Wall-Custance Memorial Forest Program

ALARIE, Lucienne “Lucy” – Of Guelph, passed away at St. Joseph’s Health Centre on Monday, October 27, 2025, at the age of 70.  

Beloved wife of 50 years to Ross. Loved mother of Robert (Melissa), Monique, and Daniel. Loving grandmother of Morgan, Carissa, Brandy, Brianna, Kassidy, and Brody. Great grandmother of Levi. Dear sister of the late Andre, Roger, Lise, and Gill. Also survived by her dear aunt Annette. Lucy will be missed by her extended family and cherished friends.

Lucy greatly enjoyed spending time with her family. Many nights were spent playing board games, singing hymns, and sharing her favourite chocolate and ketchup chips with her grandkids. 

Cremation has taken place. A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, December 6, 2025 at 1:00pm at Wall-Custance Funeral Home & Chapel. To watch the service remotely, please use this link. Reception to follow in the Wall-Custance Family Reception Centre. Arrangements entrusted to the WALL-CUSTANCE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL 519-822-0051 / www.wallcustance.com.

A tree will be planted in memory of Lucienne Alarie in the Wall-Custance Memorial Forest. 

COX, Margaret J. (nee Duby)

December 8, 1933 – November 29, 2025

Of Guelph, passed away peacefully at home with family by her side.  

Beloved wife of the late Gordon Cox (2017).  Loved mother of David (Diane) and Linda (Mike). Loving Granny of Erica, Julie (Chris), and Lindsay (Mark). Gigi of Maddie, Ally, and Chase.  Predeceased by four brothers and two sisters. She will be missed by many nieces, nephews and extended family and friends.

Born to Joe and Alice Duby in Rockwood, Margaret assumed her father’s rural postal route; later becoming Postmaster. Margaret radiated love and kindness, embracing everyone she met. She enjoyed fishing, horses, laughing, dancing, gatherings with family and friends and adventures with her devoted husband. She treasured her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and leaves a lasting legacy of unconditional love. 

Family and friends will be received for visitation at the WALL-CUSTANCE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 206 Norfolk St., Guelph, Wednesday December 3rd from 2 – 4 & 6 – 8 pm and on Thursday, December 4th from 10 – 11 am followed by a funeral service that will begin at 11 am in the funeral home chapel.  (For those unable to attend, a livestream can be viewed.) Reception to follow in the Wall-Custance Family Reception Centre.  Arrangements entrusted to the WALL-CUSTANCE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL 519-822-0051 / www.wallcustance.com.

Memorial contributions to a charity of your choice would be appreciated. 

 A tree will be planted in memory of Margaret J. Cox in the Wall-Custance Memorial Forest.

SCANNELL, Phyllis Mary – Of Guelph, passed away peacefully at Guelph General Hospital on Friday, November 28, 2025, surrounded by her loving sons in her 98th year.  

Loving mother of Bill (Corinne), James (Linda), Barry (Ev). G.G. will be sadly missed by her many grandchildren and great grandchildren. Predeceased by her husband James B. Scannell.

At her request cremation has taken place. A celebration of life will be held at a later date to be announced.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to the Guelph Humane Society would be appreciated. 

Arrangements entrusted to the WALL-CUSTANCE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL 519-822-0051 / www.wallcustance.com.

 A tree will be planted in memory of Phyllis M. Scannell in the Wall-Custance Memorial Forest.

Jean Delores (Johnston) Lawson

With family by her side, Jean passed away peacefully on Nov 26th, 2025 in her 93rd year. She lived a full life marked by love, laughter, and compassion. Mom’s gentle spirit and grace remained with her until the very end. She is now reunited with her beloved husband Gordon Lawson (1997).

Loving Mother to Karen and Greg Woods of Guelph & Kathy and Steve May of Waterloo.

Jean will sadly be missed by her grandchildren Lindsay and Matthew Femiak, Liam and Alexa Woods, Ryan May and Sarah May and treasured great-grandma to Holly and Annie Femiak. She is predeceased by her sister Lorraine Gordon (2021) and her fraternal twin brother James Johnston (2017).

Jean will be fondly remembered by extended family, nieces, nephews, friends and co-workers from WC Wood, where she worked for many years until her retirement.

