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February 14, 1935 – March 8, 2026

In Memory of Ronald (Ron) Lees, who passed away on March 8, 2026. Ron was the devoted husband of the late Millis Lees, and a loving father to his daughters, Karen English and Hilary Watson. He was cherished by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, all of whom will carry his memory forward. Ron will be fondly remembered and deeply missed by all. 

Ron was a compassionate and caring man who always placed the needs of his family and his patients above all else. As an Officer in the Order of St. John, he was committed to humanitarian and charitable work around the world. He will be remembered for his sound judgment, his steady voice of reason, and his seemingly encyclopedic knowledge of all things.

Born in Carlisle, England, Ron moved to Glasgow, Scotland, as an infant. His lifelong passion for Scotland was part of his fabric, and he was a devoted Scot to the end, despite having lived much of his life in Canada. 

Ron was accepted to Medical School at the University of Glasgow at the age of 17 where he obtained his degree in medicine in 1958. He joined the merchant navy for two years and then continued to travel the world as ship’s surgeon on the Circassia (Anchor Line) and the Orion (P and O). Ron met his wife in 1961. They married the same year and moved to the West Indies shortly thereafter. Formerly chief medical officer to the government of St. Lucia, and physician with the Rockefeller Foundation of New York, Ron later moved his family to Scotland before emigrating to Canada where he joined the Faculty of Medicine at Queen’s in 1969. There, Ron continued his medical practice until his retirement in 2001. His work took him to the U.K., Egypt, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates on extended projects and sabbaticals.

For his work in tropical medicine, Ron was awarded a Fellowship in the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene in 1965. Ron was invested into the Order of St. John in 1968 and became an Officer in the Order in 1972. He gained Fellowships in the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the United Kingdom, the Royal College of Physicians of Canada, and the College of Family Physicians of Canada. At Queen’s Ron was a member of the Department of Community Health and Epidemiology and the Department of Family Medicine from 1977 until 1995, when he became director of occupational health and safety, and consultant physician to several corporations. Ron was actively involved with examination committees of the Medical Council of Canada for several years and served on several committees for both the governments of Ontario and Canada. Upon his retirement in 2001, Ron was named Professor Emeritus in the Faculty of Medicine at Queen’s. He was proud that his wife and his daughters were all graduates of Queen’s. 

A lover of the outdoors, Ron spent his youth climbing in Scotland, his early adulthood traversing the great oceans of the world, and laterally sailing the calmer waters of Kingston, Ontario. Ron enjoyed cultivating the beautiful gardens he and Millis created together and harvesting their fresh vegetables. Ron instilled in his daughters, from an early age, a lasting appreciation for nature and a fondness for all creatures, great and small. With a dog at his heel and a pipe at the ready, he entertained family and friends with his gift for storytelling and his terrific sense of humour. He loved to sing, dance, play the spoons, and he never turned down an opportunity to Address the Haggis. 

In retirement Ron took great pleasure in volunteering at the Kingston Marine Museum, where he quickly bonded with a group of likeminded, would-be mariners.

A funeral service will be held at James Reid Funeral Home (1900 John Counter Blvd.) on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at 11 a.m.

Cherished by all who knew her, Mary Elizabeth Richardson, 97, passed peacefully in her sleep January 27, 2026. 

Born March 20,1928, in Edmonton, Alberta, Mary lived a truly remarkable life. Her devotion to those less fortunate than herself started immediately after graduation from Queen’s in 1950. As a social worker she worked with many organizations including Children’s Aid Society of Kingston, The Halifax Dartmouth School Board, Big Brothers, and Family Services of Toronto. Mary was a tireless worker on behalf of those who needed her most. After raising three children in Nova Scotia, Mary decided to further her education and graduated at 42 years of age from Dalhousie University with her much-coveted Masters of Social Work degree. Mary had an amazing sense of humour. Her infectious smile and wit brightened the days of all who knew her, especially family, friends, colleagues, and those who cared for her in her later years.

Survived by her three children: Sheri, Bob (Susan), Paul (Donna); grandchildren: Robin, Leslie, Alison, Jacquelyn, Patrick, Geoff, Megan, Steven, Ryan; great-grandchildren: Cason, Winter, Diana, Juliet, Theodore, Florence, Max, Scottie, Brady, Zoey, Kayden, and Cooper; and by many cherished nieces and nephews.

April 26, 1961 – January 23, 2026

Sharon was born in London, England, and moved to Canada when she was three years old. After a brief residence in the Netherlands, her family settled permanently in Ottawa in 1970.

Sharon graduated from Bell High School in Ottawa. She was a keen student and was passionately involved in the high-school music program. She excelled as a clarinetist. Music brought her great joy and many close connections, and over her lifetime she pursued many of these friendships.

