Sonya Candace Weeks

Notes:

Obituary: Source: Red Deer Advocate newspaper
Weeks, Sonya Candace Weeks, a resident of Red Deer, AB, died suddenly on Sunday, June 15, 2003 at the age of 19 years. Sonya is survived by her parents Larry and Marianne Weeks and niece Shalee Weeks of Castor; special friend and companion Clay Guthrie of Red Deer; sisters Cherie Weeks (Ben Green) of Castor, Kristie Weeks (Chris Breckeridge) and their son Anthony of Red Deer; brother John Weeks (Paris Sims) of Lacombe, and John's son Brandon of Grimshaw as well as grandparents Drika and Bert Zylstra of Castor, and Clay's parents Bill and Carol Guthrie of lacombe as well as numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, other relatives and a host of many friends. Funeral services for Sonya Weeks will be held on Friday, June 20, 2003 at 2:00 pm in the Castor Evangelical Missionary Church, Castor AB. Should friends desire memorial tributes may be made in Sonya's memory to the Alberta Cancer Foundation or to the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission. Parkview Funeral Cahpels (1985) Ltd. of Castor, AB are entrusted with care and funeral arrangements. For further information, please contact 403-882-3141

Cremation was done.


In talking with Alzina Strome (cousin to Sonya's grandfather Austin Weeks), it seems Sonya was out partying Sat. night and the drug Ecstasy was found in her, presumably from a drink she had. Earlier newspaper reports state the drug was purchased that night from the bar, but the batch was found to be 'bad'. Unknown by her parents, Larry and Marianne had left Castor early June 15 to drive to Red Deer to spend Fathers Day with Sonya. RCMP detachment at Coronation called to the home farm and informed sister Sherie of the news who was home alone. She was able to contact her parents enroute to Red Deer. Large attendance at the funeral today; mostly young people. Sonya had graduated last year and had been working in Red Deer, in the caring profession of looking after disabled people in their homes. She was well liked, had a host of friends who all attended her funeral in Castor.



Former Castor resident dies of drug overdose: Source Red Deer Advocate newspaper, Thurs June 26, 2003 by Stephen Raivio, Staff reporter

The community was rocked last week when news hit that a former resident had died of a drug overdose in Red Deer.
Sonya Weeks passed away on Father's Day, June 15 in Red Deer. She was only 19 years
old.
Weeks apparently became ill after taking two ecstasy pills at the Euphoria dance club in downtown Red Deer on Saturday night, June 14. She went home at about 6 a.m. and friends called paramedics at 10:15 a.m. when they noticed she had stopped breathing.
Weeks' funeral was held Friday at the Castor Evangelical Missionary Church, with Vern Hein officiating.
Sonya's parents, Larry and Marianne Weeks of Castor, said their daughter's death hammers home how dangerous drugs can be.
"I don't think she was into drugs much. She just tried it a few times," said Larry on Wednesday.
He said Sonya worked full time at the Life seniors home in Red Deer, and was a creative person who had poetry published in one of the Red Deer newspapers.
Larry said other youths need to be aware of how dangerous drugs are.
"They don't think it can happen to them. They take that crap and it doesn't affect them, but it could the next time," he said.
"We'd just like people to see what drugs can do to you. Sonya just dabbled in it, and look what it did to her."
He also said the poeple who deal the drugs, especially when they result in a death, should be dealt with harshly.
"They should be charged with manslaughter, I think," he said.
Larry thanked the community for its support during this very difficult time. "We got a lot of nice cards from the teachers at the schools, and they had a lot of nice comments," he said.
Greg Muhlbeier, a teacher at the Gus Wetter school who taught Weeks said her death has been a huge shock.
"It impacted some kids (At the school) but she had been gone (from Castor) for a while," said Muhlbeier on Wednesday.
"I was at the funeral and there were quite a few kids there. It was a shock and I think it sent a message.
"It was a horrible shock. Twenty years I've been teaching and this is the first student I've lost," he said. "She was a really nice kid, very well mannered and a very nice heart."
Sonya Weeks worked full time in Red Deer as a caregiver for the disabled. Those who knew her said she will be remembered as a happy and caring friend.
According to one of her friends in Red Deer, she was not a regular drug user.
She moved from Castor to Red Deer about a year ago.
Ecstasy has been found to contain potentially lethal cocktails of other drugs. Ecstasy pills are commonly laced with other drugs such as LSD and even strychnine, or rat poison.
Ecstasy is also taken with other drugs, such as alcohol, crystal methamphetamine, crack cocaine or other combinations.
Muhlbeier said "It's not just a big city problem. It can happen anywhere, and this proves that."
He also pointed out that the drug dealers don't care about the well-being of their customers, only about making a profit.
If friends of Weeks would like to make memorial tributes, they may be made in Sonya's memory to the Alberta Cancer Foundation or to the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission.

