The Children of Russell Uttley and Ida Meyers

Hazel Blanche Uttley the first child of Russell Uttley and Ida Meyers was born on October 28, 1910 in New Hamburg, Ontario.

The obituary of Ida (Meyers) Uttley in 1942 says that one of her five daughters was Mrs. Herbert Benedict. Hazel was first married to Herbert G. Benedict. Herbert's death in Brampton on April 16, 1982 was reported in an obituary in the K-W Record on April 17, 1982, page 49:

BENEDICT, Herbert G. -- at Peel Memorial Hospital, Brampton, on Friday, April 16, 1982, Herbert G. Benedict, aged 71 years, of Kitchener.     Dear father of Ronald, Gerald and Herbert, all of Kitchener, Betty (Mrs. Leslie Vollmer) of Brampton, Dianne of Fordwich, Madeline (Mrs. Harold Laffton) of Ethel; brother of Mrs. Florence Kaye of Hamilton, Mrs. Alma McKim of College Park, Maryland, Mrs. Almeda Smith of Elora. Eleven grand-children and three great-grandchildren also survive.     Predeceased by two brothers, Gordon and Harvey, and one sister, Muriel.     Friends may call at the Ratz-Bechtel Funeral Home, 621 King St. W., Kitchener, after 7 p.m. today. Funeral and committal service in the Ratz-Bechtel Chapel on Monday at 3 p.m. with Rev. Fred. J. Roberts officiating. Interment Woodland cemetery.     Donations to the Ontario Heart Foundation may be made as expressions of sympathy.

HERBERT G. BENEDICT 1910-1982 REST IN PEACE Woodland Cemetery, Kitchener

From the K-W Record on Monday June 30, 1986, page D15, we next read of the death of Hazel after she remarried Mac Coffen:

COFFEN, Hazel Blanche -- At K-W Hospital, on Sunday, June 29, 1986, Hazel Coffen, of 26 Raitar Ave., Kitchener, age 75 years.     Beloved wife of Mac and loving mother of Ron and his wife Laura and Gerald and his wife Joyce, all of Kitchener; dear sister of Violet, Ruth, Elsie, Earl and Russell. Also sadly missed by 10 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.     She was predeceased by her parents; a daughter, Betty Voolmer; a brother, Howard and a sister, Jean.     Friends may call at the Ratz-Bechtel Funeral Home, 621 King St. W., Kitchener from 7-9 p.m. Monday (today) and 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Tuesday. Funeral service and committal in the Ratz-Bechtel Chapel on Wednesday at 11 a.m., with Rev. Ken Bisretzan from Temple Baptist Church, Cambridge, officiating. Interment Woodland cemetery.     As expressions of sympathy, donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario and Temple Baptist Church Building Fund would be greatfully acknowledged.     Reception to follow in the Ratz-Bechtel Family Centre.

One year later on Monday June 29, 1987 the K-W Record contained these two memorials on page B15:

COFFEN, Hazel -- In loving memory of a mother, who passed away, June 29, 1986. Kitchener, age 75 years. We watched you suffer, we watched you be so brave, but all we could do was stand by. When the time came, we suffered to, for you never deserved what you went through. God took your hands, we had to part, He eased your pain, but broke our hearts. If you could have spoken before you died, these are the words you would have replied, "This life for me has truly passed, I have loved you all to the very last. Weep not for me, but courage take, and love one another, for my sake. Don't cry for me, I'm only sleeping, we'll meet again someday."     Lovingly remembered by sons, Gerald and Ron and wives Joyce and Laura.

