Franklyn Atkins
We are sad to announce the passing of Franklyn Atkins, who passed away on August 22, 2024.
A memorial and funeral service will be held at the Montreal West Church of God of Prophecy at 5255 de sorel on September 14th at 10:30 am.
Remembering
Ruby Adele Chase
Sunset: September 10, 1991
Dear Mother
You are not forgotten,
Though on earth you are no more,
Still in our memory, you are with us,
As you always were before.
Always remembered by your loving daughter Yvonne, son-in-law Marston, grandchildren, great grandchil¬dren, family and friends
Merville Stanley Coppin
September 1945-Sept 2001
In loving memory of our beloved brother, Uncle, Great Uncle, Nephew, Nieces and other family members.
Each day we think and speak of you. The things you remind us of so fondly.
You are always in our thoughts, your forever smile and your Statuesque presence.
Missed by family and friends, Rudy, Jeffery and Lorna
Sandra Gabriel
With heavy hearts, we mourn the untimely passing of our dear daughter, sister, niece, family and friend Sandra Gabriel who passed on September 1, 2024 from a massive stroke. Sandra was 45 years young with an unmatched vibrant energy, enthusiasm, and praise for God. She embraced life with her infectious spirit and her passion to use her light to help others.
Sandra’s passing leaves an immense void in the hearts of her parents Celia Baptiste-Gabriel and Philip Gabriel, brother Wayne Gabriel,and three nephews Jayden, Isaiah, and Noah Gabriel, uncle & aunts, extended family members, many friends, sisters’ in prayer, colleagues and all who knew her. She was born and raised in Montreal, and moved to Toronto in 2002 where she devoted the following 22 years to building an entrepreneurial career in marketing and communications, a life of praise and worship, and supporting the Black community in many ways. Sandra was also a Stage 4 Cancer Warrior who courageously embraced life fully.
Memorial Service Details:
Saturday, September 14, 2024
Viewing: 12:00 – 1:00pm
Service: 1:00 – 2:00pm (in-person & online)
DeStefano Funeral Home, Celebration & Reception Centre
1289 Keith Ross Dr Oshawa, ON 1LH 7K4
Retinella Adella Alexander
Sunrise: Dec 14, 1950 – Sunset: Aug 2, 2024
Adella Alexandra, a remarkable woman from the small town of Nine Miles in Saint Ann’s Jamaica, has made significant contributions to her community. The village is notably the birthplace, childhood home, and final resting place of the legend Bob Marley, to whom Adella is related as a second cousin through Bob Marley’s mother.
Born on December 14, 1950, Adella, also known as Clara, was the daughter of the late Cleveland Alexander and Edna Campbell. She attended Stephanie All-Age School, where her journey of compassion and service began. Throughout her life, she witnessed the hardship and struggles faced by the children in her community, inspiring her to make a difference.
After moving abroad to Canada, Adella never forgot the challenges the children back home endured. Determined to help, she started an annual campaign dedicated to supporting the children of Nine Miles. Every year she returned to the village, bringing clothing, food, and organizing small celebrations to make the children feel special and loved.
Her dedication in tireless efforts did not go unnoticed. In recognition of her significant impact, the community honored her by renaming Rhoden Hall to Simms Run Street (or Avenue), a testament to the legacy she has created in Nine Miles.
Adela passed away on August 2, 2024, leaving behind her four sisters, four brothers, two sons Junior Anthony and Garfield, four grandchildren, and three great grandchildren, along with many cousins, nieces, and nephews. Her family and friends will never forget her love, kindness, an unwavering commitment to her community.
Though she is gone, her legacy lives on, and may her soul rest in peace.
Jennifer Lee Smith
1968-2024
It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Miss Jennifer Lee Smith on Septemer 4th, 2024, at the age of 55.
