1925 – 2023

Nancy Rennie James passed away on 20 June 2023, at Lady Minto Hospital, Salt Spring Island, British Columbia.Nancy was born in Chicago in 1925, a “child of the depression” she would say, and it affected her for life. Her father, an out-of-work electrical engineer, took a teaching job at no salary. Her mother fed out-of-work men on the back porch.

Valedictorian at Sutherland High School, she wanted to be a “hermit in a canoe”, to the great consternation of her very social mother. She graduated from Carleton College, Northfi eld, Minnesota, in 1947 with a B.A., tuition being paid by her brothers. Nancy held Carleton in high regard. She later graduated from Iowa State College, Ames, Iowa, in 1952 with a Ph.D. in physics, although she said she would have been a better engineer than physicist.

In Ames, Nancy met and married Allen, a geneticist.  They spent their early married life in Deep River, Ontario, a small company town for Atomic Energy of Canada. Surrounded by forest and canoe country, it was surely heaven for her. There she raised four boys, played French horn in the local orchestra, and rose to be Division Commissioner for the Girl Guides.  In 1970, she and Allen moved the family to Ottawa, Ontario. There she worked as the Budget Offi cer for the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council until Allen’s death in 1989.

Nancy discovered Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, and moved there in the early 1990’s.  There she had her own house designed and built. It was the ideal place for her; she never wanted to move again. With the help of truly exceptional friends, she was able to live in her own house until her passing.

For a hermit in a canoe, she travelled far, living in 5 countries and visiting more than 60 countries, from Svalbard, Norway, in the far north to Antarctica in the south.

She will be greatly missed by her children, grandchildren, and a diverse collection of very dear friends

Daniel D. Phelan of Salt Spring Island B.C. died in his 93rd 2023,(August 5th,) at his home surrounded by his family. Predeceased by his wife of 67 years, Barbara (nee Southern). Loving father to Mary Julia (deceased), Tracey Dorey ( nee Phelan), Jaime Phelan (Mark Barry), of Ensenada, Mexico., Darragh Phelan of Toronto, Ont. and Maureen Phelan of Salt Spring Island, B.C. Loving grandfather to Conor Phelan-Barry of Vancouver B.C., brother to Peter Patrick of Vancouver B.C. and sister to Darralyn Bonnor of Victoria B.C. Uncle and great uncle to many nieces and nephews.

Dan was born in Toronto, Ont. on October 10th, 1930, son of Darragh Phelan and Margaret (Peggy Pike) Phelan. He attended Toronto’s Del La Salle, then onto Loyola College, Montreal , Que. where he was president of the student body. He attended Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, and received a Hotel School Administration B. Sc., in 1955. Sports included fencing, tennis, track, and football. His fraternity was Chi, Alpha Phi Chapter. He was hired by Sheraton Hotel Corp. in the Sales and Marketing Department from 1955-1959. He was then promoted to Sales Manager for Canada Sheraton Ltd., in 1960. He joined Skyline Hotels Ltd., Toronto as Manager from 1960-1963, and was then promoted as General Manager in 1965. In 1965 his uncle, Paul J. Phelan asked him to join the family business, Cara Operations Ltd., as the General Manager Regional Division (1965-1969). He was promoted to Vice President in the Restaurant and Hotel Division in 1969. At Cara he introduced the revolutionary Remenco automated equipment system to the hotel and restaurant industry. He retired from Cara in 1989, after 25 years of service.

In addition to his business successes, Dan was very active in the community he served. He was Chairman of the National Committee Red Carpet Canada in 1967, and a member of the CRFA, (Canadian Restaurant and Food Services Association). From 1980-1988 , he was chairman of the Metropolitan Toronto Convention and Visitors Association, and sat on the Board of Directors in 1985. In 1991 he was honoured with the Ontario Hostelry Institute Gold Award for Excellence. Additionally, as a member of the Toronto Board of Trade.

In retirement Dan sat on the board of the Lady Minto Hospital, S.S.I., where he was an active fund raiser, including the Phantom Ball. He became treasurer of the Grace Point strata on Salt Spring Island. He greatly enjoyed his participation and numerous victories with Toast Masters International on S.S.I., and his many endeavours with the Salt Spring Tennis Association. Dan’s other passions included tennis, nature, skiing, travel and scuba diving. In 1989, Daniel and Barbara retired to Salt Spring Island, B.C. where they lived a full and active life which included boating, with Dan deftly skippering his beloved Grand Banks boat, the Mary Julia, up and down the B.C. coast and included a memorable trip to Alaska . He loved spending winters on Sanibel Island, and St. Lucia.Dan/Danny Boy is remembered for his Irish charm, sartorial splendour, eclectic hat collection and his tremendous warmth and devotion to family and friends.

