HIS FAMILY
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PATRICIA ANNE GROZELLE
Freddies second wife who happily helped him raise his family.
It is with heavy hearts that the family announces the passing of Patricia Grozelle, surrounded by her family, on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2012 at La Verendrye Hospital in Fort Frances, Ont.
Pat was born Dec. 19, 1939 in Fort Frances to the late Mat and Anne Decker. She lived in Fort Frances all of her life.
As a young woman, she worked for various local companies, including the paper mill, post office, and as a nurse’s assistant at La Verendrye Hospital.
In 1974, she met Fred Grozelle and knew she had met her soulmate. They brought their families together under one roof and she took on the task of being a full-time wife and mother.
She loved being home with their children; she made them the centre of her world. As they grew and left her nest, making families of their own, she was thrilled by the arrival of each grandchild and great-grandchild.
Failing health forced Pat to move to Rainycrest, where she made many friends that became a part of her extended family, and she thought the world of both the nurses at Rainycrest and the dialysis nurses at La Verendrye Hospital. Each one earned a special place in her heart.
She leaves behind her husband, Fred; children, Dale Miller, John Grozelle (Mabel), Carla (Jeff) Weir, and Michael Grozelle; grandchildren, John Grozelle Jr., James Grozelle, and Jennifer (Rob) Ducharme; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
She also will be missed by Fred’s family; Doug and Lois Medhurst; Claudia Butler; and family friend, Winnie Sinclair.
Pat was predeceased by her parents, Mat and Anne; and one sister, Laura Coles.
The honourary pallbearers will be Pat’s family, friends, as well as the nurses from the La Verendrye Dialysis Unit.
In memoriam donations may be made to Friends of Animals Foundation,
Online condolences may be offered at www.greenfuneralhomefortfrances.com
HUBERT MEDHURST
Freddies Stepfather
Hubert Medhurst passed away Thursday, Jan. 2, 2014.
He was born in McIrvine on April 25, 1908, the youngest of five children, to Charlotte (Lottie Smeeth) and George Medhurst.
He was raised by his aunt and uncle, Polly and Charles Smeeth. He and his brother, Jesse, then stayed in Fort Frances, Ont. when his dad moved to England with the three older siblings, who all predeceased him.
Except for a brief period in Calgary, Alta., Hubert lived in the Fort Frances area all his life.
His first job as a young lad was being the water boy for the men installing, by hand shovel, the sewer and water lines down Scott Street. His dad was the first foreman.
He then began work at the paper mill in 1929 as a general labourer, later becoming a machinist, machine shop foreman, and safety supervisor.
He was a charter member of the IAMAW union and was active in various safety programs at the mill, retiring in 1970.
Hubert was predeceased by his first wife, Kathleen O’Connell, in 1987 and his second wife, Clara Beck, in 2012.
He also was predeceased by his grandson, Raymond John Medhurst; son-in-law, Harry Walden; and stepson, Fred Grozelle.
Hubert is survived by his son, Douglas (Lois) Medhurst of Fort Frances, Ont., and daughter, Pat Walden of Kelowna, B.C.
Also surviving are his grandchildren, Paul (Lorri) Medhurst of Squamish, B.C. and their children, Jenny, Kelsey (Brad), and Travis; Kathleen-Anne (Ted) Scholten of Fort Wayne, Ind. and their children, Joshua and Jeremy; Albert (Gina) Walden of Kelowna, B.C. and their children, Jenny (Mark) and family, Kristen (Jim) of Vancouver, B.C., adopted son, Jamie, of Grassy Narrows Reserve, and children, Ethan and Tyrell; Tom Walden of Toronto, Ont. and his family, Jorgen and Swen; and Shelly (Peter) Stewart of Ottawa, Ont. and their daughter, Lisa (Eric) and family.
Also surviving are step-grandson, John Grozelle (Mabel) and their family; step-granddaughter, Carla (Jeff) Weir of Falkland, B.C. and their family; and step-grandson, Michael Grozelle of Winnipeg, Man. and his family.
Hubert also is survived by his stepson, Bob (Barb) Beck; and step-grandchildren, Cindy (Greg) Allan and family, Don (Rose) Beck and family, and Debra (Wade) Perusse and family.
Hubert and Clara spend many hours working and enjoying the social life they found at the Sister Kennedy Centre. After Clara passed away, it became his sole outlet to enjoy life playing cards and being with friends.
In October, he became the first recipient of the Sister Kennedy Senior Citizen of the Year Award for 2013.
A time to reminisce by friends and relatives will take place Friday, Jan. 10, 2014 at 10 a.m. at the Sister Kennedy Centre (401 Nelson St.)
CLARA MEDHURST (BECK)
I am not sure how Freddie fits in with Clara as Clara was Huberts second wife.
Tuesday, 20 March 2012 – 12:15pm
It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Clara Medhurst, 99, of 960 First St. E., Fort Frances, Ont., on Monday, March 19, 2012 at La Verendrye General Hospital in Fort Frances.
