It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Wilbert Estwick Jonas, who left us peacefully on April 10, 2025, at the age of seventy-nine.

Born in Berbice, Guyana, Wilbert was lovingly raised by Alice and Charles, whose values and spirit he carried with him throughout his life.  Wilbert began his career as a teacher in Guyana.  He would later go on to study nursing in England.  This resulted in him dedicating his professional life to nursing, a field in which his calm demeanor and selfless nature made a meaningful impact on all who crossed his path.   He later made his home in B.C., Canada where he built a life grounded in care, community, and quiet devotion to his loved ones. He retired in his late sixties, leaving behind a legacy of compassion and service.

Known for his warm smile and quick wit, Wilbert found joy in simple pleasures—playing dominoes with Uncle Louie, tending to his fruit garden, watching award shows, and spending time with “his chaps.” A loyal sports fan, he cherished Canucks games and loved watching basketball at Browns with his son, Matthew.

Family was the heart of Wilbert’s world. He took immense pride in watching his children grow, explore, and establish themselves in different parts of the country and world. Nothing made him prouder than being able to provide what he lovingly called the “necessary” perks for his children, always ensuring they felt supported and cared for.

Wilbert was predeceased by his beloved parents, Alice and Charles Sr., as well as his brothers Charles Jr. and Leyland. He is survived by his devoted wife, Lucil; his children, Moreen, Lisa, and Matthew; his siblings, Neville Jonas and Roxanne Jonas; and a host of nieces, nephews, extended family, and cherished friends who will deeply miss his presence.

Wilbert lived a life of quiet strength and unwavering love. His influence and impact reached across borders, carried forward by the lives he touched and the family he nurtured. His memory will continue to inspire warmth, laughter, and togetherness.

Funeral to honour Wilbert will be held Friday, April 25 at 1:00 pm at St. Laurence Anglican Church, 825 St Laurence St, Coquitlam. If you wish to see Wilbert, please arrive early for his visitation at 12:00 pm, prior to his funeral. Interment at Robinson Memorial Park Cemetery immediately following his funeral, with a reception back at the church hall after his interment.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Diabetes Association of Canada.

It is with profound sorrow that we announce the sudden passing of Madison, beloved wife of Gregory McMann. Madison’s passing has left a deep hole in the hearts of her family: her husband, Gregory; her parents, Cheryl and Erwin Kathler; her brother, Jared; her husband’s parents, Tim and Judy McMann; her husband’s siblings, Brad (Jess) McMann and Karalyn (Tyler) Esau; and her nephews and niece, Isaac, William, Emma, and Joshua. While her time with us has been tragically cut short by a rare and aggressive cancer, her light will continue to shine in our hearts.

Madison was born in Squamish B.C. and grew up in Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam. Maddie was fond of music from a young age, playing piano, performing in high school musicals, and singing with her church worship team. Throughout these years, she enjoyed trips to Manitoba to visit extended family. She experienced her first trip on an airplane for a family trip to Disneyland. These adventures inspired a desire for travel in Maddie which she continued to pursue, most recently on family trips to Hawaii and Mexico.

Maddie lived life with a caring and creative heart, full of love and generosity, each of which reflected her love for her Lord. Maddie valued spending time with family and friends and delighted in being able to create a welcoming home where she and Greg could invite others to enjoy meals or spend time playing games. Maddie enjoyed the fun of attending soccer games, concerts, and theatre performances. She also spent time quietly enjoying her personal interests, which included researching family genealogy, jigsaw puzzling, and photography. Maddie began her career path working as a transcription proofer, and her drive and attention to detail pushed her to develop efficiencies which she carried to every workplace. As she grew professionally, she moved on to Executive Administrative Assistant and Head of Corporate Reporting positions.

Madison was predeceased by grandparents: Robert Schapansky, Sue and Fred Kathler. Maddie’s earthly journey has ended, but her spirit lives on in the hearts of those who loved her. We find comfort in knowing that she is now at peace in the arms of her Saviour. We celebrate her life and the lasting impact she had on all of us.

