BENITEZ, Maria Remedios Benitez  -
1935-2024

Maria Remedios Benitez passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 16^th surrounded by all her family at Scarborough Health Network – Centenary Site at the age of 89 years old.

Beloved wife to Patrickson. Loving mama/mother to Frank (Chie), Dean (Mary Ann), Susan (Larry), Vina (Joel) and Gigi (Nat). Adored and cherished by her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She will be very missed by her extended family and friends.

Maria loved her family dearly. She was known as many things such as super mom/granny, cool mom/granny, super Wawa and Wawa the great.

She enjoyed travelling and going to church. She considered St. Therese the Little Flower of Jesus her best friend and always by her side. Maria’s heart was filled with compassion and generosity.

She would give to charity and volunteer countless hours at the church. She loved dressing up in costumes on Halloween and Christmas but nevertheless always dressed to the nines.

Sometimes even some purple hairspray made its way into her style.

Red roses were her favourite flower. She loved to party with her family and friends. She also loved dancing, she was known as a disco queen!

Arrangements with McEACHNIE FUNERAL HOME  .

GRITZAN, Gunter Gritzan

Gunter Gritzan, aged 84, passed away peacefully on June 10th at Lakeridge Hospital. He was predeceased by his wife of 35 years, Carol Ann Gritzan (Tuff). Gunter was a loving father to Jully, Paula (Chip), and Rhonda (Kevin), and a beloved Opa to Aletta, Mitchel, Matthew, Alicia, Devon, JD, Athena, and Shay, as well as a great-grandfather to Oliver, Ryder, and Oliver. He will be missed by his nieces Jackie, Lorraine, and Pam (Christine and Roger Graveline), who remember him as Uncle Jerry. Gunter was also a dear friend to Vince Keating (Mable).

Born in Schwalmtal, Germany on August 20, 1939, to the late Amiel and Aletta Gritzan (Schurmann), Gunter was predeceased by his older brothers Hans and Ralph, and sisters Lotti and Margot (Moggi and Uncle Fred). He is survived by his younger brother Hans. Gunter moved to Canada in 1957 at the age of 18. He was known for his positive attitude, optimistic outlook, and charming humor. His favorite pastime was golfing. Gunter owned and operated a successful business, Durable Caulking, for 40 years.

His business success enabled him to travel extensively to places like Mexico, Jamaica, Columbia, and throughout Europe, ultimately settling in Florida where his family visited for years. Gunter will be sadly missed by all his family and friends.

Arrangements are with McEACHNIE FUNERAL HOME. A celebration of Gunter's life will take place later this summer, where he will be remembered by cottage friends David and Sally D’Mello, Ian and Iris Latimer, and family friend Father Greg Physick. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer Society of Ontario.

LOMBARDO, Antonio Mariano Lombardo  -  died peacefully on June 11th, 2024, at age 89.

He is predeceased by his parents, Francesco Rocco Lombardo and Maria Giuseppa Russomanno, as well as his brothers, Nicola Lombardo (Anna, predeceased), Giuseppe Lombardo (Maria, predeceased), Carmelo Lombardo (Nicoletta, predeceased), and sister, Maria Grazia Lombardo (Nicola).

He is survived by his brother Onofrio Lombardo (Anna Maria), and sister Cosima (Pasquale, predeceased), and is the uncle to twenty-two nieces and nephews.

His first wife was the beloved Elodia Papasodaro (predeceased), with whom he had three children: Umberto (predeceased), Maria Pia (John), and Pasquale (Sylvia). He is also survived by his three grandchildren, Elizabeth, Robert, and Elodia.

Later in his life, Antonio formed a loving partnership with Franca Naccarato, and became a treasured father figure to Francesca Martinez (Tony), and Marisa Naccarato-Pugliese (Thomas).

He is memorialised by Francesca and Marisa, as well as their children, Alexandra, Stefan, Elisa, and Tomas.

Antonio was born in Cardinale, Catanzaro, Italy, and immigrated to Canada in the 1960s.

Upon arriving in Canada, he worked in various fields. He was always resilient in the face of adversity, and deeply connected to his Roman Catholic faith.

Antonio is remembered fondly for his love of gardening, travelling, working as an extra in film and television, handiwork, and spending quality time with his family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Antonio may be made to the Scarborough Health Network or the Canadian Cancer Society.

Arrangements with McEACHNIE FUNERAL HOME .

Details regarding the funeral mass and burial are provided at website .

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LONGBOTHAM, Ralph Gregory Longbotham   -  Passed away on June 8, 2024 at Lakeridge Health Oshawa at the age of 87.

He lived his life with a positive attitude and optimistic outlook.

Ralph is survived by his wife of 59 years, Marilyn (nee Basser), and was the proud father of Eric (Bruce) and Yvonne (Steve).

He was the beloved grandfather of Matthew and Sarah.

He also leaves behind his sister, Marilyn Goulter (Steve), and nephews Greg and Jeff.

Born in Toronto in 1937 to Ralph Longbotham Sr and Gertrude Hubert. He met the love of his life at a dance in 1963, and married Marilyn Basser at St. Boniface church in Scarborough in 1964. They settled in Scarborough and later in Pickering to raise their two children.

Ralph worked for 41 years with North York Hydro, before retiring and enjoying time with friends and family.

Ralph loved photography, was an avid reader, and was a big fan of science fiction.

He had many interests including politics, astronomy, as well as enjoying a good car race on TV.

He will be greatly missed by his family and friends, and every person who had the pleasure of meeting him.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Canadian Kidney Foundation.

Arrangements with McEACHNIE FUNERAL HOME