March 31, 1934 – April 21, 2020
It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that the family of Elmer Bly of Edmonton, AB announce his peaceful passing at the age of 86 years. He is survived by his loving wife, Marlene, sons Darcy (Chris), Gerald (Miyo) and granddaughter, Lena.
Elmer served as a member of the Edmonton Police Service for 32 years. After retiring, he was an instructor at the Grant MacEwan University in the Law Enforcement and Securities Studies program. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, Al Shamal Temple and Edmonton Scottish Rite Bodies (33rd degree). Frequently described as a “gentle and kind soul”, Elmer will be forever missed.
The family wishes to thank everyone at the Citadel Care Centre in St. Albert, AB for their kindness, support and wonderful care they provided to Elmer during his stay there. Memorial donations in Elmer’s honour may be made directly to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, only a private memorial service will be held after cremation. This comment from an e-mail by Elmer’s son Darcy speaks to the tragedy of this time: “COVID-19 unfortunately prevented us from being with him at his last moments, and is Impacting us honouring his memory through a formal service, but dad would have been just as happy to have his kids and granddaughter honouring his memory through a private service.”
(NOTE: Marlene is a former Police Woman (#22) and served with the Edmonton Police Department from 1961-1965, where she met and married Elmer and then she later resigned for family reasons.)
Elmer Bly joined the Edmonton Police Department on August 27th, 1956. After his training period, he was assigned to Patrol Division where he remained for about 6 years excepting a brief stint in Traffic section. In 1963, Elmer was assigned to Identification Section. He later moved to Traffic Section then back to Patrol. In 1972, he was promoted to Acting Sergeant in Patrol Division. Over the following years, Elmer held Ssergeant roles at the Municipal Airport Unit, Patrol “B”, Crime Prevention Unit, Personnel Section and Police Staff Unit. In 1984, Elmer changed rank to Detective in Internal Affairs Section where he remained until his retirement on August 31st, 1988.
This old item from the Glenrose Hospital speaks to Elmer’s spirit:
Faces of courage: Encouraging our patients in the fight they so bravely face each day is about a special kind of heroism. The following journeys embody the dedication, perseverance and courage exhibited along thousands of rehabilitation journeys each day. We exist to support Glenrose patients and the talented interdisciplinary teams that support them as they strive for independence. Ultimately, donor generosity gives their courage strength.
Elmer has filled his life with adventure. Farm hand, wrestler, painter, golfer, police officer, teacher, loving husband, father and friend. And the list goes on. After suffering a hemorrhaging stroke at the age of 78 Elmer re-learned how to speak, swallow, write, walk – literally every daily function many of us take for granted. He successfully achieved his goal of returning home to support his wife by embracing all therapies, even devising leg lift exercises to the tick of the clock and eagerly using our CAREN virtual reality treatment system. Courage comes in many forms, regardless of age.
David James Phillips (75), of St. Albert, AB peacefully passed away on April 5, 2020. He is survived by his wife, Margaret, who will love him forever and hold him in her heart always. He is also survived by his sons, Scott (Lynda Semeniuk) Phillips, Steve (Lindsay) Phillips and his 4 grandchildren, Brendon, Parker, Samantha and Annabelle. Also by his siblings Al (Bernadette) Phillips, Rick (Marg) Phillips, and Mary McDonald. He is predeceased by his parents George and Alfreda (Irving) Phillips. Dave had many friends and extended family from the East Coast to the West Coast and they will miss him.
Dave was a Veteran of the Royal Canadian Air Force, then became a City of Edmonton Police Constable where he met Margaret. He retired in 1997 and he and Margaret moved to Kingston New Brunswick. They worked their sawmill and land together for 20 years turning their property into their home and a little piece of paradise. Dave was an excellent woodworker, loved to Garden, Read, walk, bike and loved being involved with politics and having good political discussions. He enjoyed getting together with friends and family. He will be deeply missed by all.
I (Margaret) from the bottom of my heart, thank the staff at Miller’s Crossing Care home for their care of Dave during his time with you. A special thank-you to Mildred who is an exceptional caregiver! All the staff treated Dave with dignity and respect and in turn gave me peace of mind that at a time when I could no longer care for him myself, I knew that he was in good hands.
I would also like to thank the Staff at Citadel Care Home where Dave was moved to during his last month. Again, the staff are compassionate, caring people, and also gave me peace of mind. They helped me to fulfill a promise to Dave that I be at his side until the end of his life.
The people looking after our loved ones are truly all exceptional people and I will never forget you. I would also like to thank my family for being there every step of the way. I will forever be grateful.
Dave, I know that you are at peace now and are once again reunited with your parents. You will be with me in my heart forever. I will cherish the memories that we created together and will not begrude the ones we never made. This is not good-bye, just so long for now, till we are together again.
There will be no services. His friends and family will all have different memories of Dave, and whatever those are, hold onto them. One day, we will all see each other again.
** Dave's career history and service file photograph will be added when available **
We are very much saddened to share the news of the passing of EPSVA member John McNeilly in late March. John succumbed to a difficult fight with lung cancer. Left to grieve John’s passing are his daughter Julie-Ann McNeilly and sons John Brendan McNeilly (member in training with EPS, Reg. No. 4267) and Liam Carl Putinta (serving EPS member, Northwest Division, Reg. No. 3989). No obituary was available at the time this message was prepared and any funeral or celebration of life will be delayed due to the COVID-19 restrictions.
John McNeilly started with the service as a member of Recruit Training Class 45 on May 30th, 1977. Initially, John worked in “D” Division though he did his obigatory (in those days) stints in Information and Reception Unit and Communications Section. Later, he also worked Patrol in “B” and “A” Division. He was promoted to detective in Drug Control Unit in 1988. John had subsequent assignments in CIS West Division and Vice Section. He retired on January 25th, 2013.