Margaret Irene Harriman

A lifelong resident of the area, Sydney “Syd” Drennan passed away peacefully at Winchester District Memorial Hospital, Wednesday, September 4, 2013. He was in his 82nd year.

Syd loved the St. Lawrence River, and made his home at 62 Fifth Street, East, Morrisburg for many years.  

He could be seen, many a day, sitting in a favourite chair on the grassy banks of Mariatown enjoying the summer breezes and watching the ships make their way through his beloved St. Lawrence River waters.  

The one thing he loved most was family.  

Syd was the loving father of four daughters, Nancy, Carol (Don MacGillvray), Linda and Brenda as well as nephew Kevin (Sherry Gallivan).  

He was the cherished grandfather of Jordan (Crystal), Rheanna (Kevin) Neilson, Hayden, Shylo and Madison Drennan and great-grandfather of Maddix Drennan.  

Syd was born January 15, 1932, in Iroquois, to parents James Drennan and Constance “Connie” (nee Bellamy).  

He enjoyed his work and was known for always putting in an honest days work for his pay.  Syd was quite a handyman and if not fixing something for family, then it was for a neighbour or friend.  

He repaired the weaving and loom machines while working for Caldwell Linen Mills in Iroquois, and was a caretaker for the Medical Clinics and The St. Lawrence Commission.  

Any job was to be done well and right. Syd made sure of that and taught those same values to his children.  

He adhered to St. John’s Anglican Church in Iroquois. In his spare time, Syd volunteered for the Boy Scouts of Canada and as a fireman in Iroquois.  Syd was always one, in his own unobtrusive way, to help others.  He gave generously to both CHEO and the Ottawa Mission.  

Respecting Syd’s quiet, unassuming nature, a private graveside service will be held at St. John the Baptist Anglican Cemetery, Iroquois with Rev. Susan McCullough officiating.  

Parker Funeral Home, Morrisburg is entrusted with arrangements.  

Memorial donations in Syd’s memory may be made to CHEO or the Ottawa Mission Foundation.  Condolences may be made at www.parkerofmorrisburg.com

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After a difficult few years of declining health, Douglas Reagh  Simpson passed away peacefully on the evening of Friday, February 13, 2015. He was 81 years old.  

Reagh leaves behind his beloved wife Lorraine, two sons Todd and Dean, grandchildren Adam, Cameron and MacKenzie, his sister Anita (John Hagen), his brother Donald (Elva), a niece and nephews.

Born and educated in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Reagh lived and worked for a time in the eastern Arctic working on the DEW Line. Following that he lived and worked in the Montreal area for many years before retiring in Iroquois, Ontario.  

Reagh’s life is characterized by four great loves–his love of flying and every aspect of aeronautical affairs; his abiding connection with special places, Cape Breton, the summer cottage in PEI, small airports where he and his friends were involved in grass roots flying; and above all his love, loyalty and generosity for his family and friends guided every action.  

He was a leading expert in corporate aeronautics, flying and maintaining his own airplanes and customizing corporate aircraft from assembly line to customer delivery.

Reagh enjoyed the respect, confidence and affection of colleagues from every walk of life. 

His open ways, his storytelling, his warm hospitality and his sense of humour will be missed. 

A celebration of Reagh’s life will be announced at a later date.  Donations to a charity of choice may be made in Reagh’s memory.

Reagh’s family will be forever grateful to his caregivers for their dedicated service during his last months at home. 

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A lifetime resident of the area, Kathleen Harkness (nee Sloan) passed away at the Woodland Villa Nursing Home in Long Sault on Wednesday, April 3, 2013. She was 98.

Kathleen was born in Edwardsburg Township on November 13, 1914, to her parents Bert and Carrie (McFadden) Sloan.  She was the youngest child with one older sister Estella and two brothers Lloyd and Stanley.  She attended the local public school and went on to further her education in Spencerville.  

