Royce E. Hamende, Jr., 87, of Crete, IL, passed away on January 12, 2022. He was born December 6, 1934, to the late Royce and Avis (Cotter)Hamende, Sr. in Hammond, IN. Royce is survived by his loving wife of 30 years, Connie (Sieren) Hamende; his son, Royce (Karen) Hamende, III; five grandchildren, Royce (Shelly) Hamende, IV, Rachel Hamende, Katherine Hamende, Jake (Laura) Borrmann, and Nick Borrmann; five great-grandchildren; three stepchildren, Jim (Kelly) Poole, Tracy (Kevin) Gray, and Steven Poole; and six step-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Alicia Snider, and his daughter, Susan Borrmann.

“But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.” - 2 Chronicles 15:7

Born into a loving, Christian family, during the depression, and on the cusp of World War II, it is not surprising Royce grew to become a faith-filled, hard-working, strong-principled, and thrifty man. He also showed early in his life he possessed a courageous and strong soul. Upon graduation from Griffith High School (Indiana), he joined the United States Coast Guard. In spite of his pension for sea sickness, he served as an electronics technician for 21 years.

He capitalized on his industrious, mechanical, and methodical thought-processing abilities both personally and professionally. In 1995, after several years working in the pumping industry, he and his wife, Connie, started their own company, Royce Equipment, LLC. Royce designed, sold, implemented, and serviced pumping equipment, successfully managing the business until his death. Royce was always ready to lend his expertise and helping hand to family and friends in need. The expected plumbing issues aside, he would fix your car, paint your bedroom, refurbish your furniture and fixtures, wallpaper your kitchen, change out your water heater- the list was endless! In the early years of their marriage, Royce and Connie bought several homes to fix up and sell, finding this labor of love to be therapeutic. His most coveted “project” was the lake cottage he and his young children built together. In 1967, Royce purchased an untamed lot on Lake Shavehead, just across the Indiana border in southern Michigan. He and his diligent helpers spent many weekends camping on the lot as they slowly built a two-bedroom home overlooking the lake. The construction process holds many fond memories for his son, including the “Dad” engineered ramp that allowed Susan to push blocks to the bottom of the hill, powered by scooting on her bottom and shoving them with her legs. Waiting below were the pair of Royces, picking them up and stacking them for the foundation. Even after all their sweaty labor and living in a tent, Dad still made them go to church on Sundays. Royce’s little plot of paradise provided many Fourth of July celebrations, fishing expeditions, lazy days of swimming, cards, and yard games, campouts, and lots of good food!

Another source of pride for Royce was his sobriety. A good friend shared his concern with Royce that his drinking had become a problem. Royce agreed to go to Alcoholics Anonymous and he never looked back. He spent the last 36 years of his life sober. It was never a taboo subject for him and he used his experience to help others. He understood the harms the disease causes and how it affects everyone, not just the afflicted, and wanted all to learn from his mistakes.

Royce was a devout Christian and an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Crete, Illinois. He loved his Chicago Bears, was an avid NASCAR fan, cherishing his annual trips to the Daytona 500, and he was forever in pursuit for that perfect round of golf.

The last 17 months of his life he faced his toughest challenge. He endured surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation, all in the middle of a scary pandemic. He remained faithful to his Lord until the very end.

“Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” - Psalm 27:14

In memory of Royce, you may make a donation to American Cancer Society at https://fundraise.cancerresearch.org/In-Memory-of-Royce.

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Peter Drake of complications arising from Covid. Peter was educated at "Queen Elizabeth High School" (QEHS), Carmarthen, Wales. He trained as a teacher (chemistry teacher) at the University of Northumberland before emigrating to Australia, where he worked as a science-teacher at schools in Sydney and Newcastle. He leaves a wife, Diane and two sons, Peter and Harry. No flowers, please. His ashes have been interned after a short family funeral

Papa has left us. We’ll never stop missing him. He could fix any broken thing except our hearts because we can no longer ask his advice on whether the pieces should be glued, nailed, stitched or stapled back together. He would know what tools to use. Born September 10, 1949 in Vancouver, Washington, Benny Rex Wilson, who went by Ben, was the youngest son of Jim and Elaine Wilson and brother of Jimmy Wilson, all of whom passed on before him. His formative years were spent on the Oregon coast where his family owned the Greenleaf motel at Gleneden Beach near Lincoln City.

