michael Lemiski; his first wife, Shirley; one sister-in-law, Janet Lemiski and his dear friend, Beryl Rook. Don is survived by his loving wife, Brigitte; two brothers, Frank and Michael (Hedy); his four children, Doug (Nathalie), David (Norma), Bill (Dawn) and Carol Ryan (Dan). His memory will be forever cherished by his nine grandchildren, Brett and John (and their mother, Mardy), Evan and Mica, Adrian and Sean, Josie, Elle and Blue; two nieces, Natash...
https://www.vernonmorningstar.com/obituaries/donald-michael-don-lemiski/

Family remembers decorated WWII veteran - Brantford Expositor

I was Hungarian they wanted me to become a spy," Mr. Miklos told an Expositor reporter during an interview a couple of years ago. "I said ‘no thanks, that's far too dangerous.'"Then they asked me how I felt about jumping out of a plane.'"The battalion came to prominence on D-Day, the start of the invasion of occupied Europe by the Allied forces.Members of the Canadian battalion, fought with the British 6th Airborne Division, dropped behind enemy lines in France. Their goal was to disrupt German forces by securing bridges needed for the invasion and to engage the enemy in firefights to prevent them from reinforcing German positions on the coast of France.Mr. Miklos was dropped in France in mid-June, after the initial attack and was with the campaign to liberate Nazi-occupied Europe for several months. He fought in France, Holland, Belgium and Germany.A tool and die maker by trade, Mr. Miklos worked at a couple of different factories in Brantford, including the old Chicago Rawhide plant. He also worked at American Can in Simcoe prior to retirement.An active member of St. Pius X Church, Mr. Miklos was a professional photographer who enjoyed woodworking and golfing."He was always pretty active and I think he was in his late 50s or early 60s when he decided to take up downhill skiing," Miklos said adding that he skied hills at Mont Tremblant and Vermont to name just a few.In December 2017, Mr. Miklos was honoured by the Government of France for his efforts in liberating the country from the Nazis. He was awarded the rank of Knight of the French National Order of the Legion of Honour.The Legion of Honour is the highest national order of France and when Mr. Miklos received the medal in January 2018, he took time to remember those who served with him."There are so many who fought and sadly died without this recognition, including many from Brantford and Brant County," Mr. Miklos said when received the medal. "The only way I can really accept this is in their honour."Those from Brantford and the surrounding area who served with Mr. Miklos include William (Bill) Gilmour, Cole Gregor, Syd Pass, Joe Tansley, Ken Clark, Lloyd Hopkins, Gord Haviland, Lloyd Graham and Jim Papple."He was the last surviving member of C company of the battalion and the last of the local members of the battalion," Miklos said.Mr. Miklos ...
https://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/news/local-news/family-remembers-decorated-wwii-veteran

Bane, Jean Hypes - NRVN News

A. Vest Funeral Home in White Gate, VA with Rev. Gary Poff, pastor of Castle Rock Baptist Church presiding. Burial will follow at the Walkers Creek Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you remember Jean Bane with a donation to the Trenor Cemetery Fund, c/o Sarah Fisher, 24904 Craigs Creek Rd, New Castle, VA 24127 or a charity of your choice. Let's block ads! (Why?)...
https://nrvnews.com/bane-jean-hypes/

Famed Nova Scotia treasure hunter did it his way, reverend tells funeral - HalifaxToday.ca

