Leo Alphonse Benoit passed away peacefully on Dec 6, 2020, at the age of 90 in Kamloops. He is survived by his loving wife of 69 years Maree Mary. Leo was born on January 25, 1930, in Terrace BC to Leon and Anna Benoit.

Leo is also survived by his children Elaine (Peter), Tom (Peggy), Keray (Marianne), Steven (Barb), and Moray. Also, his grandchildren Cody (Jacquie) Phillips, Amy Phillips, Petra (Mark) Hoosein, Michael (Helen) Boronowski, Brian (Jessie) leVann, Michael Benoit, Stephanie Benoit, Lachlan Benoit, Devon (John) Graham, Jason (Leah) Benoit, Jarrod (Satricia) Benoit, Hannah Benoit, Sophie Benoit. Leo and Maree also have 16 great-grandchildren.

Leo was the 6^th in a family of 10 children; Ovid, Ivan, Irene, George, Peter, Helene, Marianne, Speedy, and David. Born into the beginning of the “dirty thirties” Leo spent his time helping his mother tend the large garden and cooking on the woodstove, something he did all of his life. Raised on the banks of the Skeena River, he was taught to fish and hunt by his brother Ivan and continued to be an avid outdoorsman with an environmental conscience, which he passed on to his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Leo was a “working man” and was pulled out of school at age 12 to join his brothers in the logging industry with his first job horse logging “in behind” Smithers. At age 18 Leo joined the navy and was stationed in several naval ports including Victoria where he met and married Maree.

Leaving the navy with qualifications in heavy-duty mechanics and fuel injection he worked in many towns and cities throughout BC and Alberta with his young and growing family.

The family settled down in Williams Lake where all of the children graduated, and Leo and Maree started Northland Equipment and Rentals Ltd. They then sold the business and started their lifelong dream; the B7 Ranch at Meldrum Creek. Years later with the children leaving home they returned to town, Leo working for SD 24, running small businesses, building spec houses, and helping Maree look after the children in her daycare. Leo was active in the community with the Lions, Air Cadets, Scouts, and hockey teams.

Maree and Leo travelled around BC and the world to visit their children and then established a home overlooking McLeese lake. This was where the grandchildren formed fond memories of helping him in his garden, fishing, and playing competitive card games like crib. Leo and Maree eventually settled down in Kamloops to be close to Family. Leo’s greatest pride and legacy was his large and loving family.

There will be a gathering of family and friends next year when appropriate to remember Leo and celebrate his life.

Thank you to the staff at The Hamlets for looking after Leo.

Condolences may be sent to the family from

www.kamloopsfuneralhome.com

Our Beautiful Mom, Bernadette Marie (nee Thomas) passed away at the Overlander Personal Care Home in Kamloops, BC on Sunday, December 6, 2020 at 90 years of age. She is lovingly remembered by her children, Fernand (Linda), Laurent (Jackie), Gilles (Berthe), Jeremy (Missionary Priest in Madagascar), and Claire (John), Grandchildren Ryan (Angela), Jonathon (Megan), Chantal (Steve), Matthew (Jenny), Jamie, Madison & Mackenzie. Great Grandchildren, Damen, Garrett, Wyatt, Hunter, Mack, and Ruby.

Leaving behind Brothers and Sister; Arcade (Antonia),Antoine (Jeannette), Pierre (Claudette), Agnes and many nieces and nephews.

Mom was born in St-Isidore and was predeceased by husbands Romuald Morais and Edmond Paulin, son Reginald Morais and grandson Raynald Morais, three sisters Eugenie, Emerentienne, Clara, and three brothers Sylveste, Richard, Gerard.

Mom was very proud and always eager to help. She was very social and enjoyed get togethers with family and friends and loved to entertain at her home. There was always a place at her table and she  was loved by all that met her.

Mom was very proud to receive her 60 year pin with the Catholic Women’s League and was a member of the Women’s Auxiliary (Legion).Mom was so caring that it brought her to become a Home Care Worker for many years. She also took care of foster children, and for many years was a Mother to international high school students. Mom also spent much of her time visiting with the sick and shut-ins which brought her much peace.

A source of great joy to Mom was her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She lived a long and faithful life. She loved her family without exception, always worried about them and always had them at the fore front of her life. Her faith will always be here in our hearts. What is left is that we continue her legacy of being a loving family always united as one.

 A loving Mother so gentle and kind, what a wonderful memory she left behind.

We are saddened to share that our dad, Antal “Tony” Sorban passed away on December 2, 2020.  Tony was born on March 18, 1953 in Leanyfalu, Hungary.  His family immigrated to Canada in 1957.  

Tony enjoyed building his retirement home at Shuswap Lake.  He had a passion for cars and loved driving his Porsche.  Among his many interests were soccer, archery, golfing, fishing, kayaking, biking and pickleball.  