Cherished mother of Brandon (Brittany), devoted grandmother of Amiyah, Aleena and Aveyah Smith. She will also be deeply missed by her brothers, Darwin (Susan) , Stephen (Natalie), her parents Lynda Joanna and Charles A. Smith, her nieces Shelby and Olivia, as well as her partner Moses, and many relatives and friends.
The family will receive condolences on Friday, September 13th, 2024 from 2pm to 5pm at Yves Legare Pierrefonds.
The family would like to extend their gratitude to the doctors and nurses from the MUHC for their wonderful support and care.
Remembering My Big Brother SonSon
Esmeralda M.A. Thornhill
Remembering My Big Brother Son Son…
My Big Brother Eliab Brathwaite— a.k.a. Sammy or Sam— was affectionately and aptly called SonSon because he was a good son who honoured both his parents, especially our mother whom he cherished— unapologetically. The oldest of eight siblings, nei-ther talker nor extrovert, SonSon was at peace in his own solitude. He genuinely adored his German shepherd, Prince— source of much pride and sheer joy. Essentially, SonSon in many ways was an unheralded protector and selfless contributing provider for our family.
Like five of us, SonSon was home-birthed in rural Drax Hall, St George, Barbados. He attended the Modern High School, and as a little girl, I remained awestruck — at his khaki school uniform, at his many textbooks which he tolerated me leafing through for pictures, and at the public bus he took to town every schoolday. The “polo” (popsicle) he bought on the first day to bring home for me melted in his pocket, earning him the nickname “Polo-in-Pocket.”
Our family of eight emigrated to Canada in staggered arrivals: Olrick, our father 1956, my Mother and I three months later, with the remaining children entrusted to the care of Mammy, our maternal grandmother. Patrick and Patricia arrived together in the Spring, followed by Peter at Christmas. SonSon the eldest, with David the youngest, were the last to come and complete our immediate family— until twin girls, were born shortly thereafter in Montreal.
For toddler David, Caregiver “YunYun” represented his entire world — mother, father, Family… safety, comfort, familiarity…. and a clinging David followed “YunYun” every-where like a shadow.
SonSon was immediately enrolled at the High School of Montreal where, like count-less Black students before and after him, he experienced culture shock and racism in the classroom. SonSon recounted how he would remain quiet in class and not raise his hand because: “I know the answer and that is enough for me. I do not have to show or prove that I know the answer.” Noticing that SonSon would not raise his hand, one teacher targeted him with a particularly difficult question. SonSon promptly responded giving the correct answer and, completely taken aback, the teacher snapped: “How come you know that?”
After High School, SonSon advanced to Auto-mechanics studies at the trade school on St Denis/Pine. He nurtured such passion for auto-mechanics that despite a lifelong stutter, he would wax eloquent on cars as he became our “go-to expert ” for any auto-mobile related question or problem. A committed car aficionado, with the years Son-Son expanded his knowledge and boasted a long fleet of successively owned vehi-cles, each for its unique appeal— Studebaker, Rolls Royce, Mercedes, Cadillac..…
Son Son was hard-working. During his teen years he supplemented the household in-come working part-time as bicycle delivery boy for Corona Grocery. He often regaled us with stories about his customers, many of whom showered him with gifts and tokens of appreciation at Christmas. After graduating, SonSon was employed by Champlain Motors in Verdun before he eventually moved on to manage a profitable downtown Stanley Street parking lot for his employer who trusted him totally.
When SonSon moved into his own apartment, we siblings would pay him Sunday visits with the young twins. Taking the bus to the Plateau Mont Royal district was for us quite the outing! He would proudly present us to his flat mates and we would update him on all the home-front news. Then he would treat us all to dinner at one of his preferred restaurants— always a high point since our Big Brother was no great chef!
Later on, SonSon carefully ensured that he spent regular quality time with his sisters— whether it was Sunday evenings taking young adult Patricia to the Park Avenue club owned by one of his friends, or monthly Sunday outings with the twins. After Church, Julia and Diana would leave our mother and together, take the Metro from Lionel Groulx to Peel Station where SonSon would be awaiting them, ready for an afternoon of fun together. This playful side also made him relatable to his young nieces and nephews.