COFFEN -- In loving memory of a dear wife, mother and grandmother, Hazel Coffen, who passed away one year ago today, June 29, 1986. When ties of love are broken, and loved ones have to part, It leaves a wound that never heals, a sad and broken heart. But looking back on memories, upon the paths we trod, We're thankful for the time we had and leave the rest to God.     Ever remembered and sadly missed by her husband, Max; grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Their headstone is at Woodland Cemetery, Kitchener:

MAXWELL COFFEN 1902-[1993] HIS WIFE HAZEL UTTLEY 1910-1986   Woodland Cemetery, Kitchener

The the K-W Record ran Maxwell's obituary on Thursday October 1993, page A11, and repeated it on the following two days:

COFFEN, Maxwell Gordon "Mac" -- Peacefully, at Conestogo Lodge, on Wednesday, Oct. 20. 1993, age 91 years.     Mac was a former member of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 50, Kitchener. He was employed at Indiana Steel for many years and was a member of Glen Acres Baptist Church.     He will be dearly missed by his grandchildren, Linda (Gary), Ron (Janet), Maxine (Larry), Tim (Wendy), Kevin, Mary, Gail and Doug. Survived by many great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild, nephews, son-in-law, Les Vollmer and his daughters-in-law, Laura and Joyce Benedict. Also survived by his brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law and nieces and nephews from within the Uttley family.     Predeceased by his parents; his wife, Hazel Coffen; his sons, Ron and Gerry; his daughter, Betty; one grandson, John and one great-granddaughter Tara.     Friends may call at the Ratz-Bechtel Funeral Home, 621 King St. W., Kitchener, this evening (Thursday) from 7-9 p.m. and on Friday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Funeral service will be held in the Ratz-Bechtel Chapel on Saturday at 11 a.m. Rev. Tom Caldwell officiating.     Reception to follow in the Ratz-Bechtel Family Centre.     Donations may be made to the Canadian Diabetes Association, 910 King St. W., Kitchener, N2G 1G4 and the Ronald MacDonald House, 1510 Main St. W., Hamilton L8S 1E3 as expressions of sympathy.

The K-W Record of Wednesday December 31, 1997, page B4, contained the obituary of Violet Hofheinz (nee Uttley):

HOFHEINZ, Violet -- At Freeport Health Centre of Grand River Hospital, on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 1997, age 85 years, of Freeport.     Dear sister of Mrs. Ruth Dickson, Earl Uttley, Russell Uttley and his wife Dolores, all of Kitchener. Lovingly remembered by her nieces and nephews.     Predeceased by her parents, Russell and Ida Uttley; her husband Fred; brother, Howard and sisters, Hazel Coffin [sic], Elsie Currie and Jean Pfeiffer.     A memorial service will be held in the Ratz-Bechtel Chapel, 621 King St. w., Kitchener on Saturday, January 3, 1998 at 1 p.m. Cremation has taken place. Interment Bridgeport Cemetery.     Memorial donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario or the charity of your choice may be made as expressions of sympathy.

There are no leads at the moment on the death of her husband Frederick.

Elsie married Edgar Preston Currie, a marriage that ended in divorce.

After her divorce she lived with Henry Clifford Marcotte, a union that lasted more than forty years until his death in 1973. They never married because Henry as a Roman Catholic could not divorce his first wife. Elsie later remarried Edgar, her first husband, and that lasted until his death in 1982.

From the K-W Record on Tuesday January 9, 1973, page 22, we learn of Henry Marcotte's death:

MARCOTTE, Henry C. -- At the K-W Hospital, on Monday, Jan. 8, 1973, Henry Clifford Marcotte, of 205 Park St., Kitchener, age 65 years, born in Britt, Ont., a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Robert Marcotte. Mr. Marcotte owned and operated a barber shop in Waterloo for the past 47 years, and was formerly active in minor sorts in the Twin Cities for many years; he has been a resident of the Twin Cities for the past 50 years.     Father of Grant, Toronto, and Thomas, Southampton; stepfather of Janet (Mrs. Jack Voelzing) of Kitchener; brother of Louis, Toronto; Albert, Britt; Rose, Florida; Anna, Stella, Julia an Adelle, all of Hamilton; and the late Ernest; nine grandchildren also survive.     Friends may call at the Ratz-Bechtel Funeral Home, 621 King St. W., Kitchener. Further information and funeral announcement will be made tomorrow.     Donations to the Ontario Heart Fund may be made as expressions of sympathy.

• Elsie, Henry's partner for forty years is never mentioned. Janet Voelzing, the daughter that the two of them adopted is mentioned in both of their obituaries.

