YAHNKE o@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2006-02-04 published
Elderly woman dies in blaze
Friends said the Platt's Lane resident was blind and barely mobile.
By April KEMICK, Free Press Reporter, Sat., February 4, 2006
An elderly woman is dead after a fire ripped through her ground-floor
apartment in west London last night.
London police and firefighters wouldn't identify the victim of
the blaze at 261 Platt's Lane, but Friends huddled outside said
it was Ruby
YAHNKE, an elderly woman who was blind and barely
mobile.
"The poor lady -- she couldn't see anything and she could hardly
walk," said an emotional Dianne
EDWARDS, who visited the senior
twice a day to help care for her dog.
"She was a wonderful woman. I just saw her today and everything
was fine. Now this,"
EDWARDS said.
The fire, which started shortly after 8: 30 p.m., charred
YAHNKE's
first-floor apartment and sent smoke billowing out her windows,
smashed by firefighters trying to contain the blaze.
Though YAHNKE herself did not escape the fire, her dog, a small
Shih Tzu named Molly, was brought out by firefighters and handed
to EDWARDS.
"She's okay, just a little black,"
EDWARDS said of the dog she
walked twice a day.
"She's gonna miss her mom."
Dozens of residents of the five-storey building were forced to
evacuate because of heavy smoke.
They huddled outside and in a nearby building for nearly two
hours as police and firefighters investigated.
"The hallways and stairwells were full of smoke and it smelled
really strong," said Ramsey
SHUCK, who lives on the third floor.
"Smoke was just billowing out of the first-floor apartment,"
he said.
Deputy fire Chief Dave
KITTERMAN said last night it was unclear
how much damage the building sustained in the blaze.
He did say the first-floor apartment where the fire originated
received "severe" damage.
KITTERMAN didn't know what sparked the fatal blaze, but neighbours
said YAHNKE was a smoker.
"It's just so sad,"
EDWARDS said. "She's a beautiful person."
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YAHNKE o@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2006-02-06 published
YAHNKE,
Ruby
Priscilla
(FOSTER)
It is with great sadness that the family announces the sudden
and unexpected passing of Ruby Priscilla
YAHNKE
(FOSTER) on Friday,
February 3rd, 2006, in her 73rd year. Beloved wife of Richard
YAHNKE. Dear mother of Bonnie (Bob,) Nancy (Jim,) Becky (Mike)
and son Rick. Loving grandmother to Nicole, Joe, Jeff, Tara,
Matt, Laura, John and Ryan. She will be sadly missed by her companion
dog Molly. A special thanks to Ruby's caregivers who allowed
her to live with dignity in her own home. Friends may call at
the Lloyd R. Needham Funeral Chapel, 520 Dundas Street, London on
Wednesday, February 8th from 2: 30-3:30 p.m. Service from the
chapel at 3: 30 p.m. Interment Mt. Pleasant Cemetery at a later
date. Memorial donations to the Canadian Diabetes Association
or Canadian National Institute for the Blind would be appreciated.
Tributes may be left at www.mem.com
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YAHNKE o@ca.on.middlesex_county.london.london_free_press 2006-05-15 published
LETHBRIDGE,
Francine
At Victoria Hospital, on Sunday, May 14, 2006, Francine
LETHBRIDGE
of London, in her 67th year. Beloved mother of Denise
LETHBRIDGE-
FEERE
(Tim) and Brent
LETHBRIDGE.
Loving companion of Richard
YAHNKE.
Loving grandmother of William, Katie and Jessica
FEERE.
Dear
sister of Mary
MARTIN and Jean
MORTON.
Predeceased by Fred
LETHBRIDGE.
Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held at
the Westview Funeral Chapel, 709 Wonderland Road North, on Wednesday,
May 17 at 11: 00 a.m. with visitation one hour prior. Those wishing
to make a donation in memory of Francine are asked to consider
the Heart and Stroke Foundation or London Health Sciences Foundation
Cancer Centre.
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