Sharon attended Queen's, where she received her Doctor of Medicine (MD). As a student in the Faculty of Medicine, she became the first female president of the Queen’s Aesculapian Society.  After receiving her MD, she completed her residency training in obstetrics and gynecology in Kingston. While studying at Queen’s, she was known for her energy, friendliness, and laughter.

Sharon then moved to Ottawa, where she began an energetic, compassionate career in the field of women’s healthcare. She established a private practice and performed her obstetrics and gynecology work at The Riverside Hospital. She then moved to The Ottawa Hospital and contributed significantly to the delivery of care and the development of team excellence.

In 2007 she received a Compass Award from The Ottawa Hospital for her display of outstanding commitment to quality in the birthing unit through her leadership and participation in committees and research, and by encouraging others to participate in quality assurance. She was a strong force in the development of patient safety systems that have remained in place at The Ottawa Hospital.

In 2009 Sharon joined the Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA) and began a new chapter, during which she continued to provide invaluable contributions to the medical community. She soon developed a reputation for careful analytical work, and she became known also for her warm, encouraging approach to consultation and mentorship.  

Sharon was devoted to her family. She inspired adventurous vacationing, skiing, fishing, cycling, hiking, and frequent celebrations. Her emphasis on the importance of extended family was always evident, and she never missed an opportunity to have a party, a dinner, or a cup of tea with one of her brothers or other family members.  

Sharon passed on January 23, 2026, following her courageous battle with cancer. She was surrounded by her family, and throughout her final days, she felt laughter and joy through her reminiscences of family trips, celebrations, and important moments in our lives.

Throughout her journey, Sharon maintained an active and optimistic spirit, spending her days enjoying bike rides along the Rideau River with her husband, hiking through forest trails, hosting video calls with her boys, and enjoying magical moments with friends, family, and colleagues. 

Sharon leaves behind her husband of 30 years, Fred Pelletier; her two sons, Matt and Jeff; and her brothers, Al (Heather) and David (Stella). She was predeceased by her parents, Michael Caughey (Sue Hamilton) and Margaret Caughey. Her many nephews, nieces, cousins, and in-laws will miss her dearly.

During her final days, Sharon remained determined and resilient, and was continually mindful of her family, friends and colleagues. She spent much of her valuable time expressing her heartfelt appreciation for the many people who had accompanied her as she completed her journey.  

We will all miss Sharon’s love, her laughter, and her unending gratitude for the gift of life and the shared richness of family and friendships. She will be remembered for her energy, generosity, strength, and collaborative spirit.  

Sharon had a special gift for making people feel valued and happy. She will forever be present in our thoughts and prayers.

Helen Harradence passed on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in Prince Albert, Sask., her home of 76 years, of natural causes and with family at her side, aged 102.

Helen lived a life of great faith, discipline, and service.

Born on August 12, 1923, in Winnipeg, Man., to the future Bishop of Saskatchewan, The Right Reverend Henry D. Martin and Mrs. Kathleen Martin, Helen joined an established Canadian family.

Her father was an English immigrant from London who graduated from Wycliffe College at the University of Toronto in 1911. Her maternal grandfather was Robert Richey Wilson, an immigrant from the village of Lisbellaw, County Fermanagh, Ireland, who had become a partner in the grocery wholesaler Campbell Bros & Wilson, which was founded in 1882. Many of the company’s buildings and the Wilson family homes are historic landmarks in Western Canada. Her maternal grandmother was Sara Bussell, then Halton, Ont. Bussell House, built in 1865, is also a historic building, located on the 9th Line in the northwest corner of Mississauga, Ont.

Helen was a person of great physical and intellectual capacity.

She possessed a natural sense of self reliance, curiosity, and composure. She was blessed with her father’s height (she was 5’11”), concern for others, and love of nature; and doubly blessed with her mother’s shrewdness, high standards, and joie de vie.

Helen was quiet, observant, and gracious with everyone she encountered. She was inquisitive, thoughtful, and a wonderful audience to everyone she knew well.

Helen had a grand childhood. She particularly loved figure skating at the Winter Club and summers at Lake of the Woods. She graduated secondary school in Winnipeg aged 16, the year her parents moved to Prince Albert and her father began his 20-year assignment serving the Anglican Diocese of Saskatchewan. She attended the University of Manitoba for one year, while living with her grandparents, and then attended Queen’s.

At Queen’s, she led an active social life and played on the women’s varsity basketball team. She studied sciences with the aim of becoming a laboratory technician, but with the encouragement of friends – and a spurring conversation with male medical students of the day, who felt a woman might qualify but would surely never survive the rigours of medical school – she graduated in 1949 in the first class of medicine that had women completing the entire five-year course of study.