Ben grew up an outdoorsman; he could name any tree that grew in the Pacific Northwest, once had a pet crow, and went beachcombing for Japanese glass fishing floats and agates that washed in after a storm. He fished for salmon, went crabbing, and dug for clams. He started getting grey hairs at the age of sixteen and worked to pay for his first car before he could drive.

After his graduation from Taft Highschool, he received his Vietnam induction notice and moved to Canada to dodge the draft. He was twenty. Ben had a variety of occupations when he first arrived in Vancouver, British Columbia, including a job at Seagram’s Distillery, but settled on the trade of floor installation. He eventually became the best in the business in the Lower Mainland due to his precise and beautifully finished work.

He met Karen Hart in 1972. The first thing she said to him was, “Is that your real hair?” They were best friends and life companions for 50 years. When they had children, the family moved to Tsawwassen, near the beach and the border. He taught his daughter, Shay, to listen to protest songs and appreciate history. He taught his son, Justin, his trade and how to fish and they worked and fished together for many years. Ben was a friend and mentor to his nephew, Rick and his niece, Dawn. He taught all of us to truly notice the natural world, he pointed out every hawk on a fence post, every heron in a ditch, black bears and foxes on the side of the road, he brought us buckets of seawater full of purple starfish. He would urgently speak your name and say, “look at that, look.”

Ben received his Canadian citizenship in 2015. He was soft-spoken and kind, but a raconteur, sparkling with humour, after a few cans of Kokanee. He loved old stuff, good deals, orange cats and any dragon in written or cinematic form. Ben passed away from complications relating to COPD on January 6, 2022 at the age of 72. He enjoyed six years of playing with his grandchildren, Jamie and Hunter, who clambered all over him like squirrels.

Jayne was an absolute diamond. She left Sciensus (formerly Healthcare at Home) in 2020, but during her many years with the organisation, many of her colleagues became friends. She was held in the highest regard by so many people, so we wanted to create a place for people to share thoughts, wishes and messages for Jayne; which we will pass on to her family in due course.

Gary Worstell, Age 68, of Columbus, Ohio, passed away suddenly on January 31, 2022 in Conyers, Ga.

Funeral services will be held 9:30am on February 5, 2022 at 90 The Falls Blvd Covington, GA 30016 Arrangements are by Wheeler Funeral Services.

Gary was born in Columbus, Ohio, to Diane and Henry Worstell on August 8, 1953. He went to school at Beechcroft High School. He married Ann Worstell on September 9, 1974 in Decatur, GA. He ran his own parking company, Metro Atlanta Parking, for 23 years. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War and served in the Army for 12 years.

Gary is preceded in death by his Wife (Ann Worstell), Mother (Diane Worstell), Father (Henry Worstell) and Sister (Rebecca Worstell)

Gary is survived by his 1st Child (Karen Lowe), 2nd Child (Jeffrey Worstell), Younger Brother (David Worstell), Youngest Brother (Matthew Worstell), Grandson (Mason Lowe), Granddaughter (Kai Lowe) and his dog (Zack)

Memorials may be given to Karen Lowe (678) 499-3992
The family of Worstell wishes to extend our sincere thanks to Dr. Lindburg, who cared for Gary in his last moments.

