January 1^st 1933- November 21^st 2019

In the face of every type of pain, watching your mom die is like a pain of no other, in the early morning of Thursday November 21^st 2019 at 12:11 am, Mrs. Italia Morrone of Kamloops BC passed away at the age of 86 years old.  She is survived by her son Franco (Gail) Francis Morrone of Kamloops, daughter Maria (Neilsen) Morrone of Kelowna BC, her three grandchildren Sarah (Joe), Luigi and Joseph; great grandchildren Chloe and Deagan, and her sister Annina of Italy.  She was predeceased by her husband Luigi Morrone, who passed away of cancer on June 22, 1981 & her son Joseph Joe Morrone who passed away of heart disease attack on February 9^th 2011.

Italia was born on January 1, 1933 in Malito Calabria, Provincia di Cosenza Italy, the daughter of Giuseppe & Catarina Caputo. Her large family consisted of 10 siblings, Vicenzina, Gino, Annina, Emma, Armando, Maria, Attilio, Guerino, and Corrado.

On January 29^th 1955, Italia married the love of her life; Luigi Morrone who was born May 16^th 1935 in Cerisano Catanzaro Italy. They met in her hometown of Malito while Luigi was travelling thru to their family business cantina/market. It was love at first sight. Three years later, in 1958, they moved to start their new life and family in Canada, living with her brother Armando and Maria Caputo downtown Kamloops on Seymour Street for three years.  Here their first son Frank was born May 6^th 1960. They lived here until they could buy their first home on Nicola Street in 1962.  Here, their second son Joe was born March 3^rd 1964. Luigi continued to work hard as a bricklayer/construction worker and for the School Board District 73 while Italia devoted her life as wife, mother and caretaker of the home. Mom was an honourable wife and extraordinary mother.  Once they built their dream home in 1967 on Lethbridge Ave Northshore Kamloops, their daughter Maria was born June 15^th 1973.  When Luigi became ill with cancer, Italia became a fulltime caregiver for her sick husband as well as running the household and raising their three children. Italia never remarried after Luigi passed away, her loyalty was honourable and paramount. Italia moved into a mother and father role well aware of the demands of fulltime parenthood as a widow for 38 years.Read More & Leave Condolences »

It is with heavy hearts that the family of Anthonie “Tony” Tazelaar announces that he peacefully passed away at the age of 83, with his wife, Yvonne, and son, Tom, by his side on November 12^th, 2019.

Tony is mourned by his wife, Yvonne and children: Gerri (Allan) Toews; Bill (Brenda) Bristow; Don (Laura) Bristow; Diana (Greg) Cockwill; and sons Tom (Dina), Jim (La’Wanda), Marty (Joanne) and Rob (Shelley); sisters Mary Ekkel and Margaret Vriend. Also left to cherish his memory are 18 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his mother, Adriana van der Weele, father, Pieter Tazelaar, brothers Cor, Hank, and Dick, and granddaughter Summer Toews.

Tony was born in Wolphaartsdijk, Netherlands on June 6^th, 1936. After the death of his mother, in 1944, the family immigrated to Canada in 1948 and settled in Westlock, Alberta.

Tony eventually made his way to Kamloops where he met Yvonne and the couple started their family there. They then moved to Williams Lake where they made their home for the majority of his life.

Tony was a long-time employee at Pinette and Therrien Mills in Williams Lake, retiring in 1999.

Funeral services will be held at Kamloops Funeral Home, 285 Fortune Dr., on Friday, November 22^nd at 11:00 am, viewing prior to the service; Interment to follow at Hillside Cemetery in Kamloops. A ‘Celebration of Life’ is planned to be held in Williams Lake in the spring.

The family would like to extend their sincere appreciation to the doctors and medical staff at Royal Inland Hospital for the care they provided. In lieu of flowers, a donation to the charity of your choice would be appreciated.

We are sad to announce the passing of our beloved husband, father and friend.  Joe is survived by his loving wife Susan; son’s Steven (Christine), Mark (Sheri); four grandchildren (Sierra, Andrew, Eva, and Owen); Mother-in-law (Joan LaFave); siblings (Ivan, Marija, Andrej, and their families).  Joe is predeceased by his parents (Franc & Marija), brother Franc, and sister Antonija.

Joe was born February 3, 1937 in Petkovec, a small mountain village in Slovenia.  He was born at a time of world conflict that created unique hardships in many European countries.  At a young age Joe pondered his future in his native land and ultimately decided to seek a better life in Canada.

At the age of nineteen Joe escaped into Italy where he was able to leave the region on a ship named “Vulcania” destined for Halifax.  He arrived in Halifax on June 27^th, 1957 with a suitcase, a very small amount of money, no contacts, and no true comprehension of the English language.

Joe pursued work opportunities in Western Canada and made his way across the country.  Joe first found work with the railway in Northern BC and later moved into the forest industry in Sinclair Mills, near Prince George, BC.  During this time, like many immigrants, he worked hard to learn the language and the customs of his new country.  In 1959 Joe relocated to Kamloops where he pursued his brick and masonry trade until his retirement in 1997.  Joe had a strong work ethic and was very proud of his contributions to the growth and development of Kamloops and beyond.