Many thanks to the staff of Lady Minto Hospital over the years, particularly to his G.P., Dr. R. Reznick and Jean. And to Dan Bouchard, and his team at Access Care Management, particularly Marni, who understood the value of a good party.

A funeral mass on Salt Spring will take place on Thursday, August 24th at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady Of Grace, 135 Drake Rd. A visitation and funeral mass will be at Rosar-Morrison’s Funeral Home on (TBA) #467 Sherbourne St. Toronto, with a reception to follow at the home of Darragh Phelan, #15 Amelia St. Toronto.

Private burial at Mount Hope Cemetery, Toronto.

Feb 04, 1920 – July 30, 2023 *103 years
As kind as he was gentle.

Tony Pedersen was born on his great grandfather’s farm in Denmark in 1920. He began a Machinist apprenticeship at 18. After completion he was one of 12 men among 300 applicants accepted as machinists for the Danish Air Force. During this period Germany had occupied Denmark. In 1943 Anton and fellow servicemen were interned in a camp. It was believed that Danish King Christian X intervened on their behalf and effected their release. Anton then escaped to Sweden on a fishing boat, where he spent the remainder of the war at a Swedish air base, while also working in the Danish underground.

At the end of the war, the lure of travel called, and he left Denmark for Brazil with the allowable maximum of $50 in his pocket. In Brazil his new name became Antonio. Here he worked for a Brazilian company servicing DC3’s, and learned Portuguese language. The company was in dire straits and he was unable to extract more than 60% of his pay. In lieu of the remainder he was provided a flight to Sao Paulo on one of the DC3’s. On take-off he felt a draught and realized the door was hanging on its hinges. He woke the Steward and together they braced and pushed to close the door. The window trim beside his fellow passenger fell from the wall. When leaving the aircraft, he noticed a sign over the exit door that read “This Aircraft is protected by Saint Christopher”.

After a brief stint at a Studebaker plant in Sao Paulo, he obtained a job at the I.T.A.U. Airline Company, where he learned about graft.
Next, he was hired by the Danish East Asiatic Company to inspect farm machinery and diesel engines. This required travel to the interior of Brazil by steam train and on ancient buses. The two years that he had planned to be in Brazil came to an end in 1950. Unfortunately, he was short of money as he had made a loan to a friend who could not be found. He bought cheap passage on an old WW1 steam engine troop ship, arriving in Berne, Switzerland with no money after paying off the customs officer who had checked his suitcase in Brazil. He sold his photo light meter, realizing enough money to get to the Danish border. At the border he was able to sell his plastic raincoat as it was a novelty at that time. Arriving at Fredericia, the railway officials allowed him the rest of his trip on credit.

Not long after returning to Denmark he applied for immigration to Canada. Arriving at Pier 21 (with the allotted $50), he was greeted by volunteers and reps of the Player Cigarette Company who handed out free packages of cigarettes to the newcomers. He made his way to Winnipeg, hub of Canada. He was offered a position with the Central Northern Airways bush flying company, operating out of Flin Flon. Tony was assigned to the remote Cold Lake base where he was to work maintaining ski-planes, trading the skis for pontoons when the weather warmed. This is where he learned English, unwittingly picking up many 4-letter words as well.

In 1951 he was hired by T.C.A. on a Defense Contract. His bachelor days ended when he met Eva and married in 1954. They lived in Tsawwassen where he had a career with Air Canada. Together they sired 3 children, and adopted a 4th.

Moving to Salt Spring Island in 1981, Tony joined the Salt Spring Trail and Nature Club while in his 60’s. His intimate knowledge of the south end of the island led to BC Parks recognition of him as a Park Steward at Ruckle and Beaver Point Parks. He became an Honorary Member of the club in his 80’s.

Tony was predeceased by his wife Eva, and adopted son Terry. He is survived by children Karen, Ellen (Pat), Tom (Sayuri) and grandchildren Lisa, Marina, Kai and Fyn, for whom he provided the perfect model of love, humour and tolerance.

May 12, 1938 – July 27, 2023

It is with great sadness that we announce the beautiful & serene passing of Gillian Cobanli on Thursday, July 27, 2023 at the Hospice of Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria.

After an irrecoverable stroke six weeks ago, Gill peacefully passed away, surrounded by family.
Gill is survived by her children, Richard John (Susan); Bruce William; and Selma Jane. She also leaves behind her four grandchildren, Sara Athan, Matilda Canan, Gillian Emma Catherine, and Theo Cem. She was predeceased by her husband, Basri Cevat, in 1997, and her granddaughter Leyla Rose in 2021.

The Cobanli family would like to thank all of the incredible and dedicated doctors, nurses, caregivers and staff in the Neurology wing of Victoria General Hospital, Palliative Care and Hospice at Royal Jubilee and V.I.H.A.

Gill’s Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, August 27th, 2023 at the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 92, at 121 Blain Road, on Salt Spring Island, from 12 noon to 3:00pm.