Obituary of Lois Pearce

PEARCE, Lois, Mabel –A long-time resident of Chatham, Dr. Lois Pearce passed away peacefully, Tuesday, July 8, 2014, at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance. She was born Lois Craig, May 27, 1920, in North Gower, Ontario, daughter of Newman and Margaret. Following high school, Lois attended one year of ‘normal school’, then taught school for two years in Thessalon, in northern Ontario. She then attended the School of Medicine, University of Toronto, graduating in 1945 as a commissioned officer of the Royal Canadian Armed Forces. Married in 1947 to Richard (Dick) Pearce, the couple moved to Chatham in 1951, where she maintained an active medical practice and delivered many residents of Chatham and area. Later in her career, she worked as a staff physician until her retirement in 1985. With a strong belief in the importance of education, Lois also served for several years on the Kent County Board of Education During her retirement, she travelled around the world, including visits to Egypt, France, Germany, India and China. She also volunteered with the Flora Campbell Auxiliary and Zonta Club, was a member of the University Women’s Club and thoroughly enjoyed playing bridge and quilting. In 1990, in celebration of her 70th birthday, Lois and Dick took part in a nine-month odyssey, walking across Canada in support of the Rotary Foundation, from White Rock, B.C. to Halifax, Nova Scotia. She is predeceased by her husband, Richard (Dick) in 1997 and her brother Keith. She is survived by four children: Leslie (Greg), Craig (Patti), Margaret (David) and Ralph (Debra), grandchildren Lisa and Jon, Lindsay and Aislinn, Emily and Emma, Meagan and Monica, as well as sister Joyce Griffiths of Vancouver, B.C., brother Kenneth (Joan) of Innisfil, Ontario, and beloved cousin Bernice Jewson of Clinton, Ontario. Visitation will take place Saturday, July 12th, 2014 at McKinlay Funeral Home, 459 St. Clair Street, Chatham, from 10:00 to 11:30am, with a remembrance celebration from 11:30am to 12:00pm. A private service for family members will follow at Trinity Cemetery near Morpeth, Ontario. If desired, please make donations to Chatham-Kent Hospice. Online condolences may be left at www.mckinlayfuneralhome.com McKinlay Funeral Home, 459 St. Clair Street, Chatham 519-351-2040