Theories on who may have buried treasure on the island range from pirate Blackbeard to the Knights Templar. Eisnor said at the time, Blankenship asked his wife Jane to read the piece, hoping it would also pique her interest. "She handed it back to him and said, 'So what?'" said Eisnor, sparking a laughs from the crowd. "Dan said to her, 'Well number one, there's treasure on Oak Island, and number two, I'm going to find it.' "It's a statement like that, in a nutshell, that summed up Dan's unbridled determination for everything that he did." When Blankenship first arrived in Nova Scotia - leaving behind a successful contracting business in Miami, Fla. - he stayed at the aptly named Oak Island Motel, owned by Eisnor's grandparents. Eventually, Blankenship built a house on Oak Island to be closer to the elusive treasure. Eisnor described being a child and scribbling with colour pencils Blankenship used to draw diagrams of the money pit - where some believe the treasure is hidden. Blankenship co-owned the island with a group of investors, including brothers Rick and Marty Lagina, who are doing the major work on site now. Their search for treasure has been featured during the reality TV show's six seasons. Rick Lagina was among the mourners at Monday's service. In recent years, Blankenship enjoyed meeting fans who would come to the island for tours, driving to meet them at a museum on his golf cart wearing Bermuda shorts, knee-high socks, a button-up knit sweater and an Oak Island baseball cap. He would always arrive early. "Many summers Dan never missed a tour... The fans loved chatting with Dan, getting their picture taken with him. He enjoyed that," said Eisnor, adding that Blankenship was the impetus for a new era in Oak Island's story. "A new generation of Oak Island enthusiasts are now intrigued with the very same mystery that brought Dan to Canada." Follow (at)AlyThomson on Twitter. Aly Thomson, The Canadian Press Note to readers: This is a corrected story. An earlier version wrongly said that Dan Blankenship had worked at the Oak Island Motel, but he only stayed there. Let's block ads! (Why?)...
https://www.halifaxtoday.ca/local-news/famed-nova-scotia-treasure-hunter-did-it-his-way-reverend-tells-funeral-1340093

Becoming a seafarers' chaplain was not exactly his retirement plan - CatholicPhilly.com

Whenever he meets a crew member, Deacon Athaide asks: “How are you? Is everything OK?” The response is often ” fine,” but he’s ready to listen, say a prayer, and offer consolation any time a serious situation arises. In just three years, several have. “About six months ago, a chief cook died a day before coming here.” The man, practically in sight of the port, had run out of critical medication too soon. Another time, a chief engineer had a heart attack and died at sea, also one day before his Vancouver arrival. In both cases, Deacon Athaide offered to bless the ship with holy water and prayed for the men who were traumatized after the deaths. “If they were at home, they would be at Mass with their family, with their kids,” he said. “That’s why I like to wear my collar. It’s that comfort level, and it reminds them if they have forgotten that, they can still practice their faith.” “Port ministry is not just saying Mass on a ship, much like how campus ministry isn’t just saying Mass in the campus chapel … it is a pastoral ministry.” Spending his free time on cargo ships wasn’t exactly Deacon Athaide’s retirement plan. A man of many interests, Deacon Athaide has been a geologist, professor, labor leader, and even a thoroughbred horse owner. Chaplaincy came as a surprise. Born in a devout Catholic suburb of Mumbai, India, he was deeply rooted in his faith from a young age. He would pray the rosary with his family every day, but did not consider becoming a priest and had never heard of permanent deacons. He was 14 when his family immigrated to Canada in 1964. “Montreal was super Catholic at the time. We came to a Montreal where, if you were five minutes late for church, you couldn’t find a seat.” As a young adult, he had a heart for service. When he noticed a trend of young adults traveling overseas to do mission work, he founded the Communitas International Volunteer Society. The registered Canadian charity sent volunteers to a developing country for one year at a time, and it was while traveling with his organization that he met his wife. He and Malvina, a nurse, raised three children. When their youngest was only 7, Malvina was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She died in 2004. In 2011, Archbishop J. Michael Miller released a letter to announce he was restoring the permanent diaconate in the Archdiocese of Vancouver. Permanent deacons, he wrote, would have a theology degree and run a variety of parish and other ministries, including being allowed to officiate at marriages and funerals and preach homilies. Deacon Athaide talked to his pastor about it. “I remember him saying: ‘Go for it!’ It seemed to be a natural kind of thing and a great opportunity. I had lost my wife seven years prior, and I got to a stage where I realized I’m probably not going to get married again. It seemed like a natural opportunity.” He registered and...
http://catholicphilly.com/2019/03/news/world-news/becoming-a-seafarers-chaplain-was-not-exactly-his-retirement-plan/