A service to celebrate Maddie and to reflect on the joy she brought into our world, will be held on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at 1:00 pm at The Ridge Church, 22155 Lougheed Hwy, Maple Ridge, B.C. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mennonite Disaster Service in her memory.

We love you, sweet Maddie, and we will miss you always. May God grant us peace and comfort in this time of sorrow.

Our hearts were broken when Vanessa passed from this world at the young age of 25. She fought a courageous battle against cancer with unwavering positivity. She was an old soul with young eyes, a vintage heart, and a beautiful mind.

Nessa was born in Kitimat. She made lifelong friends throughout her childhood while living in Kitimat, Nanaimo and Abbotsford. Her artistic and creative dreams began to flourish during this time. She was a passionate musician, dancer and graphic designer. Her hobbies were crocheting and baking. She put her heart into everything she made.

Vanessa met Carter, the love of her life, while attending the University of Fraser Valley. They married in 2022 in an intimate ceremony in Harrison Hot Springs where close family and friends celebrated their love and devotion to each other. They settled in Fort Langley with their beloved cats Cookie and Kiki.

Nessa dreamed of travelling the world with Carter and was overjoyed to celebrate their dream honeymoon in Los Cabos, Mexico in February.

She will be dearly missed by her husband Carter, mother Eva, father Jason, sister Annie (Kai), grandparents Donna and Harold, uncle Ryan, aunt Shelley, cousins Logan and Tyler, and her friends who became family.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Earthwise Society.

It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Ryszard Lech Podolski, who left this world too early on February 12, 2025 at age 70.

Richard was a social butterfly and loved to dance. He was a master craftsman and perfectionist in all projects he tackled. With his unique laugh and prankster personality he made some quality friendships with his colleagues at work and abroad. Rejoining the church later in life brought him many amazing experiences and closer to God which he cherished. He is survived by his four children, Monika, Kasia, Patrick (Sabrina), Jonathan (Tasia) and their mother, Grazyna Podolski,  his six grandchildren Madison, Noah, Caitlyn, Ethan, Logan and Aiden, brother Kazimierz and extended family in Canada and Poland.

“You ain’t nothin’ but a hound dog.”

Tatuś, we miss you and love you and wish we had more time.

Until we meet again, may you rest your soul in paradise. Amen.

Giglia will be missed by all who knew her.

She wrote this paragraph about herself in one of her notebooks:
”I was born in Caracas-Venezuela, at the end of the romantic 30s.
I like to travel a lot, and I have been lucky to know many countries and cities. Another thing I like a lot is listening to music. My favourite music is Argentinian, Mexican and Spanish.
Romantic music is my favourite, and to relax I prefer classical music.
While listening to the songs, I often sing them, which I enjoy very much. I also like to paint and do handicrafts”.

Giglia was a woman of strong will and unwavering determination.
She will set ambitious goals—many of them difficult to achieve—but she never gave up.
No matter the challenge, she gave her all, always persevering with grace and strength.
Her heart was as strong as was her spirit, and she dedicated her life to caring for her family and friends, forming deep and lasting bonds throughout her long journey.

Her faith in God and unyielding resilience helped her overcome the many obstacles that life placed in her path, yet she never allowed hardship to dim her joy. She embraced life fully, always finding beauty in the moments she was given.

In her final days, life may have taken someone very precious from her, but in return, it granted her countless blessings and joy until the last day.

Canada became her second home, welcoming her with open arms—a kindness for which she was forever grateful. In her notebook, she kept a quote that reflected her wisdom and perspective:
“Life doesn’t take things from you; it frees you from them so you can fly higher.”

And now, dear Giglia, it is your time to fly.
Many loved ones await you beyond this life, and one day, we will be reunited. Reyna Bella (our beautiful Queen), your presence will live on in the hearts of those who cherish you.

