FRIDAY, May 29, 2020

By Lethbridge Herald Obituaries on May 29, 2020.

FREDRICK

RALPH “RUDY” FREDRICK, beloved husband of Edith of Raymond, passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 24, 2020 at the age of 87 years.

Rudy was born June 11, 1932. He was the second born son to Rosalia Anne (née Balog) and Henry William Friedrich. Rudy was an incredibly strong man; a man of few words, an avid reader, a hard worker, a loving husband and a dedicated father. His joie de vivre was contagious and he will be greatly missed as well as his sense of humor. Those few words to his children were “yup,” “nope,” or “go ask your Mom.”

Ralph married Edith (née Henline) on March 26, 1960. Mom and Dad just celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Together they had Yvonne (Randy) of Calgary, Wendy of Lethbridge, and Ron aka Ralph Jr. (Sandra) of Lethbridge.

Although being a man of few words, Rudy made many enduring friendships. Being a friend i.e. longstanding or newly formed didn’t matter to him, you were a friend. In fact, after one health episode, Rudy became a man of a few more words.

Rudy was an avid horseman, the original “horse whisperer” before the term was known. Dad also loved participating in the many Southern Albertan town parades. As one of his uncles was the parade marshal for Bonanza Days for many years, Dad eagerly participated in these and other parades and took home many a trophy or a ribbon, or both.

Rudy took on several roles throughout the years and one thing is for sure, he never shied away from a job. He once said, if he didn’t know to do the job before he started, then he would just figure it out and get it done.

Rudy was predeceased by his father in 1967, mother in 1972 and brothers Lloyd (2010) and Norman (2017); nephews Lane (1995) and Justin (1994), niece Tanya (2004) and a very special aunt from Milk River “Aunt Lizzie” (1982); sister-in-law Sharon (2015) and brothers-in-law Alec Szentes (2016) and Harm Vander Hulst (2018).

Rudy is survived by his siblings: Melford (Emma); Bill; Verl (Donna); Selby (Sylvia); Lesley (Doug MacDonald); Teresa Szentes; Lorne (Shannon); Jamie; Carol Vander Hulst; Debbie (Dennis Selk) as well as numerous nephews and nieces, not to mention all the cousins, second cousins and so on and so forth.

We the family, thank and acknowledge all his buddies that would join him when he was having a morning coffee (initially at the bakery and then at the Subway in Raymond).

The family would also like to thank all of the staff of the Raymond Health Centre, those within the medical profession, as well as the workers that help keep the hospital operational.

Rudy was known for his walking stick and his bicycles. He was often seen daily on his cherry red trike around Raymond doing what he liked best.

Dad is now beginning his new journey and trust that there will be many horses for him to ride including Fury and Ruffles and of course, Mandy the Mule.

Cremation entrusted to Cornerstone Funeral Home. Rudy will be laid to rest in a private family graveside service in the Milk River Cemetery at a later date.

A Celebration of Rudy’s Life will be held at an upcoming date. An announcement will be made once the physical distancing for COVID-19 has been lifted. Flowers are gratefully declined. Instead, we hope that participants will contribute their treasured memories of Ralph “Rudy” either at the event or bring a dessert of some sort. Dad liked his sweets and in particular, poppy seed cake.

For those who wish, memorial donations may be made to a charity of one’s choice.

To send a condolence, please visit http://www.cornerstonefuneralhome.com

Clair Richard Handsaeme

1959 – 2020

It is with profound sadness and broken hearts that we, the family of Clair Richard Handsaeme of Lethbridge, beloved husband of Carolyn, and Father to Mathew and Carly, announce his sudden passing on May 19, 2020 at the age of 61 years.

Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, a Private Service will be held at 2:00pm, on Friday, May 29, 2020, for those who wish, please visit http://www.mbfunerals.com click on Clair’s obituary to view the live stream of the service.

Memorial Donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, 119 14 St NW #100, Calgary, AB T2N 1Z6, Alzheimer Society, 1202 2 Ave S #40, Lethbridge, AB T1J 0E3, or the Canadian Cancer Society, 325 Manning Rd NE #200, Calgary, AB T2E 2P5 .

Cremation has been entrusted to Martin Brothers Funeral Chapels.

Visit http://www.mbfunerals.com to send a condolence.

Jason Hunt

1971 – 2020

Mr. Jason Hunt of Lethbridge, beloved husband of Mrs. Karen Hunt, passed away at Chinook Regional Hospital on Wednesday, May 27, 2020 at the age of 48 years.

Cremation entrusted to Martin Brothers Funeral Chapels.

Visit http://www.mbfunerals.com to send a condolence.

McGINTY

JAMES McGINTY, beloved husband of Catherine McGinty of Lethbridge, passed away at Chinook Regional Hospital on Sunday, May 24, 2020 at the age of 92 years.

Besides his loving wife, Jim is survived by his niece, Katrina Whittingham of Scotland, as well as numerous other nieces and nephews in Canada, Australia, Spain, England and Scotland.

He was predeceased by his parents, John & Catherine McGinty, and his siblings, John, Edward and May.

James—known to most as ‘Jim,’ but also as ‘Jimmy’ to his Scottish family—was born in Glasgow in 1928. From Irish ancestry, his parents had moved to Scotland in search of a better life. One of four children, his childhood was saddened by the death of his mother when he was only six years old and his father when he was 14 years old. World War II led to him living away from his family as an evacuee in rural Scotland.