From the K-W Record on Wednesday October 28, 1992, page A9 we learn of Elsie's passing:

CURRIE, Elsie Delphine -- Peacefully at her residence, on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 1992, Mrs. Elsie Currie, of Kitchener age 77 years.     Elsie was employed within K-W Hospital for many years until her retirement. She was a member of the armed forces in the Second World War.     Loving mother of Janet Voelzing of Kitchener; dear sister of Mrs. Ruth Dickson, Mrs. Violet Hoffheinz, Earl Uttley, Russell Uttley and his wife Dolores, all of Kitchener. Beloved grandma of Kimberley Voelzing, Kenneth Voelzing and his wife Sherri and great-grandmother of Samantha.     She was predeceased by her parents, Russell Uttley and the former Ida Russell; her husband, Edgar in 1982; two sisters, Jean Pfeiffer and Hazel Coffen and one brother, Howard Uttley.     Friends may call at the Ratz-Bechtel Funeral Home, 621 King St. W., Kitchener, on Thursday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Funeral and committal services will be held in the chapel on Friday at 1 p.m. Private interment at Woodland Cemetery.     Reception to following [sic] the Ratz-Bechtel Family Centre.     As expressions of sympathy, donations to Ronald McDonald House, London, Ont., would be greatefully acknowledged.

There are two adjacent headstones in section 2F at Woodland Cemetery, Kitchener:

EDGAR P. CURRIE Sept. 26, 1916 Aug. 13, 1982   Woodland Cemetery, Kitchener

ELSIE CURRIE Sept. 17, 1915 Oct. 27, 1992 FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS Woodland Cemetery, Kitchener

From the K-W Record on Monday August 16, 1982, page 24:

CURRIE, Edgar -- At K-W Hospital, on Friday, Aug. 13, 1982, Edgar Currie, age 65 years, of 205 Park St., Kitchener.     He was a member of the Army and Navy Club.     Husband of the former Elsie Uttley; father of Robert and his wife Susan of Kitchener, Shannon of Waterloo and Janet (Mrs. Jack Voelzing) of Kitchener; brother of Henderson of Sudbury and George of Kitchener; grandfather of Taralea, Bobby, Ken and Kim.     Predeceased by his parents, four brothers and three sisters.     Friends may call at the Ratz-Bechtel Funeral Home, 621 King St. W., Kitchener. Funeral service in the Ratz-Bechtel Chapel on Tuesday at 2 p.m., with Rev. Bob Ross officiating. Interment Woodland cemetery.     Expresions of sympathy may be shown by donations to the Canadian Cancer Society.

We have at least 3 different names for Ruth Uttley's husband: William Dickson in her mother Ida's obit, John Dickson in her father Russell's obit and Michael Dickson from her sister Jean's obit. From his obituary we learn that his full name was John Melville Dickson but that he was known as "Mike" to all.

All we know about John Dickson comes from his obituary in the K-W Record on July 26, 1971, page 21:

J. M. (Mike) Dickson     Special to The Record     ANGUS -- John Melville (Mike) Dickson died suddenly at his home Saturday of a heart attack. He was 55.     Born in Mount Forest, he was a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Peter Dickson. He came to Angus in 1966 after 23 years with the Canadian Forces and four years as a civil servant at Camp Borden. He served as a cook during his military career. He was affiliated with the Baptist Church and was a member of the Angus branch of the Canadian Legion.     Surviving are his wife, the former Ruth May Uttley, whom he married in 1938; two sons, Richard Douglas of Kitchener and Roger Keith of Brantford; three daughters, Mrs. John (Linda Ruth) George of Galt, Mrs. Leonard (Sandra Yvonne) Martin and Mrs. Wayne (Darlene Sharon) Potter, both of Kitchener; one brother, Martin of Kitchener; six sisters, Mrs. Charles (Kay) Hoskins of Galt, Mrs Charles (Haddie) Johnson of Belleville, Mrs. Marshall (Beth) Fairbarn of Guelph, Mrs. Kenneth (May) Kehl of Hespeler, Mrs. Alex (Agnes) Currie and Mrs. Archie (Jean) Brown, both of Collingwood, and 16 grandchildren.     He was predeceased by one brother, Norman.     The body is at the Keffer Funeral Home, Kitchener, where the service will be held Tuesday at 2 p.m. Rev. David Houghland of Galt will officiate. Burial will be in Woodland cemetery. Donations to the Canadian Cancer Society will be accepted as expressions of sympathy.