Your butterflies will continue to fly to many places, guiding you on your final journey.

Your daughter, who is still on this Earth, your son who is with you in heaven, and your beautiful new son, who gave you a new life until your last living day, will hold you in our hearts and spirits forever.

Your grandson, great-grandson, son-in-law, brothers, sisters, and dearest friends will forever keep your memory alive.

Beloved Gigi, you are loved beyond measure – always and forever.

__

Todos los que la conocieron la extrañaran.
Escribió este párrafo sobre sí misma en uno de sus cuadernos:

‘’Nací en Caracas-Venezuela, al final de los románticos años 30 . Me gusta mucho viajar y he tenido la fortuna de conocer muchos países y ciudades, otra cosa que disfruto mucho es oír música, mi música favorita es la argentina, mexicana y española. La música romántica es mi preferida y para relajarme prefiero la música clásica. Muchas veces mientras oigo las canciones la canto, cosa que disfruto mucho. Otra cosa, me gusta pintar y hacer manualidades’’

Giglia fue una mujer de una voluntad de hierro, que logró muchas metas y muchas de estas muy difíciles de alcanzar, pero no desfallecía en su intento, ponía todo su esfuerzo, no importaba lo difícil que fuese ella lo intentaba. Siempre estaba pendiente de su familia y amigos, logró cultivar muchos amigos durante su larga vida.

Su fortaleza y fe en Dios la ayudaron a superar muchos obstáculos que le puso la vida, pero logró vivir con plenitud.

Al final de su vida, esta le quitó un bien muy preciado y pero le dio muchas otras cosas. Canadá fue su segunda patria y le abrió los brazos, y lo agradeció mucho.

Tenía una cita anotada en su cuaderno. ‘’La vida no te quita cosas, te libera de cosas para que vueles mas alto’’

Giglia vuela alto, te estaban esperando muchos seres queridos, pronto o tarde estaremos compartiendo contigo Reyna bella. Tus mariposas seguirán llegando a muchos sitios y te acompañarán a tu último destino

Tu hija desde la tierra, tu hijo desde el cielo, tu hermoso nuevo hijo que te dio la vida, tu nieto, tu bisnieto, tu yerno , tus hermanas y hermanos, tus amigos siempre te recordaremos. Por siempre y para siempre Gigi amada

James Douglas Siddall, 71, passed away on January 13, 2025. Jay was born and raised in Trail, B.C., and lived for many years in Vancouver, Coquitlam & Pitt Meadows. He was a life-long artist, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter, especially enjoying playing his saxophone in recent years. Jay also enjoyed tie-dying and painting, producing and donating over two-hundred tie-dye t-shirts for his friends, family & local community.

Jay was predeceased by his parents Dorothy and Bill, and his sister Shirley. He is survived and missed dearly by his loving wife Cathy, his sister and brother Patty and Robin, his only daughter Jayne, her partner Alan, and his two grandchildren Lachlan and Sinead.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations in kind be made to the Parkinson Society of British Columbia.

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Rene Gauthier, a beloved father, grandfather, and friend, who left us peacefully. Rene lived a remarkable life filled with integrity, kindness, and joy. Born into a military family, he moved across Canada during his childhood, eventually settling in British Columbia in 1967.

Rene’s journey began as a young paperboy for the Toronto Star, which sparked his adventurous spirit. After relocating to B.C., he and his father opened a gas station, Rene’s Shell Service. Shortly after, he was introduced to Sun Life of Canada where he spent 38 successful years, acquiring a passion for traveling that enriched his life and that of his family, who often accompanied him on his journeys.

Upon his retirement, Rene continued to embrace life with enthusiasm. He loved spending his time on a friend’s orchard and winery and also delivered RVs for over 15 years. His caring, compassionate nature and cheeky sense of humour endeared him to many, earning him the admiration of friends who frequently described him as the nicest man they ever met.

