What we know of the 8 victims in the alleged nursing-home killings

There are eight alleged victims in the case of the nursing-home deaths in southwestern Ontario. The residents ranged in age from 75 to 96.

Police have charged former Woodstock, Ont., nurse Elizabeth Wettlaufer, 49, with eight counts of first-degree murder. Seven patients died at the Woodstock location of CaressantCare Nursing and Retirement Homes, while one died at the Meadow Park facility in London.

• Former nurse ordered to stay away from nursing homes before being charged with killings
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While some of the deaths occurred nearly a decade ago, there is much to say about the men and women who have become statistics in a homicide investigation.

Here is what we know about them.

James Lancing Silcox, 84

Feb. 17, 1923 to Aug. 12, 2007

Often called "Lance" or "JL," according to his family, Silcox was married to his wife, Agnes, for more than 64 of his 84 years. Togetherthey had six children, with13 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Silcox was a veteran of the Second World War, having served with what was then the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps for 4 years in Italy, Holland and Belgium, "and was proud to have been in Amsterdam at the liberation of Holland," according to a family statement.

He was a longtime member of Old St. Paul's Anglican Church, Branch 55 of the Royal Canadian Legion and the Moose Lodge, the statement said.

Silcox retired from Standard Tube in the 1980s after 25 years of service.

In a eulogy, Silcox was described as "a gentleman; a helpmate; a problem solver; a fixer; a builder; a prankster; an animal lover; a true card; a compassionate and loving human beinganda man of deep abiding faith," the family statement read.

At the time of his death, an obituary posted online encouraged mourners to make donations to the SPCA in memory of Silcox's "deep affection for dogs."

Maurice Granat, 84

Feb. 7, 1923 to Dec. 23, 2007

Known as "Moe," Granat was survived by his two daughters and predeceased by a son. An online obituary described Granat as a "loved grandfather" of five grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

The obituary asked mourners to consider donating to a local faith-based charity called Operation Sharing that helps impoverished residents in Oxford County.

Granat's family declined interview requests by CBC News.

Gladys Jean Millard, 87

Oct. 11, 1924 to Oct. 14, 2011

Millard was born Gladys Smith in New Glasgow, N.S., and raised two children in Woodstock with her husband, Henry, who predeceased her in 1997. They also had five grandchildrenand five great-grandchildren.

An obituary described Millard as a longtime memberof Knox Presbyterian Church and its ladies auxiliary anda member of the Rose Rebekah Lodge for more than 35 years.

Mourners wanting to make a donation were directed to the Alzheimer Society.

Millard's daughter declined an interview request from CBC News.

HelenMuriel Matheson, 95

June 4, 1916 to Oct. 27, 2011

Matheson, ne Pruss, was married to the late Carl LeRoy Matheson, with whom she had two children (she was predeceased by a son). The couple had three grandchildren (she was predeceased by a grandson) and four great-grandchildren.

Matheson was a longtime active memberof the Innerkip United Church, according to an online obituary.

The family declined to speak to CBC News.

But friends remembered a "good and decent person" who wasprivateandtrusting.

Donalda Osmond said she visited Matheson, a former schoolteacher, at the nursing home, and sometimes her friend wouldn't remember who she was.

"Part-way through the conversation she'd say, 'Now who are you?'" Osmond told CBC News.

"I could have been anybody. She welcomed you in and [asked], 'Would you like tea' or 'would you like a cookie?' So she trusted everybody."

Graham Harcourt called news of the deaths "shocking."

"I find it really hard to believe that anybody could harm somebody like Helen," he said.

MaryZurawinski, 96

Died Nov. 7, 2011

Helen Young, 90

1923 to July 14, 2013

Young was born in Edinburgh and served with the Royal Air force during the Second World War, according to an online obituary. In London, she met and married Peter (Sandy)Young in 1948 and came to Canada as a war bride a year later.

The couple lived in Calgary before moving to southern Ontario in the 1960s and settling in Woodstock in 1971.

The couple were active in the local Lions Club and Humane Society, according to Young's obituary, and "loved and spoiled" several pets during their marriage.

The pair travelled through the United Statesand Canada, including summer camping trips to Golden Lake, Ont.Young continued to travel after her husband died in 1988 until health issues curtailed her adventures.

"She was a unique personality, a true sturdy Scottish lass, who did not hesitate to speak her mind on any and all subjects," reads the obituary.

She was survived by her brother, Gordon, in England, a sister-in-law in Wasaga Beach, and "many nieces and nephews."

Mourners who wished to make a donationwere urged to do so for the Ontario SPCA.

MaureenPickering, 79

1935 to Mar.28, 2014

The former Maureen O'Neil, who previously lived in Tillsonburg, Ont., was predeceased by her husband, Hubert, in 2009.

An online obituary requested that donations be made to the Alzheimer Society or Parkinson's Foundation.

ArpadHorvath, 75

1938 to Aug. 31, 2014

When Horvath, the youngest of the victims, died he left behind his wife Lana, two children and three grandchildren.

Horvath was "an international big game hunter," according to his obituary, as well as president for 29 years of the Hungarian Club of London.

For 50 years, he was the owner and chief engineer of Central Tool and Die Ltd., of London, Ont.

His son, also named Arpad, called news of the charges "horrifying."

"I had to let it soak in for a day or two and I couldn't say anything to anyone because I was just stiffened in my spine and it shook me to my core," Horvath told CBC News on Wednesday.

His father had been at the Meadow Park facility for a little less than a year due to dementia and related health problems. He also suffered from diabetes (for which he took pills, not insulin)and hypertension.

The younger Horvath didn't think anything was amiss when his father died, given how many health problems he had.

"I miss him, I really do," his son said. "He was my best friend, he was my teacher, he was my best friend and I miss him so much. If I could bring him back right now I would."

Mourners were invited to make donations to the AlzheimerSociety of London.