March 29,1919 to March 05,2014
Charlie passed away after a short illness in the
Chilliwack General Hospital.
Charlie was predeceased by his wife Mary in 2008 and
is survived by daughter June and husband Rick Deeley
of Summerland, BC; granddaughter Ann Koenig, RCMP
Inspector of Toronto, Ontario; great granddaughters
Emma and Amy of Toronto, Ontario; brother Jackie;
nephew Derek Young and Liz Rhodes and many other
nieces and nephews and good friends. Charlie was
predeceased by his brother William.
Charlie grew up in Sunderland, UK and at the tender
age of 14 joined Archies Juvenille Band as a clarinet and
saxophone player. He continued to play until his last gig of
the weekly meeting of the Chilliwack Rotary Club 5 days
before he died. Eighty years of beautiful music! Charlie
served as a military musician during the war, playing
for the troops in France and Holland, and Belgium after
D-Day. After the war Charlie headed up his own band that
performed all over Scotland and northern England. Some
of the concerts were broadcast on the B.B.C.
In the mid fi fties a musician friend heard of an
opportunity in Canada with various Military Bands, and
after the deprivations of post war rationing in the UK the
opportunities in Canada seemed very inviting. Charlie and
family arrived at Camp Chilliwack in 1955 where Charlie
joined the re-knowned Royal Canadian Engineers Band
as lead Saxophonist. Shortly after getting established
Charlie, wife Mary (piano), Les Barker (tenor sax) and Tom
Hardin (drums) formed the Copper Room Orchestra at the
Harrison Hot Springs Hotel. Charlie, Tom and Les played
with the Military Band during the day and the Copper
Room in the evening until midnight six days a week.
After retirement in 1985 Charlie was asked to join the
Rotary Club of Chilliwack where he and Mary brought
their musical talents. At this time they were joined by
John Blessin (bass) and either Mark Blessin or Paul Blessin
on drums. This group has played for the meetings with
the addition of Joanne Hankey (piano), Paula Dewit
(trumpet) and John Forman (percussion). Charlie was a
real professional even learning new music in the last few
years. The Rotations are going to miss him.
Charlie was a jokester. He was famous for the fake
mouse that suddenly appeared from his shirt pocket and
also the crazy wigs and goofy glasses he wore. The Blessin
family will feel the loss of Charlie very profoundly as he
was considered to be part of the family. Donations can
be made to Rotary Polio Eradication Program. A musical
celebration of life will be held at Henderson’s Funeral
Home, Chilliwack, on Thursday, March 13th at 2:00pm.
Online condolences can be left at www.hendersonsfunerals.com
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