Dr. Victor Blanchette died peacefully after a courageous journey with cancer on April 26, 2024.

Victor was the son of the late Sir Stanley and Pearl, Lady Blanchette and was born in Barbados in 1945. Treasured brother of Monica Ward and Richard Blanchette (Margaret).  Beloved husband of Yvonne and cherished father to Anne-Marie, Michael-Lisle, Nicholas (Karen), Andrew (Kelly) and Phillip (Ana Maria).  Treasured Grandad to Sophia, Lauren, Caitlin, Ava, Morgan, and Louis. 

Victor grew up in Flint Hall and first went to Ms. Philip’s School in Strathclyde before going to Harrison’s College. He studied medicine, his life’s passion, at Cambridge University in the UK before training in London, Baltimore and Hamilton, Ontario. After his first staff position in Ottawa, Victor then joined the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto to lead the Hemophilia Program. From 1998 to 2010, Victor was the Chief of the Division of Hematology/Oncology at Sick Kids. After 2010, Victor’s focus and passion was the creation of the SickKids-Caribbean Pediatric Cancer and Blood Disorders Initiative (SCI) which linked Sick Kids and hospitals and health programs throughout the Caribbean to train new generations of Caribbean medical professionals. Victor wanted to give back to the island of his roots and was deeply honoured to be given the Silver Cross of Merit by his island of Barbados in 2017 in recognition of his work. Victor’s career was defined by compassion, collegiality and respect for everyone he collaborated with, and he gained much happiness from the successes of his colleagues, nurses, research teams, fellows and students.  He was a cherished mentor, friend and father figure to many.

Victor will also be warmly remembered by a network of family and friends across the world. A large part of Victor’s heart always belonged to Barbados. It was at “home” that Victor met his childhood sweetheart and wife of 52 years, Yvonne Yearwood. They met when Yvonne, who attended Queen’s College, went to Harrison’s College to study science.  He proudly brought his sons and their families to Barbados so he could introduce them to extended family, a good ham cutter, flying fish, and the brilliance of a perfect Carlisle Bay sunset. He loved race day at the Garrison, having a good chat on a verandah, playing dominos with his sister and a tasty rum punch. He adored Cattlewash, where his family had a holiday home for many years.  While Victor also loved the UK, where he started his medical career, and his new chosen home of Canada (especially the Toronto sports teams), Victor was always a Bajan at heart. ‘You can take the boy out of Barbados, you cannot take Barbados out of the boy”.

The Blanchette family would like to express their sincerest gratitude to Victor’s medical, nursing and support teams at various hospitals in Toronto and Mississauga. They are also deeply grateful to the entire palliative care team and volunteers at Ian Anderson House in Oakville, who made Victor’s final days ones of calm and peace, and allowed his family invaluable moments with him.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, donations may be made to the Ian Anderson House (ianandersonhouse.com). Messages or condolences can be made at: [email protected]. The family would love to hear from all those who have a warm memory or photo of Victor they would like to share.

PINTO – On 9^th May 2024. ROSALINE ELAINE neè Gibson of #17 Maxwell Park, Maxwell, Christ Church. Widow of Andrew Pinto. Stepmother of Trevor (Sandra), Victor (Jocelyn) and John (Sue). Step-grandmother of 7. Step-great grandmother of 5. Sister of the late Marjorie Andrews, Vernon, Darcy and Frank Gibson and Vaneta Wynn. Aunt of David, Sandra, John, Richard, Ian and Michael Gibson, Margaret Atwell, Sandra, Andrea and Lorraine Gibson (UK) Great Aunt of 19. Sister-in-law of Claire King and Benedict Gibson. Relative of the Gibson and Fenty families. The funeral leaves Bryan’s Funeral Home, Belmont Road, St. Michael on Thursday 23^rd May 2024 for St. John’s Church where relatives and friends are asked to meet at 10:00a.m for a service of thanksgiving. The cortege will then proceed to the St. John’s Cemetery for the interment. Viewing of the late Rosaline Elaine Pinto will take place in the Michael Bryan Memorial Chapel, Bryan’s Funeral Home on Wednesday, 22^nd May 2024 from 4-6pm. Flowers may be sent to Bryan’s Funeral Home, not later than 8:00am on Thursday. The family invites you to follow the service via live streaming at Celebrating the Life of Rosaline Elaine Pinto

DAVIS – On 30^th April, 2024. JASMINE JOAN of Golf Club Road, Christ Church. Wife of Harold Davis. Mother of Tammy (Dick), Owen (Nicole), Dawn and Scott (Simone). Grandmother of Justin, Miranda, Tyler, Tabitha, Ella, Ben, Isabelle, Lily and Conrad. Great grandmother of William, Mason and Olivia. The funeral leaves Bryan’s Funeral Home Belmont Road, St. Michael on Tuesday, 14^th May 2024 for Coral Ridge Memorial Gardens, The Ridge, Christ Church where relatives and friends are asked to meet at 3:00pm for a service of thanksgiving and interment. In lieu of flowers, donations to The Bread Basket will be greatly appreciated.  No mourning colours or Jackets required.