In loving memory of our dear father & husband John (Mike) Dickson 1916-1971 At rest Woodland Cemetery, Kitchener

The death of Ruth followed more than 40 years later on May 31, 2012 in Kitchener. From her obituary in the K-W Record:

DICKSON (Uttley), Ruth May Passed away, peacefully, at Grand River Hospital, on Thursday, May 31, 2012, in her 91st year. Daughter of the late Russell Uttley and Ida Meyers. Reunited with loving husband, John Dickson; adoring sister of the late Hazel (Coffen), Violet (Hofheinz), Howard Uttley, Elsie (Currie), Jean (Pfeiffer) and son-in-law, John George. She will be fondly remembered by brothers, Earl and Russell Uttley. Deeply missed by her children, Roger Dickson (Laura), Richard Dickson (Shirley), Sandy Demers (Frank), Darlene Simmons (Bob) and Linda George. Adored by 16 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren and 13 great- great-grandchildren. Ruth's family wishes to extend sincere thanks to the nurses of Grand River Hospital, 5th floor Heart and Stroke Unit. Cremation has taken place and a "Celebration" of life will take place at Doon Pioneer Park Community Centre, 150 Pioneer Drive, Kitchener on June 23, 2012 between 1 and 5 p.m. All friends and family welcome. Refreshments to be served with an informal time for story telling. We lost the "GREAT ONE" but HEAVEN gained a "SPECIAL ANGEL"

Howard O. Uttley was the sixth of eight children of Russell Uttley and Ida Meyers, born in 1923. He married Bernadine Martz and there were six children: Wayne Howard, Rodney Russell, Larry Charles, Robert Jerome, Yvonne (who was adopted and given the name Carol Joy) and Sharon Marie.

Howard died on June 13, 1980 in Kitchener. He is buried in Section X at Woodland Cemetery, Kitchener. But who was Henry C. Marcotte? Henry was the partner of Howard's sister Elsie.

Henry C. Marcotte/ 1907-1973/ Howard O. Uttley/ 1923-1980/ Forever Rest in Peace Woodland Cemetery, Kitchener

The K-W Record on Friday June 13, 1980, page 21, ran his obituary:

UTTLEY, Howard (Sonny) -- On Friday, June 13, 1980, at the K-W Hospital, after a brief illness, Howard (Sonny) Uttley, aged 57 years, of 126 Fourth Ave., Kitchener.     Survived by his wife Bernadine; his four sons, Wayne, Rodney, Bob and Larry; his two daughters, Carol and Sharon; his two brothers, Russell Jr. of Kitchener, and Earl of New Brunswick; his four sisters, Hazel (Mrs. Mac Coffen), Violet (Mrs. Edgar Currie) and Ruth (Mrs. Mike Dickson), all of Kitchener. Predeceased by his parents, Russell and Ida Uttley and sister, Jean (Mrs. Dick Pfeiffer).     He was an employee of Marion Sod Supply for the past eight years.     Friends may call at the Ratz-Bechtel Funeral Home, 621 King St. W., Kitchener, after 7 p.m. on Saturday. Funeral and committal service in the Ratz-Bechtel Chapel on Monday, at 3 p.m. Interment will be made in Woodland cemetery.     Expressions of sympathy may be shown by donations to the Canadian Cancer Society.

