"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and
only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
(John 3:16)
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Lillian |
The purpose of this eulogy is to give a glimpse into the life of
Lillian Louise, her faith in her Lord and His guidance in her life.
Lillian Louise was born to James and Louise on Oct 23rd 1911,
sister to Jim, born Dec 25th 1908, in the rural community of Swan
River in Northern Manitoba. They were early settlers to the town ,
which was incorporated about 10 years earlier.
During the first world war, James was called to service. While he was
away overseas, his wife Louise became ill and died of tuberculosis.
Family from Montreal brought the children to Montreal, but were
unable to care for them themselves, due to the hard times of the
war. So Jim and Lillian were sent to a Christian orphanage in Montreal.
It was here that Lillian received her schooling, and meet and received
Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior. She flourished at the orphanage
learning domestic and academic skills that would serve her well in later
years. She also began using her beautiful soprano voice; andnd her Lord
was with her.
Her brother Jim was not as happy, and at the orphanage and at the age
of 14 ran away and signed on with the merchant marines as cabin boy,
rising through the ranks the of various naval institutions throughout
his career. Brother and sister remained close however, as Jim would write
and send small souvenirs from his many ports of call around the world.
Upon finishing school at the orphanage, Lillian worked in the finance
departments of a number of Montreal companies, including Simpsons Sears
and Northern Electric Manufacturing Company; at which her son would
spend his career, many decades later. During this time she lived at her
grandmother's home and cared for her there; and her Lord was with her.
Towards the end of the 1930s, other family members were able to care for
their grandmother, and Lillian was encouraged to pursue her desire to
graduate from Toronto Bible Collage. She was very involved in campus life
and its missions work in the Toronto area. She also soloed in many musicals
and services, becoming known as the little lady with the big voice. Many of
her graduate friends became ministers and missionaries in churchs around
the world. Some she would maintain a life long correspondence with; and her
her Lord was with her.
By the time of her graduation in 1941, the world had been plunged into it's
second world war. Brother Jim was now skipper a of one of Canadian Navy's
Corvettes and Destroyers, based out of Halifax, but at sea most of the
time. Jim had married Edith of Halifax, and Lillian decided to move
to Halifax to live with Edith's family . By day, she worked in the finance
department of Simpsons Sears . Evenings and week-ends, she worked in a
Christian mission created to assist the many men going to and from the war,
through Halifax. Her church home was the West End Baptist Church, where
again her voice and witness became well known; and her Lord was with her.
In the spring of 1946, the war had ended The mission for men was scaled back
as the men had gone home. Brother Jim was home, and had bought a doctor's
residence in the town of Timberlea, about 10 miles out of Halifax. Lillian
moved to the house, with her brother and sister-in-law during Holy
Week of that year. Easter morning, she could hear a church bell in the
distance calling to worship. Deciding to go, she made her way through
fields and woods and found a small Anglican church on Fraser road. Reverend
Brown was anxious of see new people and was very impressed with her voice.
He was pastor of a number of parishes, which meant multiple services for him
on Sundays. He soon convinced her to assist the choir and sing solos in the
various churches he shepherded. Roland Fraser, who was the lay reader for
the church, was asked to escort her to the various churches. By records of
notes and photo albums it was a was a very romantic summer for them, and by
August 24th, they were married. Thirteen months later, I entered the world;
and her Lord was with her.
They worshiped at the Anglican church until the early 1950s, when a small
group of families in the Timberlea wanted to start a Baptist church. Lillian
and Roland became two of its founding members, being key contributors to it's
many activities. She was always active in Sunday School, including costumes
for musicals and plays; and her Lord was with her.
The late 1960's brought more change to Lillian. Son Jim decided to leave home
to pursue his love and a career in Ottawa. At about the same time Jack and
Connie, members of Edith's family, died of cancer. This left two children,
Janice and Ron, who were in their late teens. They came to live with Lillian
and Roland until their graduation from college and university some years later.
Lillian's first grandson, Craig, was born in April of 1970, to the joy of both
Roland and Lillian. But by January of 1971, Roland was called home to His Lord
by a sudden heart attack; and her Lord was with her.
By 1972, Ron and Janice were on their own, and Lillian found herself with an
empty nest. Still working at Simpsons Sears, she and a girlfriend at the office
decided to do some travelling together. One of the trips they planned was to
England. Lillian's manager told her that he had an uncle in England who was a
lot of fun and would be glad to be their tour guide if they would like. The
trip went so well that Lillian continued to write to their guide, Arthur Crook.
She made a number of additional visits the following year which resulted in their
marrage in December of 1973. Her second grandson was present at the wedding as
Gerrie was 8 months pregnant with Carl. Lillian sold her home in Timberlea to
make a new life in England; and her Lord was with her.
Through the remainder of the 1970s, Lillian and Arthur explored most everything
there was in the British Isles. Jim, Gerrie, Craig and Carl vacationed with them
there in 1975. They also came to Canada on various trips as well. 1979 saw brother
Jim and sister-in-law Edith's 50 wedding anniversary in Nova Scotia. It was during
this trip that she and Arthur decided to move to Canada, to be closer to her
grand-children. In may of 1980 they bought a two bedroom home in Arnprior; and her
Lord was with her.
Lillian had always been a gardener, as was Arthur. Their lot was soon growing
everything. The only trips made to the grocers was for things they couldn't grow.
Lillian put her hands to work again, using skills from earlier days making stuffed
toys. Some toys were for her grandchildren, but many many more that were given to
the Salvation Army to be sold at the Home League sales. I suspect she made at least
a few hundred during the 1980s; and her Lord was with her.
During the summer of 1985, Lillian contracted shingles, which unfortunately she
was never able to be completely relieved of. She stopped gardening, but continued
her needle work and bible study; and her Lord was with her.
August 1994, she was struck by a stroke, which destroyed most of her memory, but
did not affect any of her motors skills; speech, walking etc. She was still able to
read aloud, but could not tell 5 minutes later what she had read. She could still
remember words to many of her favorite songs and hymns, but again would not remember
singing them. Unable to study her bible as she used to, her life became much quieter.
In May of 1999, Lillian and Arthur moved to a retirement home, where they have been
well loved and cared for.
Last Saturday, March 18th 2000, her Lord took her home; and she is with her Lord.
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