Ever ready and willing to accommodate others, SonSon would cheerfully agree to pickups and drop-offs, shuttling family and friends back and forth for visits and holiday events. My trustworthy Big Brother was the “passepartout” that for me and my girl-friends opened doors to social events such as High School graduation dance, neigh-bourhood parties, and discotheques.
When family discord resulted in our parents separating and the family house in Lon-gueuil was sold off with three children still living at home, my Big Brother SonSon stepped up and stepped back in to help. He bought a house in Greenfield Park to provide a home for our mother, his twin siblings, and himself. Back then he told me definitively that the property deed would remain in his name to shelter it from any potential seizure, but: “It will be her house!”
My Big Brother’s priorities were crystal clear: Take care of his mother and minor sib-lings, go to work, and work hard. His routine and rituals were simple. He practised body building, went fishing with his buddy and mentor Fred, and would walk and play with his dog Prince at every opportunity. Avid consumer of science fiction and detec-tive stories, he amassed a library of novels featuring preferred authors like Dean Koontz. And every weekend, SonSon would wash down and gas up our mother’s car, readying it for her Sunday Church-going.
Late one work night my Big Brother’s life was irrevocably changed. While closing up, SonSon was violently assaulted, severely battered, and robbed— with life-altering impact on his physical, neurological and emotional health. This triggered two succes-sive strokes that affected and reduced his mobility, exacerbated his existing speech impediment, and made him gravitate increasingly towards a more reclusive lifestyle.
Our Big Brother found joy in the simple things Life offered. By nature private, he nevertheless could relish a hearty laugh. A faithful fan of Motown music, he perfect-ed James Brown moves, enjoyed comedy and game shows, certain animated films and kung fu movies with Bruce Lee. His radio was always tuned to CJAD’s public informa-tion and open line shows. SonSon also delighted in his network of friends —Dougie, Larry, John— and downtown associates from Chinatown and the restaurants and clubs he frequented. SonSon nurtured a penchant for custom-made suits which he would don after Sunday family dinner, and decked in sartorial splendour, he would set off downtown for the evening. Gastronomically speaking, my Big Brother liked Cheerios, Nutella spread, cherry tomatoes, julie mangoes, pig tail, ham, Bajan salt bread, soup with cornmeal dumplings, egg noodles with shrimp, and souse! —although he detest-ed onions.
My Big Brother was a a good son, a dependable, caring brother, and a loyal and kind individual. Keen and quiet observer of people, he was self-disciplined, and ever- thoughtful of others. In many ways, as the eldest child, he was surrogate parent to all of us. Never strident, he avoided strife and argument. An independent and industrious man with a deeply rooted work ethic, he was mindful and respectful of the difficulties and taxing toil of our mother. SonSon was a man both of principle and of such filial devotion that on more than one occasion he was disparaged, censored, and vilified by others because of the way(s) he assertively chose to honour both his parents— espe-cially our mother. SonSon was endowed with integrity, loyalty and a selfless generosi-ty of spirit that enabled him to lift up and uplift our family.
My Big Brother SonSon was doled a rough Life path to navigate, yet he did not be-come embittered, and was never known to lash out with acrimony against anyone. Never cruel, vengeful, or intimidating, he was compassionate and supportive. He was a gentle soul who did no harm. In his steady, quiet, unglamorous way, he resolutely stepped out of his own pain to absorb that of our family in myriad ways — as Son, Brother, Surrogate Parent, Uncle, Cousin, Godfather, Chaperone, Confidant, Advisor, Friend and Provider.
During my last visit—seven days before he passed—I witnessed with heavy and fore-boding sadness that my Big Brother no longer had any appetite—either for food, or for Life. I console myself by accepting with gratitude how blessed I am to have been able to give him flowers while he was alive.
Rightly and richly deserving of respite and repose, my Big Brother SonSon now rests in eternal peace.
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