Rene cherished his family deeply, always ready to lend a helping hand. His love for his children and grandchildren was boundless. When he was a young man, he enjoyed being active with sports, loved snow skiing, baseball, water skiing. Once he retired, he found joy in every moment spent outdoors with his passion for fishing, camping, or biking. He was an enthusiastic fan of the Vancouver Canucks, Toronto Blue Jays, and B.C. Lions, proudly supporting his teams.

Regardless of the many places he called home, Rene found peace and happiness in the beautiful Okanagan after retiring. He shared many wonderful years as a snowbird, creating lasting memories with new friends and loved ones.

Rene Gauthier leaves behind a legacy of love, laughter, and unwavering support. He will be dearly missed by his family, friends, and all who had the privilege to know him. In our hearts, he will remain forever, guiding us with his kindness and spirit.

Rene was pre-deceased by his parents Kathleen and Rene Gauthier.

He is survived by his sister, Lynne Mullen; his first wife, Joy Cameron; three children: Robert (Adam), Terry (Tony), and Tammy (Kevin); his second wife, Suzanne Gauthier; stepdaughter, Michelle (Drew); and several grandchildren: Andrew (Christine), Greg (Julina), Paul, Justin (Jocelyn), Cody (Hailey), Anthony (Brittney), Madison (Brendan), Mathew (Devan), Savanna (Marc), and Regan (Corey). He is also survived by great-granddaughters, Nora and Quinn, as well as many incredible friends.

A celebration of Rene’s life will be held on Saturday, December 7^th, 2024, at 10:30am, Como Lake United Church, 535 Marmont St, Coquitlam. All who knew him are invited to come together and honour his memory.

To honour Rene, you are welcome to wear clothing from one of his favourite sports teams: Vancouver Canucks, B.C. Lions, or Toronto Blue Jays. You can also wear plaid to honour Rene’s love of a good plaid shirt.

For those who are unable to be present in person, you may join us virtually at https://bit.ly/comolake9

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the B.C. Cancer Foundation. https://bit.ly/bccancer

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Chrissann Gauci. Born Christina Ann MacDonald in 1946 in Glasgow, Scotland, Chrissann passed away peacefully at Crossroads Hospice in Port Moody with her family by her side.

Chrissann was a beloved wife, mother, granny, sister and aunt. She leaves behind husband Charles Gauci, daughter Joanne Gauci (Michael Braun), grandchildren Lola and Callum – in Canada – and sister Catherine Burgess (Ian Burgess), and brother David MacDonald in Stornoway, Scotland, as well as many nieces and nephews who were dear to her.

Chrissann was predeceased by her parents Catherine and Murdo MacDonald, sister Jean (Jane) Maciver, brothers Hector, Peter and Donald, precious aunts and uncles, maternal grandparents D.K. MacDonald from Ballantrushal and Christina Ann Maclean from Doune Carloway, and paternal grandparents Alexander MacDonald and Catherine MacDonald (née Maclennan) from Tolsta Chaolais.

Chrissann was raised in Knightswood, Glasgow, but she had the fondest memories of summers spent in Tolsta Chaolais and Doune Carloway on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland. Chrissann graduated from Woodside Academy and shortly after traveled to Canada where she met Charles in Toronto. After getting married, Charles and Chrissann eventually moved west to Vancouver and raised their daughter in Coquitlam, BC.

Her love for her grandkids, her homeland, and her cherished family in Scotland is what brought Chrissann the most joy in her life. She will forever be remembered as a doting and loving granny to Callum and Lola, and her ashes will be laid to rest beside her mother in Scotland. A memorial service will be held at the Inlet United Church, 2315 Spring Street in Port Moody, on Monday, November 25 at 10:30 am. A service for friends and family in Scotland will be held on December 4 at the Stornoway Free Church Seminary.

The family extends their deepest appreciation and thanks to the wonderful staff and volunteers at Crossroads Hospice for their loving care of Chrissann in her final months. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Chrissann’s name to Crossroads Hospice.