Our Mother always had a smile and a kind word for everyone she met and a constant symbol of strength, support, and compassion for our family. She was often found at gatherings with a wee glass of white wine in hand, surrounded by those she loved. Mom’s greatest joy in her life was her family and being a Grandma. Rest in peace Mom. “Don’t cry for me, be happy”.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the staff at Wellington Terrace for the compassionate care and support provided during the final stages of her life. We are especially grateful to Dr. Stickney for his unwavering dedication and exceptional professionalism. We are also deeply grateful to the entire Walnut Grove Team for your kindness and caring approach, which meant so much throughout Mom’s three years at WTLTC. A sincere thank-you as well to Ashley, Amber, Karn, Nora and Robert for the comfort and care you provided during Mom’s final days.

In accordance with Jean’s wishes, cremation has taken place and a private interment will be held. Arrangements entrusted to the WALL-CUSTANCE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL 519-822-0051 / www.wallcustance.com.

Memorial contributions to Wellington Terrace – Walnut Grove would be appreciated. 

A tree will be planted in memory of Jean D. Lawson in the Wall-Custance Memorial Forest.

DUDEN, Diana Marie (nee Ortlieb) – Of Guelph, passed away at WRHN Midtown Hospital on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at the age of 70.

Loved mother of Mary (Johnathen) Evans and Elizabeth Duden (Adam Sanford). Dear sister to Suzanna (Sam) Gauci. Predeceased by her parents Ralph and Phyllis, brother Mark Ortlieb, and sister Linda Wheeler. Diana will be dearly missed by her nieces and nephews.

Diana worked as a Registered Nurse for many years. She spent some time working in the hospital but she really enjoyed her time working with seniors in the nursing home. After retirement, she found great joy in playing bingo with the “ladies” in her facility.

A celebration of life will be held on Thursday, December 4, 2025 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at the WALL-CUSTANCE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 206 Norfolk St., Guelph. A private family interment will be held. Arrangements entrusted to the WALL-CUSTANCE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL 519-822-0051 / www.wallcustance.com.

Memorial contributions to Hospice Wellington would be appreciated. 

A tree will be planted in memory of Diana M. Duden in the Wall-Custance Memorial Forest.

With heavy hearts, we announce that Evan Leslie MacKinnon was called to his heavenly home on November 22, 2025, after a short but courageous battle with cancer.

Evan was predeceased by his parents, Bill MacKinnon and Lois MacKinnon (nee Gregson). He is survived by his children Alex (Janet), David (Jenny), Katie, their mother Heather Kennedy, and his beloved grandchildren Lucas, Madison, Rhya, Mikayla, Ellery, Liam, and Bennett. He is also survived by his sister Julie Rattray (Stephen), nephews Kyle Rattray (Stephanie and daughter Madiella), Curtis, and niece Lauren. As well as many cousins.

Born in Caledon, Ontario, on February 11, 1957, Evan entered the world with a zest for life that never once dimmed. His family later moved to Guelph, Ontario, where they continued to grow the family’s trucking business. From a young age, Evan embraced adventure—discovering a love for snowmobiling and a fair bit of mischief, often at the same time. While math came naturally to him, he was equally at home in gym class, or, on occasion, detention.

Following in his family’s footsteps, Evan began working in the business as a teenager, spending after-school hours and weekends in the shop learning the ins and outs of trucks. As soon as he was old enough, he earned his license and took to the open road. After graduating high school, he drove full-time until the birth of his first son, when he transitioned into dispatch. Over the years, Evan worked his way through every layer of the company, ultimately becoming Chief Executive Officer. He took immense pride in the trucking industry and deeply valued the people within it. Throughout his career he built countless friendships—relationships he treasured for a lifetime. His passion for the industry extended into service on the boards of the Ontario Trucking Association, the Canadian Trucking Alliance, and Trucks for Change; roles that allowed him to give back to a profession that had given so much to his family.

Even in retirement, Evan’s zest for life never slowed. He could often be found cheering on his grandchildren at their sporting events, or enjoying quieter moments building Lego sets and puzzles. Family gatherings at his cottage were among his greatest joys—filled with food, fun, and laughter. Fishing offered him a welcome escape, granting hours of peace on the water. Though rarely the most successful angler, he derived just as much joy from celebrating others’ triumphs as he did from casting his own line. Winter never kept him still; once the lake froze, he was back on his snowmobile, carving across Ontario and Quebec with the same enthusiasm he had as a young man.

When not with family, Evan could often be found leaned over a pool table as an active member of the Guelph CPA Pool League, enjoying both the competition and the camaraderie.

Evan also found profound meaning, support, and friendship through his recovery journey. The relationships he formed within his recovery community became some of the most important of his life, offering strength, kinship, and a sense of shared purpose. He cherished every opportunity to grow, to help guide others, and to be guided in return. The fellowship he found there fundamentally shaped the man he became.