L.A. married M. Knatiuk [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Farmer
• Residence: 2001; Red Deer, AB

Notes:

Obituary Austin Raymond Weeks

Austin was born on Oct. 8, 1923 at Our Lady of the Rosary Hospital in Castor, AB. Austin lived in the Fleet district until moving to Red Deer in October of 2001. He took his schooling at the Fleet School. After school he began his life long career of farming.
On May 10, 1945 he was united in marriage to Alice Holloway and to this union were born 10 children, six boys and four girls whom he cherished and loved very much. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He loved family gatherings and visiting. Austin with his wife Alice and children attended the Markham Chruch in the country until it closed down and then they joined the Castor Missionary Church, where he was actively involved over the years as a board member, Sunday school teacher, Deacon and Treasurer. He also was an active member of the Gideons for many years. The only love that surpassed his love of his family was his love for the Lord.
Austin and Alice lived at the family homestead for 48 years and then moved west one mile to a smaller home after all their family had left the nest and son Clifford bought the family farm. They spent another three years together before Alice passed away.
In 1997 Austin met Helen Wiebe of Red Deer, AB and they were soon married. Helen came to join Austin at his home in Castor where they spent two years traveling and entertaining before Austin had a stroke.
Austin's health began to fail and after several months in different hospitals, Austin and Helen moved into a senior's apartment in Red Deer where he lived till the time of his passing.
Predeceased by his parents, Ross and Zillah; first wife Alice; son Richard and daughter Irene; He leaves to mourn his passing, his loving wife Helen; sons Gordon (Gloria), Jim (Joyce), Larry (Maryanne), Clifford (Debbie), Kevin (Marcy) all of Castor, AB; daughters Edith (Tom) McKinlay of Sylvan Lake, AB, Evelyn (Greg) Szoke of Brooks, AB;, Linda (Mark) Turner of Edmonton, AB; son in law Jim Bartlett of Coronation, AB; 24 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren; sisters Elva Wimmer of Calgary, AB; and Islay (Jim) McKay of Red Deer, AB, brother in law Lester Kelly and sister in law Nancy Holloway, Enid Holloway and Pat Holloway, as well as Austin's step family, many other relatives and a host of good friends.
Mr. Austin Raymond Weeks, a resident of Red Deer, AB, passed away in the Red Deer Regional Hospital on Thursday, August 8, 2002 at the age of 78 years and 10 months.

(Medical):Stroke in 1999; brain tumor/surgery 2000

Austin married Alice Marion Holloway on 10 May 1945. Alice (daughter of J. Holloway and Jessie) was born on 15 Jan 1923 in Fleet, Paintearth County, Alberta, Canada; died on 4 Nov 1996 in Red Deer Regional Hospital, Red Deer, Red Deer County, Alberta, Canada; was buried on 8 Nov 1996 in Markham Cemetery, Paintearth County, Alberta, Canada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Obiturary:
Alice Marion Weeks of Castor passed away at the Red Deer Regional
hospital on Monday, November 4, 1996. She was 73 years, 9 mos, 20 days.
Alice Holloway was born Jan. 15, 1923 at the farm home of Wilmot and Sarah Wideman, two miles North of Fleet and lived all her life in the Fleet and Arthurdale districts. She took her schooling in the Arthurdale School.
Alice's parents were John and Jessie Holloway. She had four brothers - Cliff, Jack, Bob and Dave and one sister Doris.
On May 10, 1945 she was united in marriage to Austin Weeks and to this union were born 10 children; 6 boys and 4 girls whom she cherished and loved very much. Alice and Austin lived in the old farm home for 48 years and then moved West one mile to where Emil and Amelia Adolph used to live. They resided here until the time of her death.
Alice was predeceased by her parents John and Jessie Holloway, infant brother Norman, infant sister Mary, brothers Clifford, Jack and Dave, sister Doris, son Richard in 1970 and daughter Irene Bartlett on Thanksgiving Day, October 14, 1996 at the age of 47 years.
Funeral services were held at the Castor Community hall on Friday, November 8, 1996 at 2 pm with Rev. Kevin Van Koughnett officiating. The eulogy was given by Betty Stauffer and a tribute to Alice was given by Rev. Willie Annett.

