Dr. John Harold Mowbray

Dr. John Harold Mowbray, 89, died on November 4 at Lady Minto Hospital while being held by his wife of 65 years, Catherine, and surrounded by his loving family, John, Paul, Scott, Emily, Kate and Martina. John was a passionate physician who worked in four countries on four continents, for many years a teaching doctor and administrator with the international aid organization Care Medico in Kabul Afghanistan; Surakarta, Indonesia; and Sousse, Tunisia. He was born in Bluevale, Ontario, attended medical school at the University of Toronto with his sweetheart and future wife, Kay (Catherine), a nurse. He practiced general medicine in Stoughton for five years, then obtained his Internal Medicine specialty and was an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan before leaving Canada to help the poor. In 1980 he returned to Canada from 13 years oversees to practice in Cranbrook, B.C. and then, in 1987, on Salt Spring, where he worked until retiring in 1992. Deep thanks to the caregivers at Lady Minto Hospital. Deep thanks from Kay to John for a long, loving adventure. Deep thanks from his sons for showing them the world and the way. He has three grandchildren, Michael, Emily and Rosa; two daughters-in-law, Kerrie Strathy and Kate Meyers; and is survived by his sister, Alba McIntyre. John was very detailed in his requests regarding funeral services (none) and fuss (none), but, regarding a headstone, wrote, “Surprise me!” That, in a nutshell, was John Mowbray, now and always in the hearts of all who loved him. Donations: Lady Minto Hospital, Ganges, B.C., or a charity of your choice.  

James Drebert

Oct. 8, 1949 – Nov. 1, 2013

It is with great sadness that we announce Jim passed away peacefully Friday, Nov. 1, 2013 with his wife, Rosalind, sons Mark and Paul and sister-in-law, Dawn at his side.

He will be greatly missed by his wife, with whom he laughed and shared many happy years, sons, whom he loved and was most proud, and daughter-in-law, Charlene.

He also leaves to mourn his death, his brother Doug, sister-in-law, Marilyn, nephews Michael and Brian and family in Winnipeg and England.

Thank you to the home support nurses for your help, and a big THANK YOU to Dr. Beaver for “holding our hand” through Jim’s illness.

Memorial service to be held at Salt Spring Baptist Church, 520 Lower Ganges Road, November 24th, 2013 at 2:30 p.m.

Maggie Reddy

April 3, 1944 – Oct. 26, 2013

Maggie Reddy passed away peacefully on October 26. She was surrounded by family and friends.

There will be a celebration of her life,

November 7th, at the Lion’s Hall from 1:00-3:00pm. To honour Maggie please make sure you wear your finest bling and or rainbow attire.

Frances Anastasia (Deir) Antonik

January 25, 1923-October 24, 2013

It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to our beloved mother, grandmother and great grandmother, Frances Antonik, who passed away October 24, 2013 in the Elder Care Wing of Lady Minto Hospital on Salt Spring Island at the age of 90. She was predeceased in 2000 by her loving husband of 54 years, Ladislav, and in 2010 by Jack Fisher, her dear companion for 9 years after Lad’s passing. Frances will be lovingly remembered by her children Pauline Maughan McCarthy and husband John (Skip), Judi (Bennett) Harvey and husband Rob, Garry Antonik and wife Arlene, Mike Antonik and wife Patricia, and Joan Mitchell and husband Graeme, as well as her 11 grandchildren: Kaylie and Liam Maughan; Jordan Doerksen; David Antonik (Alison and great grandsons James and Ryan) , Jeffrey Antonik (Jessie and great granddaughters Kyla and Kristina) and Dan Antonik (Davina and great granddaughter Maya); Aran Antonik (Caroline and great granddaughter Ava), Kelsey and Scott Antonik; and James and Paul Mitchell, as well as many nieces and nephews in Ontario. Frances was also greatly loved and admired by her five in-laws and former in-law Michael Maughan.Born January 25, 1923 in Gananoque, Ontario, she was the 11th of 14 children and the last to survive. Descended from farming pioneers from Ireland, she grew up on a dairy and maple syrup farm near Athens, Ontario. She studied nursing in Kingston, Ontario at the Hotel Dieu, and graduated as an RN in 1945. It was there she fell in love with a handsome young Slovak medical student, Ladislav Antonik, who was training at Queens University. They were married February 15, 1946, on their graduation day. They moved to Ottawa to work at the Ottawa General Hospital for a short time, before moving to Hearst, Ontario, then Montreal, Quebec for 3 years, and Kapuskasing in Northern Ontario. Along the way came five children, and Frances became a full-time homemaker, raising her children with loving care. In 1958 the family travelled across Canada to settle in Coquitlam, BC. In 1965 she and Lad purchased a lovely cottage on St. Mary Lake, on Salt Spring Island, which became their full-time retirement home in 1982. She devoted her life to her family and her home was the centre of many joyous family gatherings. Frances was a terrific cook and an avid bridge player. We miss her love, her gentleness and her grace, and thank her for giving us a great life. We will forever cherish these precious memories. Private family memorial was held, with burial at Salt Spring Island Cemetery beside her devoted husband, Ladislav. The family is deeply grateful for the compassionate care of our dear Mother by the dedicated staff at Lady Minto Hospital and by Dr. Robert Critchon for the last 6 years of her life. In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Lady Minto Hospital, 135 Crofton Road, Salt Spring Island, BC V8K 1T1, would be greatly appreciated.