Clara was born Feb. 5, 1913 in Roblin, Man. to the late Thomas and Catherine Urbanski. She moved to Fort Frances in 1935.
Clara was united in marriage to William (Bill) James Beck on May 24, 1931. On Nov. 29, 1979, her husband, Bill, passed away. On Nov. 25, 1988, Clara married Hubert Medhurst and has lived in Fort Frances since.
Clara was an extraordinary mother and grandmother. She was always caring for someone she loved. She always said she wanted to be a nurse and it showed. Whenever anyone needed to be nursed back to health, she was there doing it.
She was strong all her life and worked hard; from a young girl working on the fields of the farm to working alongside her husband in the taxi business. She also enjoyed the outdoors; hunting and fishing with Bill.
She did all this while watching over her grandchildren. She always has been there for her family. She was so proud of her grandchildren, and she was happiest when she had all her family around her.
After losing Bill, Clara was lucky enough to meet Hubert Medhurst. They were together always. They enjoyed many hours at the Sister Kennedy Centre playing cards and socializing with friends.
Grandma loved to tell stories. Now we get to tell hers.
She was predeceased by her first husband, William (Bill) James Beck, on Nov 29, 1979; daughter-in-law, Celeste Beck; step-grandson, Jamie Onichuk; two sisters, Ann Bryski and Mary Pelech; and four brothers, Ben, Stanley, Wally, and Frank Urbanski.
Clara is survived by her husband, Hubert Medhurst of Fort Frances, Ont.; one son, Robert (Bob) Beck and wife, Barb, of Fort Frances, Ont.; three grandchildren, Cindy and husband, Greg Allan, Don Beck and wife, Rose, and Debra and husband, Wade Perusse, all of Fort Frances, Ont.; great-grandchildren, Amanda Joel Allan, Celeste Dannielle Perusse, Steven Michel Beck, and Robert Wade Perusse; step-grandchildren, Brandi Caputo and husband, Jon, and Eric Onichuk; step-daughter, Pat Walden, and step-son, Douglas Medhurst and wife, Lois, of Fort Frances, Ont.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A funeral service for family and friends will be held Friday, March 23, 2012 at 2 p.m. at Green Funeral Home in Fort Frances, Ont. with Pastor Brian Keffer officiating.
Interment will take place in Holy Cross Cemetery in Fort Frances, Ont..
The pallbearers will be Douglas Medhurst, Greg Allan, Wade Perusse, Steven Beck, Robert Wade Perusse, and Don Beck.
The honourary pallbearers will be family and friends.
Should family and friends so desire, in memoriam donations may be made to the Sister Kennedy Centre c/o Green Funeral Home, P.O. Box 427, Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 3M8.
Online condolences may be offered at www.greenfuneralhomefortfrances.com
ANNIE O’CONNELL
Annie was Mary’s sister, Freddies, birth mother
Annie O’Connell of Rainycrest Home for the Aged, 550 Osborne St., Fort Frances, Ont., passed away suddenly at her residence Thursday, April 23, 1998.
She was born March 30, 1908 in Big Fork, Ont. to the late Patrick and Mary O’Connell.
Annie recently celebrated her 90th birthday.
Annie attended school in Big Fork. In her earlier years, she was a volunteer Girl Guide leader. She also worked in housekeeping for the priests in Atikokan, Ont., and later as waitress at the New Lunch Cafe in Fort Frances until her retirement in 1973.
Following her retirement, Annie moved to Green Manor, where she resided for many years. She was an active member of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, the Catholic Women’s League, and the Royal Canadian Legion Br. 29.
For enjoyment, Annie loved to do needlepoint and embroidery work. Throughout the years, Annie also loved to travel, and had travelled to Ireland, and toured the United States and Canada.
She was predeceased by four brothers, Roy, Dan, Huey, and Stanley O’Connell; two sisters, Nellie Medhurst and Francis Burke; and three siblings in infancy.
Annie is survived by her loving nephews, Fred Grozelle and wife, Pat, and John Grozelle and wife, Mable, and their three children, John Jr., James, and Jennifer, all of Fort Frances, Ont.; her niece, Carla Grozelle, of Armstrong, B.C.; nephews, Mike Grozelle of Winnipeg, Man., Dale Miller of Thunder Bay, Ont., and Doug Medhurst and wife, Lois, of Fort Frances, Ont.; and by many other nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held Monday, April 27, 1998 at 10 a.m. at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Fort Frances. Father Lawrence Conlon O.M.I. will officiate, with interment in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Fort Frances.
Honourary pallbearers will be all of her family and friends.
A memorial service will be held Wednesday, March 7, 2012 at 2 p.m. at the Fort Frances Evangelical Covenant Church in Fort Frances, with Pastor Ken Johnson officiating.
Cremation has taken place, and a private family interment at Riverview Cemetery in Fort Frances will be held.
If friends so desire, in memoriam donations may be made to the Fort Frances Evangelical Covenant Church, 1027 King’s Highway, Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 2X6.
