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The Wingham Advance-Times, 1984-03-07, Page 10IIngham Advance -Times, March 7, 1984 'r - JANET CLARK of Wingham has been con- ducting bereavement counselling workshops at Goderich in conjunction with that hospital's new palliative care unit. Mrs. Clark's daugh- ter Karen died of leukemia in 1979, and both Mr. and Mrs. Clark still work with the Child- hood Cancer Research Association, an organi- zation they became involved with while their daughter was undergoing treatment In Lon- don. Janet Clark helps others to deal with bereavement By Margaret Arbuckle C In the five years since her daughterKaren's death, Janet Clark of Wingham has taken up a new cause: to make the lives of fatally -ill people and their families easier. _Recently, Mrs. _dark has been conducting bereavement counselling workshops, but her latest project is getting a Ronald McDonald House established in London for children undergoing cancer treatment and their families. Born and educated in London, Mrs. Clark at- tended the University of Guelph where she studied home ecoro^rics. While there; she met a young engineering student, Art Clark. The romance blossomed and they were married in 1967; their "centennial project", she jokes. The newlyweds took upresidence in London, where Mrs. Clark worked as a dietitian at Victoria Hospital and her husband attended the University of Western Ontario. Their daughter Karen was born at London in 1969 and the family moved to Wingham in 1971, the year Mr. Clark accepted a position teaching at the local high school. He began his own engineering company two and a half years later. Today it is known as Maitland Engineering Services. The addition of a second child, Paul, made the family complete and things were going smoothly until June of 1977 when their happy, active daughter Karen developed leukemia. It all happened so quickly, there was barely time for the news to settle before Karen was undergoing cancer treatments in London. But she was a brave little ,girl and fought back, so' soon she was in remission from the disease. . Karen was able to lead a relatively normal life until December of 1978 when she suffered a relapse. That time, she was given intensive chemotherapy treatments before going back into remission for a second time. However her remission period proved shortlived. In April of 1979 she relapsed and in spite of more treatments, she died in July of that year, three weeks before her 10th birthday. Throughout Karen's illness and subsequent trips to and from London's War Memorial Children's Hospital, the Clarks had come to be invol6ed with the Children's Cancer Research Association, a group formed to give support to families or in- dividuals touched by childhood cancer. The group members were always there to lend a hand and share in the triumphs and tragedies, so even after Karen died the Clarks remained involved with the group. It takes a long time for a «'ound like the death of a child to heal. But Mrs. Clark has been through it and now is helping others cope with tragic events. Her bereavement counselling workshops are aimed at establishing Palliative `Care Units at county hospitals. These units consist of trained volunteers who offer support to people in trying times, like the death of a child, parent or spoust. In fact there is a survey underway currently to determine if there is a need for more Palliative Care Units in hospitals throughout Southwestern Ontario. Presently there is a unit in Walkerton and one should soon be starting in Goderich. One of Mrs. Clark's greatest dreams should be realized next summer, with the construction of a Ronald McDonald House at ' the Westminster Campus of Victoria Hospital, London. The fund -raising -drive for the house got underway March 4 and even though the CCRA must raise over $500,000, she said she is confident there will be a house in London in 1985. It will be a tremendous help for families which must travel long distances for treatment for their critically -ill children because it will allow the family to stay together in a home setting, close to the hospital and at a minimal cost, Mrs. Clark also is a parent volunteer at the Wingham Public School and her husband is a member of the school board, activities which keep them very busy. Paul