Kathleen then moved to Iroquois to work at Brouse’s Dairy. She loved to spend her evenings and Sundays skating with her friends at the rink which is where she met her future husband Harold Wesley Harkness who played hockey there.  

On Nov. 4th 1936, Harold and Kathleen were married in Shanly, and they began their married life on the Harkness farm on the 4th concession of Matilda Township, which they developed into a successful dairy farm and apple orchard named ‘Harbeth Farm’  

Kathleen and Harold were never apart from each other and their lives were a true partnership. Their lives were full and busy but they always made time for their daughter Mary, helping her with school projects and taking her to movies, picnics, ball games and hockey games.  

They were great fans of the Inkerman Rockets and the Morrisburg Combines. Their daughter Mary especially enjoyed the visits to the ice cream parlour on Saturday night after shopping. 

Kathleen also found time for gardening, canning and freezing the produce. She was a great cook and baker.  She made beautiful birthday cakes.  

Kathleen was a great seamstress. As a result Mary always had a new dress for every occasion and Kathleen made sure that Mary always wore the right socks and shoes to go with the dresses she made.  

She always found time for her church–Dundela United, and she served for many years on the Matilda Women’s Institute. 

Kathleen worked hard every day and she used to fall asleep at night reading the Ottawa Journal.

When Harold became ill in 1979, they sold the farm and they retired to a home on Orchard Way in Morrisburg.  Harold died in late 1979, and Kathleen had to face her life without him.  

She then began to devote more time to her church, Lakeshore Drive United, the SSS Christian Womens’ Group, Morrisburg Women’s Institute, the senior citizens group, bowling and she spent many hours making quilts for the Red Cross and for her family.  Some were displayed at the quilt shows and sold.

Kathleen always put other people first and was always concerned with those around her.  She was a very unselfish person and she never judged others.    

She was happiest with a pot of soup brewing, her famous apple pie in the oven and her salads with the vegetables cut in small  pieces all exactly the same size. The family always knew Kathleen’s sandwiches at any function–they were the ones with crusts cut off.

In 1959, Harold and Kathleen welcomed their son-in-law Al into the family and soon became best friends.

In 1960, their first grandson Steve arrived, and in 1963, their second grandson Doug. 

Steve and Doug spent a lot of time on the farm with Poppy and Grandma and soon learned the rules were much more lenient there than at home.  They always went home with a toy and a treat.

As her grandsons grew and began families of their own, Kathleen welcomed, with love, her granddaughters-in-law Deana and Janis, her great-grandsons Chris, Scott, Patrick and her great-granddaughter Kendra. 

They were all very special to her.

After 18 years on Orchard Way, Kathleen’s health started a downward trend and she moved to the Iroma apartments in Iroquois.  Her many friends, new and old and Iroquois United church now became her focal point in life. 

She was dedicated to her church and to her family and depended on God’s love to guide her.  Kathleen lived at the Hartford retirement home for a short time and finally at the Woodland Villa.

Kathleen is survived by her daughter Mary Bueley of Morrisburg, her grandsons Stephen (Deana) Bueley of Edmonton and Doug (Janis) Bueley of Winchester and great-grandchildren Christopher, Scott, Patrick and Kendra. She is also survived by nieces and nephews.  

She was predeceased by her husband Harold, her son-in-law Allan Bueley, her sister Estella Connors and her brothers Lloyd and Stanley Sloan.     

Friends called at the Marsden and McLaughlin Funeral Home, Iroquois, on Sunday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Funeral service was held at the funeral home on Monday, April 8th at 11 a.m., with Rev. Janet Evans officiating.  

Interment followed at Dundela Cemetery. 

Pallbearers were Patrick Bueley, Wayne Disheau, Charles Waddell and Donald Barkley.  

Donations to Winchester District Memorial Hospital would be gratefully acknowledged by the family. Online condolences may be made at marsdenmclaughlin.com.

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