It is with great sadness that the family of Glenn Belyea announce his passing on October 26, after a three-year battle with Pancreatic Cancer. He will be terribly missed by his wife, Susan, his kids, David (Natasha) and Steven as well as his brother, Ken (Carolin) and many other family members.

Glenn had a real zest for life and was always up for any adventure, whether it was cross country motorcycle rides with friends, sitting down with a good cup of coffee with a record playing, or spending quality time with his family and friends.

Celebration to honour Glenn on Sunday, December 1^st, 1:30 pm at Newlands Golf and Country Club, 21025 48 Ave, Langley.

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Ron Lee on October 16, 2024.

Born in Hong Kong in 1952, Ron leaves behind a loving family: his devoted wife of 45 years, Jean, and their cherished daughters, Celeste, Evelyn, and Clarissa. He is also survived by his siblings, Victor (Teresa), Lance (Mona), Grace (Benson), Bob (Josephine), Steve (Grace), and Nancy (Peter).

Ron’s journey took him from St. Paul’s Co-educational College in Hong Kong to York School in Monterey, California. He went on to earn his Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering and Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Toronto, setting the foundation for a remarkable career. For 30 years, Ron dedicated himself to Volkswagen Canada, earning the respect and affection of his colleagues along the way.

Ron always had a smile on his face and was happiest with his family and friends. In 1976, Ron found the love of his life, Jean, and they married in 1979. Their life together blossomed in Coquitlam, where they created a warm home for their daughters. He was the best husband and father, always ready to step in with his support, thoughtful gestures, and unwavering encouragement whenever they needed him, to ensure their happiness and well-being.

In his youth, Ron had a passion for crafting model airplanes and cars, and he enjoyed playing soccer and football. Ron was a passionate chef, who loved to try cooking different kinds of food for others, often bringing family and friends together around the table. He loved music — you would often hear him singing and playing the guitar, which he taught himself how to play. He enjoyed a spirited game of ping-pong, making lots of friends through the game. But it was his travels with family and friends that truly filled his heart with joy. He had an adventurous spirit that took him to all the 7 continents, exploring 40+ countries across the world.

Ron will always be remembered for his kindness, quick wit, consideration of others, sincerity, helpfulness and compassion, which touched everyone he encountered. His deep faith provided him with unwavering strength, comfort and peace, guiding him through life’s challenges. A pivotal moment in his spiritual journey came in 2014, when he was baptised in the River Jordan—a day that held profound significance for him.

Since being diagnosed with lung cancer in 2023, Ron’s faith continued to grow as he experienced God’s Love, Grace, Mercy and Faithfulness in every step of the way. One of his favourite hymns was “Great is Thy Faithfulness”. He placed his total trust in God and His Perfect Plan, no matter how the situation may appear. He truly believed that “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Though he may no longer be with us, we find great solace that he is now resting comfortably with the Lord, where “there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain” (Revelation 21:4b).

We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported Ron and our family throughout this difficult journey over the past 20 months. We are truly grateful for the outpouring of love, prayers, and support in many heart-felt forms from too many people to name individually. Your love and kindness have been a source of strength for us. Ron will be deeply missed, but the memory of him will forever be cherished in our hearts.

In lieu of flowers, we kindly ask that you consider making a donation to InspireHealth Cancer Support Care at inspirehealth.ca/give or the BC Cancer Foundation at bccancerfoundation.com. Thank you for your support.

Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, December 6th, 2024 at 10:30 am at Coquitlam Presbyterian Church, 948 Como Lake Ave, Coquitlam.

For those who are unable to join us to celebrate Ron’s life in person, here is the link to join us virtually: https://www.legacystreaming.com/watchnow/ .  With this link, you will be able to view the live stream in real time or later under the “Past Funeral Services”. When viewing on your computer, please do NOT view the service with either “Internet Explorer” or “Microsoft Edge”. Choose Chrome, Safari or Firefox.