is a Grade 7 student at the Wingham Public School. YOUNG & OLD—The Wingham Brownies visited Brookhaven Nursing Home last week and put on a program for the residents in celebration of Scout -Guide Week. The girls sang songs and gave talks and later Public School Editors: Jason Ducharme Kevin Smith Mrs. Schedler's class designed odd-looking creatures and wrote poems to describe them. Grade 3 is learning to divide and is working on activities related to Ireland and St: Patrick's Day. Activities involve mathematics; art, creative Writing and research skills. —Christa Curzon The operetta turned out to be a" great success! Thurs- day night's performance attracted a big crowd, come to think of it, it attracted a full house. After a month of hard work (and I mean hard), the performance was ready to . stage. For those of you who did not see it, it was "The Truth About Cin- derella". Don't be fooled though, it wasn't your .regular, same old Cin- derella: the story was switched around quite a bit. There were many, many other characters besides Cinderella, the fairy god- mothers and we found out that the mean old stepsisters and stepmother wereanot mean after all. Well, for all of you who saw it, .I hope you experienced a a terrific tinie! —Ria Lindardatos proud to say that Amy was runner-up in the junior division. —Lynne Braun The Kindergarten children noted that March came in like a lion with lots of snow to play in. They hope the snow stays so they can make tunnels, snowmen and snow forts. The children are looking forward to the March break sothey can play in the snow more. Leprechauns have been playing tricks in Kindergarten getting ready for St. Patrick's Day. —Sheryl Hanula Last week was a great success for Mr. ' Bartlett's class. The operetta was an extremely great success. We all enjoyed ourselves very much. We are getting back ° on the old track .of things once again. Soon another set of tests is about to begin. They will start March 5 and continue • until March 9. —Kim Martin Mr. Whiteley's class almost has completed its work on the puppets. Many thanks to Mr. Elgie and Grade 12 drama class. They brought the puppets back to the school. When the story is written, the sets.. will be constructed and the play presented. In geography, they are investing in crop futures around the world. They presently are creating their own continent in the middle of the South Pacific. "They will invest in this continent after all facts have been given. All of the students are working hard in preparation for the science fair March 29 and 30. —Yracey Thynne Last week the school public speaking contest was held in the auditorium. All the speakers had great topics and presented thein well. Amy Bateman and Tiffany Marr represented Mrs. , Martin's class in auditoriu0 . Mrs. Martin is /- MRS. WILLIAM5OTHERN walked around and greeted the residents. The week marks the birth- days bf Lord and Lady Baden-Powell, founders of the Scout and Guide movement. Local PUC reps a#tenc! .annual mtg. Roy Bennett and Rod Wraith of the Wingham Pub- lic Utilities Commission were among the 1,400 dele- gates representing electric utility commissions front across the province attend- ing the 1984 annual meeting of . the Ontanjo Municipal Electric Association Feb. 27 and 28 in Toronto. Speakers 'during the meeting included: Hon. Phillip Andrewes, Minister of . Energy; Milan Nasti.ck,, chairman and president of Ontario Hydro; Robert Mayer Evans, former CBS worldwide -news correspon- dent; and, Philip D. Steffen, motivational speaker. The association is the spokesman for more than 320 municipal 'utilities -through- out Ontario, the commission- ers and councillors of which were elected to operate; :a specialized municipal serv- ice and thus represent more than two million residential, col mercial and industrial Customers served by the municipal distribution system and who consume two-thirds of the electric power in Ontario. Day of Prayer observed in Presbyterian Church Whitechurch — The World Day of Prayer service was held Friday at Chalmers Presbyterian Church with an attendance of 13 from the host church and the Whitechurch United Church. The theme was "Living Water From Christ, Our . Hope". Leader Mrs. Don Ross explained the World Day of Prayer and was pianist throughout the service. Taking part in the first portion of the service were Mrs. Archie Purdon, Mrs. Lamb,Mrs. Walter Elliott and Mrs. Alan Falconer. United. Church members Mrs. Lorne Durnin, Mrs. Fred Tiffin and Mrs. Walter Moore conducted the second Notes from Fordwich Minnie and John McElwain and Mrs. George Pittendreigh visited Sunday with Mr. and Mrs. Ian Pit- tendreigh 'and family and attended the .musical "Brigadoon" that John Pittendreigh took part in at the Banting High School. Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Douglas returned ',home Sunday after a two-week vacation to Cantoon Island and the southern part of Mexico. Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Miller and Lori visited Sundayw tt h Mr. and Mrs. Rick Woods and Shawn at Beeton. Donna Martin of 'Kingston was a weekend visitor with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Martin. Joe McGinnis,is a patient in Listowel hospital where he was taken by ambulance Sunday night. The sympathy of the community is extended to Mr. and Mrs. Joe McGinnis in the death of her sister Sunday in Mississauga. Mrs. Marian Kirby and Mrs. Florence Wilson returned home last week after an eight-day vacation at Veradero Beach, Cuba. Congratulations to Carole Hohendale, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Hohendale who passed her Grade 4 singing with first class honors. Her mark was 84 and the exams were held in Kitchener in late January. Carole is a pupil of Mrs. Ron ,Livermore. Friends here will be pleased to learn that Everett rmstrong returned home fr m Listowel hospital last week. Don Coghlin returned home from Westminster Hospital, London, last week as well. We wish them both speedy recoveries. Trinity ACW will meet Thursday afternoon at the Fordwich Nursing Home where the group will put on a program for the patients, after which a short business meeting will be held. part of the service, "Living Water in the. Old Testament". Mrs. Lamb sang a solo, "How -Great Thou Art". Mrs. Durnin introduced the guest speaker, •Rev. George Ball, who told about the Holy Land and displayed a banner showing the well where Jesus met the Samaritan woman. Mr. Ball was thanked by Mrs. Lamb. The offering was received by Mrs. Russell Chapman and Mrs. John Gaunt. The last part of the service was conducted by Mrs. Durnin, Mrs. Tiffin, Mrs. Moore and Mrs. Chapman and after a closing .hymn, "Hope for the Future" was read and the closing prayer was given by Mr. Ball. Brookhaven events The residents and staff extend sincere sympathy to Mrs, Myrtle Metcalfe and family in the recent passing of her husband and their father, Tom Metcalfe. Sympathy also is extended to the family of Sarah Thomp- son. Visiting the residents recently were the Wingham Brownies who entertained by singing and giving an exhibition of baton twirling. February sports winners wer: probe, Margaret Cur- tis; ball -in -cup, Margaret Carter; knock down the cas- tle, Edith Ross; bean bag toss, Jean Kelly; horseshoe toss, Morley Petteplace; space target, Sam Vanstone; bowling, Gus Renzetti; and bingo, Mrs. Carter. A warm and friendly •welcome is extended to Ernest Ukler and we welcome back Mrs. Florence Langridge. A singalong was "held by Bev Domm and the film for the month was on pioneer life. To place your action ad in Crossroads clasi ifie iS,',. Cali•, The Listowel Btlnnsri 201-1660 The Mount Forettt Confederate, 3234550 The Wingham Advance -Times, 3574320 The Milverton Sun, 595-9921 BRANCH REUNION All Veterans and wives of the Wingham, " Turnberry Township area are invited to a Branch 180, Royal Canadian . Legion reunion on July 19th, 20th, 21st, and 22nd, 1984. There will be a Drumhead Service on Sunday, July 22nd. Please contact Com- rades Willis Hall or B. P. Morin (Branch Secretary), P.O. Box 121, Wingham, Ontario, NOG 2W0 or phone (519) 357-2126, 357-3390 or 357-1 190. Would the general public who are aware of any veterans living out of the Area, please send names and addresses to B. P. Morin, Branch 180, The Royal Canadian Legion, Wingham, On- tario, NOG 2W0 or phone 357- 2126 or 357-1190. HOME A UcKET FOR ONLY SAT. MARCH 10, SUN. MARCH 11 15 pieces of "finger Pickin' good„ chicken will feed 6 hungry Ipeople for Tess than $2.00 each KntuckyFriedChicken V Josephine St., Zehrs Plaza Phone 357-2221 Corner of Hwy. 4 and 86, Wingham