In 1965 Joe met the love of his life, Susan.  Together they raised two sons Steven and Mark.  Joe’s family and friends were a very important part of his life.  Joe loved the outdoors and shared this passion with his family which likely influenced the resource management careers of both sons.

Next to family and friends, Joe’s favourite past-time was fishing the many local lakes.  There are few in this world who could spend as much time in a boat!

In Joe’s retirement years he was able to maximize his time on the water, visit with friends and travel abroad.  Joe truly optimized the opportunities afforded to him through his hard work in Canada.  That said, Joe was very proud of his Slovenian heritage and never forgot his roots.  There would be no question who Joe was supporting if there was a Slovenian Athlete or team on the TV!

Joe’s passing will leave a large void in our hearts, but his love and support of family and friends will never be forgotten.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada, found at https://www.llscanada.org would be appreciated.

Our family would like to thank everyone who supported us over the past 2 years.  A special “thank you” to Dr. Delorme (Kelowna), the medical staff at the Downtown Health Care Centre in Kamloops, RIH Cancer Clinic, RIH Lab Services, RIH Rapid Access Clinic, and the medical staff at Trinity Care (Overlander).

The family would like to extend an additional “thank you” to all that have sent messages of condolence through social media and e-mail.

A Celebration of life will take place on Saturday, November 23, 2019 at 2:00 pm. at Kamloops Funeral Home, 285 Fortune Drive.

It is with great love and sadness that we share the news of the passing of Alice Shelest.  Alice passed away  on November 1, 2019 in Kamloops, BC from complications in the final stage of Alzheimer’s.

Alice was born Lesia Olive Sorochan August 17, 1930 in Lamont, AB to Ukrainian Canadian parents.  As a young child, starting school was difficult for the shy young girl as she spoke little English.  Her family moved a few times but she found her ground in Prince George, along the way attending business college in Edmonton and serving as a civilian member stenographer of the armed forces.   She met Frank in Prince George, marrying in 1953 and they were blessed with their two children.

The family relocated to Needles, BC in 1957 and to Chase in 1959 where they stayed for many years to raise their family, living an active life until they found the need to move to Kamloops in 2014.

Mom was a fabulous homemaker, wife and mother.  She was a great cook, gardener, crafter and sewer.  Many will remember her decorating their wedding cakes, buying her amazing petit point and viewing award winning entries to area fall fairs.

Although she had a busy home life, she worked alongside Frank in their endeavours involving the community, Lady Lions, Lions, the Curling Club, Arthritis Society, Chase Queen’s Committee and the Salute to the Sockeye.  Alice was a charter member of the Chase Lady Lions and one of the first five women to be inducted into the Chase Lions Club.  She earned community recognition as Chase Citizen of the Year in 1998.  Many Lions awards made her proud and you would rarely see her without her small  Lions collar pin.

Alice had a strength and resilience that bode her well through her life and she would never back down from a planning challenge involving family or community event.  She enjoyed and valued the ‘coffees’ with friends and neighbours and the travels she and Frank took.  Offering particular peace were the short but meaningful times they spent together at Lion’s conventions and their intermittent camping trips.

Alice will be missed by her loving husband of 66 years, Frank and their children Sandy (Glenn) Vogstad of Kamloops, Rob (Sherree) of Princeton, her grandchildren Lee (Yuki) Vogstad, Tessa (Scott) Cooper, Jen Shelest and Nikki (Brad) Wutke, great-grandchildren, Lily, Dylan, Leland, Emily and Noah.  She was predeceased by brothers Robert and David, survived by her older brother Walter (Lucy) and sister Marie.  Alice was so lucky to have her many in-laws as best friends.  Many nieces and nephews will remember her smile and loving nature.

The family would like to thank the staff of Kamloops Seniors Village for their care and understanding of Mom’s needs.

In lieu of flowers donations in Alice’s memory can be made to the Alzheimer’s Society or Chase Lion’s Club, Box 12, Chase, BC  V0E 1M0.  No service at this time.

Noreen May Mather of Kamloops, BC passed away suddenly on October 22, 2019 at 72 years of age.  Survived  by her children, Christopher (Kathleen) Pardy and Kimberly Pardy of Kamloops, brothers, Ron Hendricks of Chilliwack and Dave Hendricks of Calgary, and many nieces, nephews and good friends.  She was predeceased by Will Mather, Mel Pardy, and her parents, Jake and Mary Hendricks of Castlegar.  Noreen spent her working years as a nurse at Royal Inland Hospital, as well as providing long term care for patients out of her home.  She loved travel, dogs, softball, cycling and camping.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:30pm on Sunday, November 10, 2019 at the Sandman Signature Hotel in the Savona Room in Kamloops, BC. Memorial donations may be made to the BC S.P.C.A.