Pamela Gavina Abrina, our dearest and beloved mother was born in Bangar, La Union to Bonifacio, Sr. and Julita Gavina, a bar topnotcher lawyer and a housewife. She studied at St Scholastica’s College in Manila but had to go back to the province when the war broke out. She and my Dad met when my Dad would go to Bangar to visit relatives during his summer vacations while studying law at the Santo Thomas University.
Mommy was a very courageous young lady. Imagine at a young age she came to Davao alone without any relatives or friends to join and marry our father, Alfredo Abrina, son of Candido and Maria Abrina. She was a very tough and headstrong woman. While our Dad was a practicing lawyer, she was always the business minded oriented one. She was very productive, always thinking of something worthwhile to do. She didn’t want to be idle. It’s as if her mind was always in the mathematical mode. We used to hear her compute verbally in her mind. She opened so many businesses like a beauty parlor (even selling her own brand of hair spray which she named “Angelique”), opened and managed a branch of a drugstore of her sister-in-law, Auntie Fely, managed a fleet of jeepneys, where she learned to decipher what was wrong with the vehicle just by the sound of it (funny - but she was most of the time right!). She opened an ice cream business helping small boys earn by selling ice cream in the streets. This business of hers led to the sisters of the school of Stella Maris to ask her to supply all the canteen needs of the school’s cafeteria. From here she started supplying other schools like ICC, Ateneo and some public schools. I recall her saying that my college tuition was funded from this venture of hers. I remember, whenever I came home to Davao for vacations, I saw her supervising her ice cream making factory, even during brown-outs, checking the endless preparation of bar-b-cues, different kinds of sandwiches, hundreds of pulborons and turons which must all be delivered on time to the different schools’ recesses. This was all in addition to planting fruits, coconuts and bananas in their farm. Mommy was indefatigable, to say the least. She always was always in control of a situation, always insistent on things done her way which, almost all of the time, was correct. She was always on the go even until her 80s. Luckily we have our dear adoptive sister, Susan who always assisted her in all the grinds she wanted to pursue. Thanks dear Nana Susan.
Our parents were hardworking and imparted to us good values and habits which we have tried to pass on to our children. They have influenced us in so many ways. Mommy and our Dad taught us the importance of education. I saw and felt how fulfilled they were when I and my sisters and our brother, Bingbong, finished our education. Another trait they instilled in us is to be frugal and save. Being an Ilocana, Mommy taught us not to be spendthrifts. She and Daddy would always tell us not to buy if we didn’t have the cash to pay for it. I remember, she would sew our Sunday dresses with Leng, which we outgrew anyway, because she didn’t want us to wear them often so as not to ruin them easily. I clearly remember how she sewed my Miss Junior High School Prom dress which made me felt like a princess because of the tulle she sewed over the dress. I remember the day she accompanied me to buy my first high heels which I proudly wore walking along San Pedro Street. Our Dad was a man of few words but Mommy was the vocal and stricter one. Daddy would only say a yes or a no but Mommy would have a string of lectures to say to us. Oh boy would she yell at us. In retrospect, I am now what I am because of my loving Mommy and Daddy.
After our Dad passed away, Mommy traveled to the US and Europe often to visit us and be with her grandchildren. Every year she would spend about 3 months with us and 2 months in Europe and, therefore, her “apos” always felt her presence around them while they were growing up. She loved all her 7 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren so much. Our friends and tax clients in the US also got to meet her regularly. One joke we always had was clients would rather call her instead to make their appointments because she allows them their preferred dates.
Aside from her yearly trips to visit us (her last trip was in 2016 when she stayed for 2 months), we yearly made 2 to 3 trips a year to visit her in Davao (except for the last 2 pandemic years). There are so many happy memories with Mommy I could think of. She can be very funny sometimes. And she is an influencer, mind you. She brought us all together for vacations here in the Philippines and abroad. She gathered all of us together and these vacations became some of the happiest memories of our children. She would also bring one “apo” at a time to Italy to spend quality time with them. I cannot thank Mommy enough, when in 1993 she stayed in New Jersey for more than 7 months to be with Ronnie and the children while I was assigned in Cambodia. I would not have had the peace of mind if I didn’t have her looking after my children while I was away. Mommy is very strong willed. While we would worry about her, she would insist that she could travel on her own until she was about 86. She would tell us she’s not afraid of anything as she can readily communicate with anybody. During her flights, whether it be domestic or international, she would always wear her favorite traveling colored stripes outfit to make sure that we would spot her immediately at the airport. Our Mommy was so courageous.
Mommy, thank you so much for the love, attention, lessons imparted and loving care for us. You’ve done so much and taught us well. I will miss you so much. I now feel so alone having lost you, our matriarch of our family. My only consolation is that you are now happily together with Daddy, Bingbong, Chicoy, Cochi and the rest of our love ones who have gone ahead into the Kingdom of our Lord, with the Holy Spirit, and all Angels and Saints. Please continue to watch and protect over us, Mommy. I will miss you so much. Embrace, embrace, kepkep, kepkep and kiss, kiss Mommy. I love you very very much.

