FRIDAY, November 4 , 2016
www.kamloopsthisweek.com
A37
Obituaries & In Memoriam Tony Nigro
ERIC JAMES BROWN
With heavy hearts we announce the passing of Tony Nigro on October 30, 2016, a life well lived at the age of 92.
It is with great sadness that the family of Eric Brown announces his peaceful passing on Monday, October 31, 2016 at Royal Inland Hospital after a brief battle with lung cancer.
Tony is survived by his wife Aurora, his son Charlie, daughter Rose (Frank) and his two grandsons Maurizio and Antonio Saccomanno. He also leaves behind his nieces Teresina Petretti, Rose Rende, Franca Crasti, his sister-in-law, Maria Sicoli and many cousins, relatives, friends and longtime acquaintances.
In Loving Memory of
Eric was born in Kamloops on May 9, 1952, the 2nd of 3 children born to Andy & Barbara Brown. Eric grew up in Kamloops and continued to make it his home his entire life. Eric began working at Brown’s Repair Shop, the family business, in 1969. He proudly took ownership of the business, which has been in the family since 1922, upon his father’s retirement. Eric and his wife Shirley enjoyed camping and exploring in their motorhome, with their menagerie of animals, as well as many summers at Shuswap Lake. Eric was an avid reader! In the last few years he rediscovered his love of motorcycles and took great pleasure in riding to visit family and friends. His most recent adventures were to Gabriola Island to visit his daughter and granddaughters where he purchased a lovely property to enjoy future retirement.
Tony was predeceased by his father and mother Pasquale and Rosina, his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Fiore and Luisa Sicoli, his sister Sarina Cuzzetto and his niece Marisa Malakoff. Tony was born in Grimaldi, Cosenza, Italy on June 1, 1924. He came to Canada in December of 1949 and worked on the railroad for a short time, but his true passion for welding soon took over. He opened up his own welding shop on Tranquille Road in 1956. Over this period of time, Tony saw the landscape of North Kamloops change, but the welding shop remained the same. To many in the Italian community, he became known simply as “Mastro” (teacher) for his creativity of all things iron. Over the last few years the “shop” was more of a meeting place than a workplace. For old friends and new, those who visited on a daily, weekly or occasional basis, it served its purpose well. Stories were told, opinions were shared and as memories grew shorter, the tales seemed to grow longer, however, everyone left as if all the world’s problems had been solved.
Eric is survived by his daughter Dianna Bonder and granddaughters Ekko and Nico Bonder. They were the absolute highlight of Eric’s life and he was extremely proud of them. He is also survived by his sister Elaine (Roger) Parkes of Kamloops, his brother Allan (Nancy) Brown of Calgary and their children Jared & Erin Brown, as well as relatives too numerous to mention. Eric was predeceased by his wife Shirley and his parents Andy and Barbara. Eric will also be dearly missed by the staff of Brown’s Repair Shop: Kim, Brenda, Tom and Mack. The family would like to thank the dedicated staff of Brown’s Repair Shop who will continue to support the Kamloops community.
He will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved him and will forever remain in our hearts.
The family would also like to thank the wonderful staff of 7N for the excellent care they provided for Eric.
Prayer Service will held at 8:30 p.m. Sunday, November 6, 2016 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 635 Tranquille Road, Kamloops, BC and the Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 2:00 p.m. Monday, November 7, 2016 at the church, with the Reverend Father Paul Simms officiating. Interment will be at the Hillside Cemetery followed by refreshments in the OLPH Parish Hall.
Please join the family on Saturday, November 5, 2016, at 11:00 a.m. in the Parkside Room at the Sandman Centre, 300 Lorne St, Kamloops for a CELEBRATION of Eric’s life. Eric battled several cancers in his last few years, so in lieu of flowers the family would like donations to be made in his name to the Canadian Cancer Society or to the charity of their choosing.