GORDON WENDELL BARNES

Nov. 11, 1923 – Oct. 20, 2013

Gordon Barnes, a Salt Springs Island resident since 1989, passed away on October 20th as the result of a heart attack. He was born in Pullman, Washington on November 11, 1923, the son of John and Hazel Barnes. He is survived by his wife, Bianca Barnes, nephews Larry Barnes of Hailey, Idaho, Steve Barnes of Santa Rosa, California, and niece Cindy Ochoa of Belmont, California. When Gordon was very young his family moved to Berkeley, California where he attended the public schools and graduated from Berkeley High School. Gordon served in the U. S. Army from 1944 to 1946 and participated in the Allied invasion of Germany and Austria. After the war Gordon served as an apprentice cabinet maker in San Francisco. In 1949 he married Bianca Kempton, a native of Montreal. In 1954 they moved to Vancouver. Gordon was a student in the College of Engineering at the University of British Columbia, graduating in 1959. Bianca and Gordon went to England that year with the intention of exploring the waters there and stayed for five years, initially in London, then in Leicester, where Gordon was employed by English Electric. They had a vision of building a boat in which to sail across the Pacific Ocean, returning to Vancouver with that purpose in mind in 1963. Gordon worked as an engineer for the Council of Forest Industries. In his free time he began work on what was to become his magnificent boat, the “Adriana”, and continued work on it after he and Bianca retired and moved to Salt Springs Island in 1989, living in their beautiful home in the woods on Fulford Road. Bianca recorded the odyssey of Gordon’s efforts in “Real-Time Boatbuilding”, the book that they published in 2009. Gordon was a frequent contributor to the letters to the editor in the Driftwood, on global warming. His cardiac problems caught up with him and he passed away on October 20, 2013. There will be no service.

Gordon will be missed and remembered by the many people who knew him and cherished his friendship, his acumen and his sense of humor.   

Marguerite Sargent

Aug. 14, 1924 – Oct. 16, 2013

Marguerite Sargent, a 41 year resident of Roland Road, Fulford Harbour, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 16, 2013 at her home in the ECU at Lady Minto.

Marguerite was a past Worthy Matron of Eastern Star and was also active in Seniors For Seniors (as it was known then), Meals on Wheels, the Ham Club and the Blue Water Cruisers.

Marguerite was very adventurous, riding pillion with her husband Jim on a motorcycle trip around Australia in her 50’s, and accompanying Jim circumnavigating Vancouver Island on a 29’ sloop in her 60’s. She also did 2 extensive walking tours in England with a friend. She and Jim were enthusiastic snowbirds and had many friends around Canada and the US.

Marguerite was a devoted, loving and enthusiastic grandmother. When the great-grandchildren began to arrive the same love was extended to them.  

Marguerite was predeceased by her husband Jim and her son Daniel. She is survived by her daughters Sylvia (Dave Dykes) and Laura (Dave Williamson); her grandchildren Harvey Dykes (Elissa), Jack Dykes (Heather), Rob Dykes (Sheri),  Kay Christianson and Britt Christianson; and her great grandchildren Jacintha Dykes, Cooper Dykes and Emmanuella Dykes.

In lieu of flowers donations to the Lady Minto ECU Comfort Fund would be appreciated. No service at the request of the family. A celebration of Marguerite’s life will be held at Ruckle Park next summer.

We invite you to visit Marguerite’s memorial website at www.haywardsfuneral.com

Many thanks to Dr. Reznick, Jean Southgate and all the staff at Lady Minto ECU.

Rest in peace Mom.

You deserve it and you will be missed.