-Tria Magno

To my dearest mother, thank you. Thank you for being a great mother to me, a wonderful grandmother to my children, nieces, and nephew, and an even greater great-grandmother to their children. Ever since I was little, you were always so strong. You did whatever you want even when people doubted you. Thank you for teaching me to be strong most especially in trying times.

I remember you would tell me how I was a lucky charm so you would bring me along to meetings and name businesses after me. My fond memories with you will live on in my mind. I love you so much and miss you already.

- Annabelle Labitoria

Remembering you Ma, Mommy, Mati, Apong…
I do not know where to begin…
It must have been a big shock and a scare for you to arrive in Davao at such a tender age of 24 and make that big decision to leave your family behind to be with Daddy. New place, new culture, new dialect, new family, in laws and new home. But you took the risk for the great love you had for Daddy. Being on your own must have been one of the factors that shaped you to be a very determined woman – to survive and blend into your new surroundings. Daddy’s love was worth it all.
You honed your independence and with daddy’s full support you ventured to all the things you thought you could do and did them – with no hesitation, you plunged into any situations with vigour, energy and stamina. As a driven person and always on the go – you could not stand watching TV, watching movies, playing mahjong, being idle, doing nothing, as you always had to do something no matter what and where you were – especially with your hands… Your hands moved and worked with such strength with no fear… Your feet were always up and walking and sometimes I saw you up on the roof supervising work… Your shoulders always proud and with dignity as we all know you are “isug” who can challenge anyone no matter who… Your lips and your voice with such extreme range to being the sweetest of all or the evilest if ever stoked to a challenge… The yells that could stun anyone and the gaze that was so stupefying. I sometimes wondered what went on in your mind as you were non-stop thinking all the time. Even as you rested during siesta, I saw your fingers doing the sums, calculating. Perhaps if diagnosed nowadays, you are a perfect “hyper” woman, multi-tasking, super intelligent, cunning, astute, business-minded, shrewd and very creative…All these traits were there when you ventured into these businesses (Manang Tria also mentioned them) that I remember – perhaps there are even more:
Pharmacy – at a young age you opened up a branch of a pharmacy without even being a pharmacist.
Beauty Salon – you had a beauty salon in Villa Abrille. One day the maid spilled the shellac on the floor and her hair all got stuck…the idea of a hair spray, you concocted yourself, came about which you launched as “Angelique”.
Ice cream/ice drop/ice candy – “La belles” were painted over these red boxes that young kids brought all over the neighborhood with their bells to sell your ice products. On that first day of launching, at aged 6, I was at awe with the coins we got, so much so that I asked you whether we are now very rich. Your reply was “this will be for your Manang Tria’s college education”.
Fleet of jeepneys – with your brothers, you set up jeepneys for passengers. I guess those jeepneys were not on tiptop shape as they were always broken – I remember the jeeps’ names, Annabelle, Alwyn, etc. I always remember you speaking with engine jargon, check the “fan belt”, the “carburador”, the “tambucho”, etc. as you knew each and every piece of the engine.
Sandwiches – you got concessions to deliver meriendas to private and public schools. When you went to the Principals to get the payments, you brought me with you and asked me to dance, recite a poem, etc. as an entertainer and part of your marketing sway. I remember them asking “is she adopted?” as I very much looked your opposite – am dark – you were fair and so beautiful.
Toron – helpers separated the lumpia wrappers in the evening and early in the morning, they started frying banana toron. The smell of frying etched in my mind. We went with you in Bankerohan to buy sab-a saging and I still remember the way you haggled back and forth to lower down the price. Up to now, I do the same thing here in Italy and they always asked if I am from Naples – where people are absolute hagglers…