Interment was at Markham Cemetery

Cause of death - CVA (stroke)

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Farmer
• Religion: Castor Missionary Church

Notes:

Obituary:
Ross was born May 08, 1901 in Tillsonburg, Ontario. Ross is
predeceased by Richard Weeks in 1970, four sisters - Elsie, Clara, Pearl and Hazel and one brother George.
Mr Weeks is survived by his wife Zillah Irene Weeks of Claresholm Care Center, one brother Omar (Dorothy) Weeks of Kelowna, B.C.; sone son Austin (Alice) Weeks of Castor; two daughers Elva Wimmer of Calgary and Islay (Jim) McKay of Red Deer; 16 grandchildren- Gordon (Gloria) Weeks, Jim (Joyce) Weeks, Irene(Jim) Bartlett, Edith (Tom) McKinley, larry (Mary Ann) Weeks, Evelyn (Greg) Szoke, Linda Weeks, Clifford (Debbie) Weeks, Kevin Weeks, Sandra Sturdy, Brian (Jean) Wimmer, Barry Wimmer, Tim (Theresa) McKay, Linda (Greg) White, Joan and Gaylene McKay, 27 great grandchildren and two great, great grandchildren as well as many other relatives and friends.

Ross died August 26, 1989 at Red Deer, AB - lived 88 years, 3 mos, 18 days.
Interment at Castor Cemetery.

Ross married Zillah Irene Troyer in 1921 in Castor, Paintearth County, Alberta, Canada. Zillah (daughter of Michael Troyer and Bertha "Matilda" Unknown) was born on 14 Jun 1899 in Stouffville, Ontario, Canada; died on 12 Jun 1992 in Coronation, Paintearth County, Alberta, Canada; was buried on 16 Jun 1992 in Castor Cemetery, Castor, Paintearth County, Alberta, Canada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Elva told me (Heather), the following excerpts. Her mother, Zillah had been painting cupboards in their home, the children had all been ill with strep throat infectons, and finally, Zillah herself succumbed to a serious strep throat infection as well. She was rushed to the hospital, feverish, delirious, not responding to any treatment at that time by Dr. Cousineau. Family members - like Hazel Wilkie, stayed with Zillah during the nights, to assist in her care. Altho, Zillah did improve physically, she didn't improve mentally, and was transferred to the Mental Hospital in Ponoka, AB. This was most devestating to her family, husband, 3 young children at home now, without a Mother. Zillah remained for 16 years in Ponoka and her children feel Zillah was never given the right chances, medications, diagnoses to help her improve. Once she was transferred to Claresholm, she fared much better, but at this time, couldn't manage by herself independently. Elva, Islay and Austin are left with many unanswered questions to this day. (July 27, 2002. HW.)

Obituary:
Zillah Irene Troyer was born June 14, 1899 at Stouffville, Ontario. Zillah came to AB in 1906 with her parents where they homesteaded in the Markham district. She took her schooling in the Markham School and in 1921 was married to Ross Edward Weeks. To this union three children were born, Austin, Elva and Islay.
Ross and Zillah only had 16 years together. In the spring of 1937, Zillah took sick with a strep infection, and was placed in the Ponoka Mental Institution until 1953 when she was transferred to a care home in Claresholm until July 1991 when she was transferred to the Coronation Nursing Home, where she has resided until the time of her death.
Predeceased by her parents, her husband Ross and her brothers, Clarence, Artis, and Wilmot, Zillah is survived by one son Austin (Alice) Weeks of Cator, two daughters Elva Wimmer of Calgary, and Islay (Jim McKay) of Red Deer; 17 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren; 4 great, great grandchildren as well as numerous friends.

Zillah Irene Weeks died June 12, 1992 at Coronation AB. She lived 92 years, 11 mos, 29 days.
Interment at Castor Municipal Cemetery.

Source: Obit from Parkview Funeral Chapel

J. married Jessie. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]