Thelma “Olive” (Harper) Lillie
February 19, 1930 – July 7, 2018
Love is a smile, a tear and a touch
Love says little, but means so much
Love is forever and we give it to you,
From the family who thought the world of you.
Peacefully, with family by her side, our beloved matriarch, shortly after midnight, gave her last breath to join her beloved husband, Robert Henry Lillie in the afterlife. She leaves to mourn her eleven children, grandchildren, great grandchildren: Wayne and Joyce; (Vanessa; Savannah, Darcy and Tristan, Jeannine and Andrew Eakett, Bobbi-Jo Lillie Virtue; Robert, Mark Johns; Shyla, Ryan; Alexis and Jordan; Axel, Lisa Myran; Teri-Lynne, Sawyer, Jocelyn, Terry Myran; Sierra, Kaylin and Autumn); Daniel and Ann; (Tana; Tyler and Cody, Shawn; Teresa and Juliana, Denielle; Syndney, Darian, Jakeob and Landon, Luanne, Chris, Kaylee and Anna Martin); Val Lillie and Will Ferguson; (Angela and Steve Ward); Thelma, Wendy and Tom Serger, (Rob; Leanne, Dominic Lechance, Brooke and MacKenzie, Sabrina, and Scott Dejersay); Laurie and Alain Rouillard, (Janelle and Shaun Vanbeselaere); Beverley and Dwight Begg, (Daniel and Mark, Alex); Fred, (Blake and Marian, Darian, Kayla and Ian); Frank, Wes and Heather Brooke, (Sheliza; Luca, Xavier, Chelsea; Jamie, Brooklyn); Myrna and Ray Hefferman, (Kallie, Raymond and Madison). Aunty Olive was the last of her generation of the Lillie/Harper families and will be greatly missed by her nieces, nephews and their families.
Born to Mary Elizabeth (nee Sanderson) and John Robert Harper (in the very house she resided), the seventh of eight children, was born and raised in Selkirk. Her father was a preacher and her mother a caregiver. They lived on a large farm where she helped tend to the animals and help with chores. She later met and married Bob, on August 26, 1948. They lived in the town of Selkirk until they lost their house to a fire; they then moved to the Harper homestead, her childhood home, north of Selkirk and continued to live there up until her final days. She still chopped and hauled her own firewood in the house for her wood burning stove. She would relay stories of how the family would move the woodstove outside for the summer to host gatherings; dancing in the kitchen, someone would play the spoons, her playing her guitar and Dad on his fiddle. Olive worked hard, contributed where she could in her community and gave her time willingly to so many causes. Over the years she has contributed to many organizations – to name a few: The Royal Canadian Legion Branch #42, Legion Ladies Auxiliary, Baker Boy Catering, luncheons for Gilbart Funeral Home, St. Peter, Dynevor Church, Selkirk Friendship Centre, Selkirk General Hospital Gift Shop, Manitoba Metis Federation, the Soup Kitchen, Food Banks, Manitoba Archaeological Society, Healing Site Edukit, Rupert’s Land Wechetowin Committee and Chief Peguis Heritage Park Committee. She was also Citizen of the year and Chieftain for the 51st Highland Gathering.
Our mother leaves to cherish her memory as the ultimate caregiver to all who sought her wisdom and comfort, she loved answering to the name; “Mom,” mostly, “Granny” and “Aunty Olive,” on occasion, respectfully as Mrs. Lillie. She accepted all, lovingly and will be greatly missed by all.
She will be forever kept in our hearts and our memories.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Thelma Olive Lillie February 19 1930 July 7 2018 (age 88).source
Death notice for the town of: Selkirk, Province: Manitoba