Pulvoron – as payment for your meriendas, some schools like Holy Cross paid you with in-kind items i.e., flour; sugar; butter; dried milk which you, in turn, made into pulvoron. I remember those huge cans of butter that said “donated by the United States of America”. Thinking about it now – I was then an indirect beneficiary of school feeding and perhaps with the UN World Food Programme – now where I work? Those linen cloths from the sugar, flour and dried milk were turned into our base blankets made of pure linen. Nothing got wasted!
Real Estate – on the side you ventured into land buy and sell. I remember your marketing techniques where you asked cousins to act as buyers so you can regulate the asking price. Natural marketing instincts.
Banana plantation – who would think that you could be the grower.
While you’ve embodied all these skills, unknowingly they got passed on to your grand and great-grand children and specially to Susan who is now living the examples of your business ventures and acumen.
Cir-ann – worked as a marketing executive in BDO and an aficionada with do-it-yourself projects. You built our house in Buhangin and you were the architect and builder.
Ria – got your love for plants and has so many and countless interests like you. Always thinking of “what can I do next?”
Cristina – exemplified your business strategy at the highest level and even brought you with her to be featured in Forbes magazine at age 95 – with Brad Pitt to boot!
Mark – the most thrifty amongst us just like you. He will wait for an hour-long line to return a $1.65 shirt. Any pennies he saves he puts into his flourishing real estate acquisitions.
Ryan – a very loving father like how mommy gave her undivided attention…very entrepreneurial working with different start-ups including having his own and doing simultaneous jobs.
Co-an – loves doing things with her hands creating beautiful macrames. Also working guess where? In the marketing field – global assessment of marketing data.
Alexis – a bit “furbo” as they say in Italian – meaning wise and cunning like mommy. Despite his civil engineering degree, he opted a masters in marketing. He coined “Mati” for mommy Pame at aged 2 and since then became the affectionate name by the grandchildren for mommy.
Erin – No one wins an argument with Erin – she has mommy’s determination and strength (physical as well). A multi-tasker loving business ventures.
Caila – Simple and yet so intelligent – she is not into frills like mommy but a real doer. A multi-tasker as well with, again, several business ventures.
Chloe – love of drama – mommy liked weaving stories and can go on and on with special effects. Chloe is street smart and can always extricate herself out of difficult situations.
Liam – so hardworking always opting for excellence, very dependable so mature for his age, loving and caring for others.
Nina – mommy’s sensitivity and love for jewelry.
Zoe – is surely manifesting mommy’s trait of being headstrong and has mommy’s strength and lack of fear.
Kira – sweet Kira emotes like mommy and she is not afraid to show her true feelings – she can laugh as loud and cry when she is sad like Mati. She is very logical and practical with very sweet disposition.
Mommy’s business acumen, strategy and approach if brought to another level could equal the likes of Jamie Dimon or Jack Welch – known to be the “jack” of all trades. She has all the skills of a grand CEO – indefatigable, wise, caring and shrewd. She gave answers to any questions I had as far as I can remember while growing up – that led me to be curious and adventurous.
You may see Manang Litcha so sweet with her smiles but deep down is the strong will and determination of mommy. Once lit, she is mommy all the way…
Manang Tria, as the eldest, was mommy’s favorite. Manang’s love and respect for mommy is so great not once did I ever see her defy mommy’s wishes. Who wouldn’t wish for a child like that!!! Mommy’s dreams and aspirations for Manang Tria were fulfilled down to manang’s children.
Mommy was so proud of all her children, grand-children and great-grand-children. She lived for us.
We wouldn’t be where we are now if not for our loving husbands that mommy could not ask for more for.
We also would like to express our sincere thanks to Susan for her unfaltering love for mommy. Susan is the luckiest one to have spent a great deal of time than any of us with mommy. As mommy’s cognitive faculties deteriorated, her recognition of Susan never faded. Susan took good care of mommy all these years specially when we were all away.
Mommy, you are one of a kind, thank you for everything – all these things you accomplished you always said it was for us, your beloved children, grand and great-grand children. We thank you that each and every one of us has a part of you that we hope to pass on to the next, next, next generations.
Dear mommy, you set the beginning and the life you led and gave will see no end.