And fifteen years later in the K-W Record on Monday September 11, 1995, page A5:

UTTLEY, Bernadine -- In Brunner Nursing Home, Brunner, on Thursday, Sept. 7, 1995.     Born in South Easthope township, Perth County, on May 14, 1923, a daughter of the late Charles Martz and the former Katherine Kienapple. Wife of the late Howard Uttley.     Mother of Wayne and his wife Marie Uttley, Rod and his wife Lena Uttley, all of Elmira, Robert Uttley of Vancouver, B.C., Carol Joy and her husband Alec Purves of Kitchener, Larry and his wife Judy Woods (Uttley) of Cambridge, Sharon and her husband Douglas Ghent of Petersburg; grandmother of 18 grandchildren; sister of Gordon and his wife Marlene Martz of RR 2, Princeton. Predeceased by brothers, Gilbert Martz and Jerome Martz.     Friends were received in the Francis Funeral Home, 77 Woodstock St. N., Tavistock, where the funeral service was held on Sunday evening, Sept. 10, 1995 at 8 p.m. The interment service was held at Riverside Cemetery, New Hamburg, today (Monday) at 10 a.m. Rev. Father Victor McNamara of Holy Family RC Church, New Hamburg, officiated.     Those wishing to make a memorial contribution are asked to consider a charity of their own choice, 1-519-665-2431.

Martz Katherine Kienapple 1896-1939 wife of Charles Martz 1887-1943 their daughter Bernadine Uttley 1923-1995 Holy Family RC Cemetery, New Hamburg

Jean with her eldest son Brian in 1970

Births

Jean Loretta Uttley was born in Kitchener, Ont on June 30th 1926, the seventh child of Russell Uttley and Ida Meyers. Richard Charles Pfeiffer was the son of Lorne Philip Pfeiffer and Constance Helen Harley, born on June 22, 1928 in Centreville, Ont which is now part of Kitchener.

Marriage

Jean married her husband Richard on January 11, 1947 in Waterloo.

They had three children, all boys.

Deaths

There is a headstone at Woodland Cemetery, Kitchener, in Section T, plot 215. The inscription on her marker originally read Jean Loretta/ Pfeiffer/ 1926-1971/ In Loving Memory but the entire stone was replaced and now reads:

DUNBROOK Constance Helen 1906-2000     PFEIFFER JEAN LORETTA 1926-1971 In Loving Memory   Woodland Cemetery, Kitchener

• Constance Helen Dunbrook 1906-2000 was Richard's mother and she treated Jean as a daughter. Constance remarried to Emerson Dunbrook in 1974 after the death of Lorne Pfeiffer in 1973.

Jean's obituary was printed in the K-W Record on Friday March 26, 1971, page 21:

Mrs. Richard Pfieffer[sic]         Special to The Record     SUDBURY -- Mrs. Richard Pfieffer of 389 Charette St., Chelmsford, died suddenly Thursday at Sudbury Hospital. She was 44.     The former Jean Loretta Uttley, she was born in Kitchener, a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Russell Uttley and had lived in Chelmsford for the past two years.     Surviving besides her husband, and three sons, Brian, Richard, and Gene, all of Kitchener; three brothers, Howard and Russell, both of Kitchener, and Earl, New Brunswick; four sisters, Mrs Maxwell (Hazel) Coffen, Mrs. Violet Hofheinz, Mrs. Elsie Currie, and Mrs. Michael (Ruth) Dickson, all of Kitchener and one granddaughter.     The body will be at the Ratz-Bechtel Funeral Home, Kitchener, after 8 tonight where funeral and committal service will be conducted by Rev. E. M. Erion of Chelmsford Saturday at 3 p.m. Burial will be in Woodland cemetery, Kitchener.

Richard Pfeiffer died on January 9, 2003 in Kingston, Ont at age 74.

The obituary of his father listed Earl in New Brunswick but the later obituaries of his siblings tell us that he returned to Kitchener. The current telephone book lists an Earl L. Uttley which is him.

Dolores Hoffart was born in Saskatchewan in 1933, a daughter of John Hoffart and his wife Albertina Sauer and the youngest of seven children. The couple was married in May 1957 in Kitchener and they had three daughters and one son.

The obituaries of his parents and siblings have always listed Russell in Kitchener. The current telephone book lists a Russell Uttley and has for many years. Russell and Dolores Uttley were living at the same address in 1963 according to the Vernon City Directory.

A celebration of Russell's 80th birthday was held at an Open House on Sunday February 7, 2010 at the Emmanuel Retirement Home in Kitchener.

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Most recent revision November 2015