Condolences may be expressed at www.schoeningfuneralservice.com Schoenings Funeral Service 250-374-1454
MARIE ROSS (ROSITCH)
July 10, 1918 – October 26, 2016 Aunty Marie passed away peacefully at Pine Grove Care Centre, Kamloops at the age of 98. Born in Marysburg, Sask., she was the 4th of 14 children born to Frank and Barbara Rositch. She was raised on the farm, attended school to grade 8, worked at home and homes of others in the area before venturing out to Kamloops in the late ‘30s. She worked in retail and in Vancouver prior to obtaining her Practical Nursing Diploma through the Vancouver Vocational Institute in 1956. She spent a number of years working in hospitals in the Lower Mainland and coastal areas of BC before moving to Orange, California where she worked for many years at Children’s Hospital. Her skilled caregiving and love for her young patients was much appreciated by their families. After retiring, Marie relocated to the Wenatchee, Wash. area, then back to Kamloops, on to Penticton for awhile, and finally settled in Kamloops remaining here until her passing. A fiercely independent woman, she mastered the public transportation system wherever she lived, never owned a vehicle or had a driver’s license, walked when buses weren’t available and managed to get wherever she wanted to go. She was a skilled seamstress, loved swimming, travelling and exploring, especially in California, and enjoyed her trips to Hawaii immensely. Many of us recall trips to visit Aunty Marie in Orange and the great adventures going with her to Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm, the desert and so many interesting places thereabouts. Marie changed her surname from Rositch to Ross in 1958. She never married and had no children, but she had her very large extended family, and was always part of family events and occasions until it became physically impossible for her to participate anymore. Much as she did not want to be the last of her siblings to pass, she outlived them all by more than 10 years. She accepted this in her quiet way, but we know how much she missed them all. Therefore, we joyously celebrate her passing in the sure knowledge she is where she longed to be – in heaven with all those who were waiting for her with open arms.
1945 - 2010
I look back on memories I forgot I had, And at times you’ll smile even though it hurts so bad. My mom is a special woman and no one can take her place.
Love You Mom Rob
(250) 377-8225
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She is predeceased by her parents Frank and Barbara, and her brothers and sisters: Frank, Mike, Ernie (Norma), Fred (Hedy), Cee (Bert Gieselman), Tony, Laura, Jerry, Martha, Delores (Richard Petersen), George (Rose), Grace, and Elaine (Terry McDonnell), as well as six nephews, one niece and two great-nephews.
With great sadness we announce the death of John Charles McGill on October 17, 2016 at the age of 89. Lovingly remembered by his daughter Kathie (John) Danchak, grandchildren Matthew Danchak (Kamloops), Nicole (T.J.) Williams, Kaia and Jayce (Pinantan Lake), sister Alice Langstaff (Creston), nieces Belva (Jeremy) Lang, Rhonda (Dean) Backous.
She is survived by her sister-in-law Eileen (Tony Rositch d.), her cousin Caroline Haight, and many nieces and nephews, to the 3rd and 4th generations. We will miss her, none more so than her niece Regena Cameron. The Prayer Service will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 6 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 635 Tranquille Road, Kamloops, and Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, November 7 at the Church, Fr. Paul Simms officiating. Interment will be at the Hillside Cemetery. We extend our sincere thank you to all the wonderful staff at Pine Grove – you are loving, caring angels and Aunty Marie was so blessed and grateful for your kindness to her during these past 15 months. We also thank all the staff of Chartwell (Renaissance) where Marie lived for 9 years before Pine Grove. You, too, showed her such love and she had a good life there. A very special thank you to Dr. Mavis Hollman for all you did for and on behalf of Aunty Marie. We consider you to be one of our family. Donations can be made in Aunty Marie’s name to Our Lady of Perpetual Help School, St. Ann’s Academy or The Canadian Diabetes Association. Flowers gratefully declined. Condolences may be expressed to the family from www.kamloopsfuneralhome.com
250-554-2577
Predeceased by parents John and Emily McGill, wife Kay (Kamloops), son Danny (Sicamous), half-brother Orlie McGill (Oklahoma), half-sister Reland Plumb, niece Doreen Potts (Mission) and brother-in-law Rod Langstaff (Creston). Dad was born in Veteran, AB on June 26, 1927 and journeyed with his family to Alder Flats, AB to farm. A firm believer in hard work, he later found himself in the logging industry working at sawmills and logging camps where he met and married the camp cook, Kay. Together they settled in Sicamous where dad played an active part in fighting forest fires in the Shuswap area and in reforestation programs including tree planting. He often went back to check on his ‘charges’ to see how they were growing. Fishing was also a passion with dad and he sure knew where the ‘big fish’ hung out in Shuswap Lake. We were often treated to his smoked, pickled and just plain delicious Kamloops and Grey trout. After a move to Kamloops to be closer to Kay (Overlander Extended Care), Dad loved long walks in the downtown core and clocked enough kilometres to cross Canada and back. Often he would pick up an empty bottle or two and became a regular at General Grants; first in the morning line with his lot all counted and clean. A quiet, unassuming man, he liked to read the bible and loved Psalms 37:11, the promise of an earthly paradise of peace. Until we see you there Dad, love you so much! Many thanks for your awesome support Dr. Tracey Smillie. You helped us at every turn in the road. Thanks to Dr. Faddegon, Paul Palmer (KFH), staff (special thanks, Serena) and residents (puzzle-room friends, best bud, Bud T.) of Riverbend Manor. No service by request. Arrangements entrusted to Kamloops Funeral Home, 250-554-2577.