- Angelica Abrina

Ev was born in Oklahoma but grew up in Chico, CA. with his parents, Ernest and Edith, and his sister Tamara. His passion for good food came from his mother and he was skilled at figuring out recipes by taste. In college, he discovered a love for technology, but focused on his original degree. He graduated from college with a BS in Biology and a minor in Chemistry. Then, he began teaching 4th grade in Nevada City, CA.

He loved music, played acoustic guitar, and sang with a lovely Baritone voice. While house sitting for his parents Ev’s love for music drew him to choir at Neighborhood Church in Chico where he met his wife, Ellen. They fell in love, were engaged by the end of the summer, and married that November. He often said he married Ellen because she laughed at his jokes. He did have a wonderful sense of humor and a hearty laugh. They moved to Grass Valley and rented an apartment before finding a small house to buy. His two children, Aimee and Evan, were born during this time, teaching him the joys and frustrations of being a parent.

For several years, Ev taught school, but didn't enjoy it much as he struggled with the paperwork. Ellen’s father was a retired Carpenter/Contractor and had helped them remodel their first home during the summer. Through this he discovered a passion for building. Ev & Ellen built and remodeled several homes for family and friends during this time and earned his Contractor’s license.

Interest rates went to 18% in 1979; no one could afford to buy homes. An aptitude test from Johnson O'Connor Research Foundation showed him his aptitudes lay in his mechanical abilities, not in teaching, so Ev went back to College to study electronics. By the time he had his AS degree in technology, local tech companies had put a hiring freeze on all jobs. He found a QA position at KLA in Santa Clara, so they moved to a rental house in the Bay area. It was a shock because of higher prices, though his job paid more. After a year, they found a house to buy and lived there for twenty years. While working at KLA he continued his education and got a BS in Engineering Technology. Ev enjoyed working as a Hardware Design Engineer at several different companies. His name is on a patent for a high speed solid state drive for Dell Computers, along with his good friend Norm Dancer.

Due to job downturns in 2001, Ev was laid off and returned to his love of building. He found the house they live in now, remodeled it, and moved in. After selling his previous home, he bought a neighbor's house and remodeled it with help from his daughter and son in law, eventually selling it to them. Later he helped his son remodel a couple different homes he lived in. He was always more than willing to be a handyman for family and friends.

Although Ev grew up in church, hypocrisy caused him to quit attending. He came to love God again through the witness of Ellen, Norm, Chistine, Gerardo, and the Ministries of Michael Rood, Keith Johnson, and Nehemia Gordon. He enjoyed the sermons at Family Community Church but was afraid he’d fall asleep and snore, so watched online. He attended a breakfast Bible Study with friends.

He struggled with many medical issues over the years. He was diagnosed with adult onset diabetes in his 30’s. In 2000 his heart began to fail and he had an Angioplasty. In 2005, while working on their daughter's house he suffered Traumatic Brain Injury, mostly recovering. Then his heart began to fail again and he had a Quadruple bypass in 2008. About 2012, he had a minor stroke, which left him with a limp on the right side. But he still enjoyed spending time with family and friends, usually over good food at a favorite restaurant. His health continued to decline and he was less able to get around and do things he loved to do. So, when his heart began to fail again, he was reluctant to "let the doctors do their thing". He put on a good front, although we knew he was failing.

Ev’s heart gave out Christmas Eve, and he is now with God. He is survived by his wife, Ellen Groff; daughter, Aimee King; and son, Evan Groff, along with four grandchildren Ashley King, Sarah King, Ethan Groff, and Eric Pace. Although we miss his love and laughter we are happy he is no longer frustrated and struggling with his disabilities. We feel blessed to have had him in our lives.