Tony will be dearly missed by his two sons, Joel and Ryan (Aimee), his two grandsons, Benjamin and Matthew, his brother, Imre (Sharon) and his 8 sisters, Eszter (Joseph), Boriska, Katalin (Rick), Erszebet, Anna (Bob), Sophia, Veronica and Victoria as well as many nieces and nephews.  Tony also leaves behind his loving border collie, Zack. 

A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, December 5, 2021 at 1:00pm at Westwood Plateau Golf and Country Club, 3251 Plateau Boulevard, Coquitlam, BC, V3E 3B8.  Please RSVP to Ryan at ryanijoyner@gmail.com. 

With great sadness we announce the peaceful passing of our dear Mother, Michelina Astorino (Grande), on December 3rd, 2020.

Michelina was born on January 28th, 1929, in Scigliano Cosenza, Italy. She is predeceased by her loving husband of 53 years, Mario Astorino.

Michelina will be dearly missed by her two daughters, Valerie (Gary) Kidd and Marialina (Rick) White. She also leaves to cherish her memory six grandchildren Ryan (Vicki), Aaron (Keri), Troy (Kyla), Natalie, Jessica (Joseph), and Nicole as well as nine beautiful great grandchildren Lynden, Kylan, Annabella, Olivia, Charlotte, Grace, Emery, Drayden,  Chaysen and her brother, Natalino (Amba) Grande.

We will always treasure many memories of our Mother enjoying her garden, cooking family dinners and laughing with her friends over coffee and cookies , her greatest joy were her grandchildren and great grandchildren who she showered the love and affection.

The family wishes to thank the caregivers at the Kamloops Adult Day Program where Michelina enjoyed many happy days. We also wish to thank Mom’s caregivers at Royal Inland Hospital and Ridgeview Lodge for the excellent care and compassion she received.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Royal Inland Hospital Foundation (rihfoundation.ca).

Arrangements entrusted to Kamloops Funeral Home.

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www.kamloopsfuneralhome.com

We are saddened to share that our dear mom Doreen left us December 2, 2020. She was always proud to share the story of her beginning as an Oven Door baby. She was born March 24, 1924 in their Saskatchewan farmhouse to Ida and William Oldhaver. Her twin brother did not live. The doctor said at 2 ½ pounds she probably won’t survive so put her in a shoe box on the oven door and against incredible odds she did survive for 96 years & 8 months!

Her life partner Cecil passed away 2 years ago just after their 71^st anniversary, August 2018. They fell in love during WWII after being neighbourhood friends from the time they were 10. Mom bravely followed dad on many fishing trips, their winter trips to California, many moves and building projects. Mom nursed our dad through many serious health issues. She truly was a faithful and loving wife.

Mom worked for Boeing in Richmond, BC building planes during the war. She took her teachers training at Normal School in Vancouver. She was so proud of being a teacher and taught in many different places, the last being Red Lake School and a small school on their ranch in Tranquille Valley in the Kamloops area. She was an extraordinary cook and baker, letter and diary writer, seamstress, gardener, rancher, mother, wife, grandma, foster mom, and business partner. Mom cooked delicious meals for everyone who came to their home. She cooked meals wherever they wandered in their camper van or trailers. She loved being a grandma and looked after her grandchildren when they came for weekends or extended stays. She cooked meals & cookies and delivered them to her sons and their children. She was exceptionally proud of her membership in many volunteer groups. She often was one of the original members and executive of the boards. One of her favourite places they lived was Parksville in Vancouver Island. Mom loved the small community, living on the ocean and going for walks along the beach. She left a piece of her heart there when they moved back to Kamloops. Mom wrote a daily diary on whatever was handy and kept track of meals, visitors, the weather, and what was happening. She wrote long letters to dad when he was away during the war and to Judy & Rick when they lived in the NWT and Yukon. We still have those diaries and letters to treasure.

Mom leaves to celebrate her life: sister Glady Blackwood, children Judy (Rick) Fehr, Calvin, Darryl, John (Elaine), grandchildren Kari (Mitch) Currie, Terry (Shantall), Brittney (Jon) Ekelund, Nicole (Curtis) Jansen, Will (Margo) Fehr, Caitlyn, Tyson (Kyla), great-grandchildren Maverick Currie, Leo & Griffin Fehr, Maddi & Brooklyn Ekelund. She was predeceased by her brother Alvin in 1997.

There will be a private graveside service and a celebration of life will be held when we can gather safely. It was mom’s wish that we gather in the summer when it is safe to travel.

Donations in lieu of flowers can be sent to the Arthritis Society, one of Doreen’s charities.

Messages of condolences can be sent to fehrjudy@gmail.com www.kamloopsfuneralhome.com