Obituaries
Edgar Cripps
January 30, 1960 - January 30, 2007
Edgar
was the second eldest of five children. Edgar was a great big
brother, cousin and uncle. He often spent his free time with
younger relatives taking them to the CNE,
Centre
Island,
everywhere. Edgar always had infinite patience with children
and had a rare ability to relate to them and bring them joy.
Edgar had quite a large extended family and we all remember
him as someone who would never do a mean thing to anyone and
was always willing to help you out in any way he could.
Although
we knew he was working with the Society of St. Vincent de
Paul, Edgar was a quiet person, so we had no idea of how big a
part he was playing, but that's Edgar, not boastful or proud.
Being a part of St. Vincent de Paul was Edgar's life work. We
feel he was a perfect ambassador for the Society of St.
Vincent de Paul: he never judged others and never tired of
trying to help others. Edgar will be sadly missed by his
entire family.
Caroline
Ferris, Edgar’s sister
In
addition to his many years of service to those in need through
the Society, Edgar was also the one who kick started a rebirth
of SVDP at St. Cecilia's Parish. That was Jan. 27/97. He was
our president for the first two terms 1997 to 2002 & then was
elected again Jan. 2006. He enjoyed the bundle weekends &
insisted on being at the truck the entire two days. He also
biked to Marygrove Camp one weekend to raise funds. Also he
attended the spring rake-a-thons at the camp.
What a
guy!
Robert Bechtel, Treasurer, St. Cecilia Conference
Vivian
Copeland
It is
with deep regret we report the death of one of our members,
Vivian Copeland at the age of 82. on July 26, 2006. Vivian
was a longtime member since 1978.
She not
only brought food to those we serve but also compassion and
hope. She was a tremendous asset to the St. Vincent de Paul
Society and her presence will be sadly missed at St. Dominic
conference. Donations have been made to The Society in her
name.
We ask
you to remember Vivian in your prayers.
Vern Moore
On May11, Vern Moore was called home to
his Lord. He was born in Toronto on September 23, 1922. After
graduating from high school, he served two years in the army
during World War 11. On his return home he entered the
newspaper media business. He married Lenore Hayes in 1948 and
together they raised 4 children: Rev. Thomas Moore, Patricia,
Neil and Jim.
He loved the newspaper business and
excelled in it. Vern’s career led him to become National
Advertising Manager for Ottawa Le Droit, a French daily
newspaper. He retired from there after forty years of service.
For many years he was Chairman of the
Board of Providence Villa and Hospital. He was also a member
of the Board of the Council of Catholic Charities of Toronto
and he served as Director of Public Relations for the Canadian
Red Cross Society, organizing, among other things, the Mayor’s
Blood Donor Clinic. He also delivered Meals on Wheels in East
York. He was a member of the Serra Club of Toronto and a
member of the Equestrian Order Of the Knights of the Holy
Sepulchre.
Vern loved The Society of St Vincent de
Paul and all that it stands for. He considered it his special
Vocation in life and worked tirelessly in the service of the
poor. He was a founding member of Our Lady of Fatima
Conference in Scarborough and was the first President of that
conference. He was also an active member of Scarborough
Particular Council, serving on the Executive. He was Vice
President of the Board of Toronto Central Council and for many
years represented Toronto on the executive of Provincial
Council. Vern’s professional skills in the media
communications field came to the attention of the Society’s
National Council and he was invited to serve on the Board
National Council as Director of Communications and Public
Relations. He served in that capacity for two - five year
terms. During that time he was the Editor of the Society of St
Vincent de Paul’s National Magazine. He continued to work at
the conference level throughout his retirement years visiting
families in need, a work that he considered to be the most
important work of the Society of St Vincent de Paul.
Vern was a special person and he will be
greatly missed by the countless number of people that he
touched.
Vern
, requiescat in pace
In Memory of
June Mary O'Brien
June passed away at her home on Sunday,
February 12th 2006.
June was a committed and dedicated
Vincentian who devoted herself to many positions in the Holy
Name Conference. Se joined our conference in 1992 and
became our treasurer in 1997. In January 2005, June was
elected president, until her illness required her to step down
from the position.
June was a kind, gentle, devoted and caring
Vincentian.
She will be sadly missed by her fellow
Vincentians at Holy Name Conference.
May she rest in peace.
Dennis Hutcheon
Dennis was born on June 25, 1926 in the home of his parents
on Hillsdale Avenue East, in Toronto, Ontario. He
attended Maurice Cody Public School. Unfortunately, I do
not know where he attended high school. Each year Dennis
and his two brothers went up to Barrie, Ontario, to stay with
their aunt and her family, for the summer. The boys
learned to swim in Kempenfelt Bay.
He was called up to serve during WWII and received an
honorable discharge after the war. He took advantage of
the Government assistance offered to soldiers and attended
Trinity College of the University of Toronto. He studied
English literature. Eventually, he obtained a Masters
Degree (1968). In 1950, he began teaching high school
English and taught in a number of districts throughout
Ontario. He was finally able to obtain a position in
Toronto at Earl Haig High School. He rose to become the
Assistant Head of English and also developed a course on
Communication and the Media which examined the theories and
ideas of Marshall McLuhan.
His mother had been Anglican. His younger brother, Terry
converted to the Roman Catholic Church in the 1960's.
His older brother, George, converted some time later.
About the time he moved to the Annex, Dennis began instruction
under the guidance of Sister Bede Sullivan, and on April 21,
1973, he was baptized by Rev. Coughlin into the Roman Catholic
Church at St. Basil's Church. He became an active member
of the parish.
Dennis Hutcheon was one of the pioneer
members who set up the Conference of the Society of St.
Vincent de Paul at the St. Basil's Parish. He was a member
since 1984. Dennis always wanted to work "behind the
scenes". He maintained a low profile but was
very committed in performing all tasks assigned to him with
great devotion. Dennis hardly missed any house visits on
Mondays, as this day was assigned to him and Verne LeFave. He
also filled in for members who could not do their house
visitation shift. At Christmas time, Dennis would see to it
that toys from the CHUM Christmas Wish were collected and
distributed to indigent children in the St. Basil parish
area. On Bundle Sundays, Dennis always helped in loading up
the truck with donations that have been stocked in
Conference's office at the church basement. As well, he would
sit by the truck and load all other donations offered by
churchgoers. Dennis looked too fragile for this job, but he
just carried on. After his heart attack, he continued to
stand by the Poor Box after Masses to solicit donations.
Eventually, he had to quit his active work but continued to
support the Conference financially and certainly, most
generously.
Dennis loved to travel. In their younger days, the
three brothers had rented cottages in Muskoka. Good
food, good friends and good music, made these trips memorable.
Dennis bought an MG and often traveled up to Montreal for the
weekend. He later gave up the MG but not the travel.
He would travel to Montreal two or three times a year;
often to New York; and to Europe every other year. He
visited England, France, Poland, Austria, Germany; he
especially loved Poland and Germany.
In 2004, Dennis sold his beloved "Box" but stayed in the
Annex; he moved into an apartment. Life continued on,
much as it had and Dennis enjoyed it to the fullest.
Dennis had a great sense of humor and enjoyed a good laugh.
His laugh was infectious.
Dennis died suddenly and unexpectedly on the evening of
February 20, 2006. His family and friends miss him very
much.
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