BULLEN – On 15^th April 2024. MARGUERITE neè HALL, known as Denise Bullen, of Lynette Court Stewart Hill, St. John. DAUGHTER of the late Charles and Orange Hall. WIFE of the late Conrad Bullen. MOTHER of Natasha Bullen. SISTER of Rawle and Patrick Hall, the late Ronald Hall, Mavis Birmingham and Elsa Hall. SISTER-IN-LAW of Henrietta and Diane Hall, and several other in Canada and Guyana. AUNT of Marcia Abbott, Richard Birmingham, Paula, Tyrone, Justin and Rabea Hall and the late Ria Birmingham.  GREAT AUNT of Crystal, Kareem, Renee, Brendon Birmingham and several others. GREAT GREAT AUNT of Aaren Harrison and many more. COUSIN of Nigel Barrow, Pamela Basin, Nigel, Basil Johnson, Faye Forde, Shirley Smart, Andrea Brown, Juel Harewood, Roslyn Harewood-Blackman, Hugo, David and Ann Barrow, Mark Thompson, Laura and Aimee Wallace, Peggy Howard, Euslyne Newton and several others. RELATIVE of Hall, Hinkson, Bullen, Barrow, Newton, Johnson, Howard, Birmingham, Blackman and Haynes families. FRIEND of Corleta Ellis and family, Dave and Zara Van-Sittart and family, Selma Husbands-Greene, Grantley Greene, Jessica Mullins, Yvonne Hackett, Dr Dennis Blackman, Judy and Sam Wilkinson, Peggy Corbin and Chloe Puckering, Grazette, Brown and Dash families, Sabeena Bailey, Romona Clarke, Jillian O’Donnell, Rickson Leacock, Pam Brown, Silvia and Peter Niles and Sharon and Michael Captain. The funeral leaves BRYAN’S FUNERAL HOME, Belmont Road, St. Michael on Wednesday, 8th May 2024 for Holy Cross Anglican Church, Society, St. John where relatives and friends are asked to 3:30 pm for a service of thanksgiving and interment. Organist and members of the church choir are kindly asked to attend. Flowers may be sent to Bryan’s Funeral Home not later than 12:00 pm on Wednesday. Viewing of the late Denise Bullen will take place in the Michael Bryan Memorial Chapel, Bryan’s Funeral Home, Belmont Road, St. Michael on Tuesday, 7^th May 2024 from 4-6pm. The family invites you to follow the service via live stream at Celebrating the Life & Legacy of Marguerite Denise Bullen – ‘Denise Bullen’

MARAJ – On 20^th April 2024. DOMINIQUE BRIGITTE of “Granby” Garden Road #1, Worthing, Christ Church. Daughter of Dani Maraj and the late Colin Maraj. Niece of Yvonne Williams, Rammy Maraj and Thara Collins. The funeral leaves BRYAN’S FUNERAL HOME, Belmont Road, St. Michael on Thursday, 2^nd May 2024  for Coral Ridge Memorial Gardens, The Ridge, Christ Church where relatives and friends are asked to meet at  3:00 pm for a service of thanksgiving and interment. In lieu of flowers, donations the Ark Animal Welfare Society will be greatly appreciated. No jackets required.

GAHAN – On 24^th April 2024. MAURINE ANGELA “‘Aunt Mau” of “Westboure”, Garden Gap #1, Worthing, Christ Church. Wife of John. Sister of the late Claude, Lurline, Vernon, Yvonne and Noel. The funeral leaves Bryan’s Funeral Home, Belmont Road, St. Michael, on Saturday, 4^th May 2024 for St. Dominic’s Catholic Church, Maxwell, Christ Church where relatives and friends are asked to meet at 11:00 am for a service of thanksgiving. The cortege will then proceed to the Coral Ridge Memorial Gardens, The Ridge, Christ Church for the interment. Flowers may be sent to Bryan’s Funeral Home, Belmont Road, St. Michael not later than 8:00 am on Saturday. The family invites you to view the service via live stream on YouTube – St. Dominic Barbados.