During medical school, Helen met her future husband, Clyne Harradence of Prince Albert, Sask., on a visit home. Clyne was sent to Bishopthorpe with specific instructions from his mother Cecilia: “Make sure the Bishop’s daughter has fun while she is here … but not too much fun.” Clyne was smitten on sight, recalling the moment Helen descended the stairs of Bishopthorpe as a revelation. When pressed later in life, Helen admitted that there were “boys at Queen’s who were fairly insistent, but compared to your father and his friends, they were like watching paint dry.”

They were married in Prince Albert on Sept. 30, 1950. At a small luncheon celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary, Clyne closed a brief toast with the thought that he had spent the last 50 years “trying to meet the standard Helen set for them.”

Helen practised medicine in Prince Albert until 1955.

She then raised four sons, was active in ACW of the Cathedral at St. Albans, enlisted her husband to assist the Anglican Church of Canada on a national basis, served on the Public School Board, served on the Public Housing Authority, championed the Carment Centre, and supported her husband’s demanding but meaningful professional career. She patiently tolerated his adventures in business and politics. Helen and Clyne travelled extensively.

In 1954 Helen’s mother purchased a lakefront cabin, Sunset Lodge, at Waskesiu Lake in Prince Albert National Park. The cabin would be a mainstay of Helen’s life, serving as her summer headquarters until she turned 100. A small, close group of families celebrated several summer birthdays annually, held power outage parties on an ad hoc basis, enjoyed perfect weather and reveled in storms that blew down the lake as everyone’s children became adults and then grandchildren appeared.

Over the decades, Helen sailed, canoed, came to the back door when someone arrived asking for “Dr. Martin,” hiked, picked blueberries with Diane McClocklin, played tennis, took children to the outdoor theatre, led picnic outings “for 10 men” with Jean Murphy, cheered on triathletes, sailors, golfers or tennis players, played cards with Donna Craig, and always stopped what she was doing to walk down to the beach if a sailboat was in full flight or loons were swimming by.

In 1992 Helen and Clyne purchased the Shadow Mountain Resort in Palm Desert, California, which became Helen and Clyne’s winter home.

Helen’s iron will was hidden from most. Her motto was “Everything in moderation,” followed closely by “Do your very best.”

She jogged a mile every morning at the lake until her late seventies; she played tennis and had a proper daily swim in the lake into her eighties, she walked (a habit passed down from her mother) a “constitutional” route at both the lake and the desert every morning, and then walked the stairs of her Prince Albert home, when weather kept her inside, after turning 100. She convinced her husband to stop smoking in the late 1950s (mostly). She kept her own accounts in handwritten ledgers. She was an avid, life-long reader, with a penchant for detective procedurals and historical biographies. She was a gracious formal and informal host, always able and always willing to inquire on topics of interest to her guests.

Helen led by example and kept her own counsel. She believed strongly in professional expertise, standards, and duties. If she connected you to the word “disappointed,” which was rare and always on the merits of your behaviour, it was devastating.

Above all, Helen’s life is an example of a profound and enduring faith.

She was a life-long Anglican and a faithful member of the St. Alban’s Cathedral congregation for over 70 years. She cheerfully contributed in any capacity, hosting the Robertas Holiday Fair turkey pie production in her kitchen, cleaning dishes in the hall kitchen after events, holding national offices, and attending the General Synod.

She passionately believed in the power of forgiveness and that God held a plan and a purpose for everyone.

She was the very last of her kind and will be sorely missed.

Helen is survived by her sons, David (Lisa) Harradence of Prince Albert; Keith (Susan) Harradence of Toronto; The Honourable Hugh (Sue) Harradence of Prince Albert; and James (Michele) Harradence of Houston; by her grand-daughters, Celia Harradence of Saskatoon; and Simone Harradence of New York City; by her grandsons, Adam Harradence of Saskatoon; William Harradence of Augsburg, Germany; Aidan Harradence of London, England; and Luc Harradence of Houston; by her cousin, Joan Rue of Winnipeg; by her nieces, Kathleen Addison of Vancouver and Catherine (Mr. Justice Terence Semenuk, ret’d) Harradence of Calgary; and by her nephew, David (Stephanie, Patrick, Alison, Jennifer) Williams of Vancouver.

Helen was predeceased by her husband of 62 years, J. H. Clyne Harradence; her elder sister, Margaret Williams, of Vancouver; her brother-in-law, Mr. Justice A. M. ‘Milt’ Harradence of Calgary; her sister-in-law, Catherine Harradence of Calgary; her nephews, Rod Harradence and Bruce Harradence; and her nephew-in-law, Frank Addison of Vancouver.