Above all, Evan possessed a remarkable gift for connecting with people. Whether offering advice, sharing a story, or simply listening without judgment, he had a way of making everyone feel valued and understood. His kindness, generosity, and genuine nature defined him. Evan was, in every sense, a gentleman.

He will be missed beyond measure, and the legacy he leaves—of integrity, compassion, service, and an unwavering zest for life—will be carried forward by all who were fortunate enough to know him.

Evan’s family would like to thank Dr. Valdes at Waterloo Regional Health Network, the Palliative Team of Dr. Spadafora, and Nurse Shannon Wood of Bayshore HealthCare for the love and care they showed Evan during the end of his journey.

Friends will be received at the Wall-Custance Funeral Home & Chapel, 206 Norfolk St., Guelph, on Friday, December 19th, 2025, from 5:00pm to 8:00pm. A memorial service for Evan will be held at Elora Road Christian Fellowship, 5696 Wellington Rd. 7, Guelph, ON, on Saturday, December 20th, 2025, at 11:00am: with family arriving at 10:00am.

Arrangements entrusted to the WALL-CUSTANCE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL 519-822-0051 / www.wallcustance.com.

As expressions of sympathy, donations may be made to the Crohn’s & Colitis Association.

 A tree will be planted in memory of Evan L. MacKinnon in the Wall-Custance Memorial Forest.

Colin Murray Bain died peacefully at his home in at The Village of Arbour Trails, Guelph, Ontario on November 21, 2025.

Born in London, England, on June 19, 1945, Colin spent his childhood in both London and the Scottish Highlands, his ancestral home. A student at St. Paul’s School in London, Colin was steeped in classical 19th century education, studying Latin, History, and English, enjoying boxing, cricket, and rugby, and becoming Lance Sergeant of the school’s Combined Cadet Force. With the encouragement of his brother, Donald Morrison Bain (1939-2009), Colin moved to Hamilton, Ontario in September 1963 to study Social Sciences at McMaster University. At McMaster, Colin met Vida Ruth Seifert (1947-2016), who had come from Sudbury to study Science. They married in 1969 and had forty-seven happy years together.

Colin pursued graduate studies at the University of Guelph and his M.A. in History was granted in 1968. He entered the university’s brand-new doctoral program focusing on the industrial revolution in Scotland. Colin and Vi moved to Scotland for a year and, once installed in Kirkcaldy, Fife, Vi organized all the historical records Colin needed to study and removed the ones he could safely ignore. Accordingly, three years-worth of research were completed in eighteen months, and Colin’s Ph.D. was granted at Guelph in 1973.

Having completed his Ph.D., Colin realized he did not really want to spend all his life in historical research and enrolled at Althouse College of Education in London, Ontario. He joined the teaching staff of Nelson High School and took early retirement from Acton High School in 2000. Colin was highly dedicated to educating young people and is remembered as a strong supporter of the Halton Learning Foundation. In collaboration with his writing partner, Dennis DesRivieres, he co-wrote over a dozen social science textbooks for use in Ontario’s schools.

In their retirement, Colin and Vi had an intense fifteen years of visiting their recently acquired cottage on Manitoulin Island, travelling the world, enjoying their garden in Morriston, Ontario, and pursuing hobbies such as the restoration of his 1972 MG B.

In 2014, Vi was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, and Colin spent much of his time as a caregiver until Vi’s death in 2016.

After relocating to Guelph, Ontario in 2015, Colin received the support of the Arbour Trails community with Vi’s sudden decline and his own deteriorating health as he dealt with Parkinson’s disease. Colin also found an advocate and was strongly supported by his nephew Nigel Bain, who moved with his family to Guelph in 2017.

Colin used to say that his finest quality was his luck. He had the luck to be born into a rock-solid family, to have been exposed to an intellectually challenging education, to have met Vi, the bedrock of his adult life, to find steady employment with none of the periods of unemployment common in professional careers today, and lastly, Colin felt lucky in that he chose to live in the best country in the world.

Donations can be made to Colin’s favourite charity, Halton Learning Foundation, in support of the Colin M. Bain Halton Social Science Scholarship.

A memorial will be held in the spring.

Arrangements entrusted to the WALL-CUSTANCE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL 519-822-0051 / www.wallcustance.com.

A tree will be planted in memory of Colin M. Bain in the Wall-Custance Memorial Forest.