He trained as a butcher and was later drafted into military conscription where he became a chef. Church life was important to Jim from an early age, and it was at a church dance that he met his one true love, Catherine “Cathie” Tracey.

Their courtship was cemented in marriage on February 15, 1954. They began their married life in the small family flat Jim had shared with his brother. Both of their extended families lived close by. Jim & Cathie progressed at their jobs in Glasgow while still enjoying family time and their social lives with friends.

In 1964, they made the decision to immigrate to Canada and settle in Lethbridge, Alberta. Jim grew to love all aspects of Canadian life and flourished in his new lifestyle. Church and the practice of his faith remained central in his life, becoming a Knight of St. Columbus and taking part in a variety of volunteering roles in St. Pat’s and the Assumption Church. He enjoyed travel throughout Canada and the United States, holidaying in Hawaii as a particular favourite destination. In his early impoverished beginnings in the eastside of Glasgow, no one could have predicted this would be his life in his 50s and 60s.

However, he developed a variety of health concerns in his 50s. He recovered, but long-term consequences of his heart disease led to early retirement for him in the mid-1980s. Thereafter he began to extend his church volunteering ministries, which became almost a full-time job. He continued to enjoy holidays back to his homeland as well as church-organized trips across the world. He loved all sports and was an avid supporter of the Calgary Flames. When following national team sports, he would divide his loyalty between Scotland and Canada.

Up until last year, he continued to enjoy living with his ever-loving wife, Cathie, in their family home. He carried on each day with a sense of purpose in his church-related duties. Cathie endured ill health over the last ten years or so; in recent years, he became her dutiful caregiver. Last year, a further health setback led to Cathie moving into Edith Cavell Care Centre, and Jim into Martha’s House. Through all of that, he continued to be a completely devoted husband right until the very end of his life.

As he grew older, it became apparent how many lives he had touched in Lethbridge. He was simply very well-known and loved by all who knew him. He was quiet, patient and kind, with a very quick wit. If you knew him, it is likely his presence in your life that warmed your heart and brought a smile to your face. Let that legacy of him live on in you.

A Private Prayer Service will be held at CORNERSTONE FUNERAL HOME, 2825 – 32 St. S, Lethbridge, AB on Monday, June 1, 2020 at 7:00 PM with Francis & Cybele Noronha officiating.

A Private Funeral Mass will be celebrated at OUR LADY OF THE ASSUMPTION CATHOLIC CHURCH, 2405 – 12 Ave. S, Lethbridge, AB on Tuesday, June 2, 2020 at 10:00 AM with Father Kevin Tumback celebrating.

For those who wish to watch the service online, the Prayer Service and Funeral Mass may be viewed at their respective service times by Live Stream under Jim’s obituary on our website.

To send a condolence, please visit http://www.cornerstonefuneralhome.com

SOCRATES (JAMES) SPOULOS

1930 – 2020

Jim was fiercely proud of his Greek heritage. He was born to Greek immigrants Chris and Helen Spoulos at the Lethbridge Galt Hospital and was named Socrates. His Irish godmother thought he should have a more Canadian sounding name, so he was called James. Later in life, he was commonly known as “The Greek” or “Jimmy the Greek”. He also claimed fame to the self-appointed names, “Spiker Spoulos” for volleyball, “Sticky Fingers Spoulos” for football, and either, “Canvas Back Spoulos” or, “Twinkle Toes Spoulos” for boxing, depending on whether he won or lost his match. “Canvas Back” once fought Rufus Goodstriker for the Alberta Championship and upon waking up in the dressing room asked, “DID I WIN?”.

During the war, Jim rode his bike out to the Prisoner of War camp to deliver newspapers and had many tales to tell of the goings on out there. As a young man Jim worked in his father’s store, the Roxy Hat Shop and Haberdashery. He later worked at McGuire’s Men’s Wear until he and his two partners, Burt Eccles and Scotty Duchan, opened Gentlemen III Menswear in 1970, where friends and customers endured his sarcasm and wit. He continued this legacy by teaching his grandchildren the fine art of verbal abuse.

Jim was active in many service clubs including Kiwanis and the Y’s Men Club. Jim retired from the clothing business in 1999.

Jan and Jim loved to travel and had the most romantic adventures in such places as Istanbul, Cypress, Israel, Rome, the Greek Islands, Ireland, Costa Rica, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Through thick and thin, they were a team, and had a marvelous life together. After a health crisis in 2003, Jim and Jan limited their travels mainly to Palm Springs.

Jim died a happy man at home on May 20th. He was most content in his home of 35 years surrounded by his loving family. Jim was predeceased by his son, Christopher Spoulos (1981) and his brother, George Spoulos (2010). He is survived by his dedicated and loving wife Janet of 35 years, his four blended family children Cathy (Chris) Flexhaug, Doug (Bev) Spoulos, Shawn (Carrie) Sakamoto, and Sasha (Scott) Mahan. His fabulous grandchildren, Jamie (Jordan) Layton, Jarrod and Jordy Flexhaug, Nick Kern, Carly and Carissa Spoulos, Parker, Quintin, and Lennon Sakamoto, and Lachlan and Cadan Mahan. He is also survived by three great grandchildren, Zephaniah, Eli, and McKinley Layton. Also, one niece, Wendy McDonald and two great nephews, Joseph and Jack McDonald.

Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, there will be no public funeral. A private celebration of life will be held for immediate family only.

P.S. Sure hope heaven can handle him!

Comments are closed.