ARNOLD, Thelma (nee Ryan)

Peacefully on July 16, 2018 in Newmarket, Ont., Gertrude Thelma Arnold (nee Ryan) formerly from Green Meadows P.E.I. at age 83. Survived by loving husband Brian, sister Lenora MacIsaac, sister-in-law Sheila Ryan and many nieces and nephews. Mass and Burial at St. Laurence O’Toole Church and Cemetery on Saturday, August 4 at 10:30 a.m.

The Summerside Fire Department is mourning the loss of two long-serving members.

Capt. Lester DesRoches, 80, and Capt. Earle Hayes, 88, died within a day of each other last week, on Wednesday and Thursday respectively.

Both men served as front-line firefighters for more than 30 years with the department, then stayed involved through the Firefighter Auxiliary until their deaths.

The auxiliary is a support unit with about 20 retired firefighter members.

Fire Chief Jim Peters knew both men for a long time and said it was a great blow to the department to lose them both within such a short span of time.

Both Hayes and DesRoches were two of the most dedicated firefighters on the force, though both had been unable to be as active in recent years. Together they faced some of most significant fires this community has seen in the past 50 years, he added.

“They were both serious officers and they were both very well respected,” said Peters.

“These two were … right in the forefront as far as the action in their time. They were well known. We’re going to miss them.”

DesRoches’s funeral was Saturday, July 28, while a funeral for Hayes was Monday. Both men will rest at St. Paul’s Cemetery in Summerside.

The Summerside Fire Department is providing an honour guard for both services and their respective firetrucks, Engine 1 and Engine 2, will be on hand.