Lila E. Jean’s Obituary
Lila Ellen ‘Jean’ Williamson (Simpson) danced out of this world gracefully at the age of 93, on June 29, 2020, in East Cumberland Lodge, Pugwash, after a life overflowing with love, treasured family and friends.
Born in Brandon, Manitoba on Valentine’s Day in 1927, Jean was a prairie girl at heart and dancer in spirit, from the time she was a six-year-old tap dancer until she was in her nineties grooving to the beat with her walker in tow. There is a story in our family of little Jeanie being invited to join her uncles’ adagio dancing act in Hollywood in the 1940’s, but her father quickly putting the kibosh to that. Instead she met the dashing Norris (of yellow suede shoes fame) at a dance in Brandon and the rest is history. There followed marriage, children and a life framed by the Norris’s long career in the armed forces and the Royal Canadian Legion, frequent moves, uprooting family, packing and unpacking – requiring resilience, building independence and a feistiness that became her trademark. The benefits were the opportunities to discover new communities, travel and forge many many life-long friendships. Jean had fond memories of her friends in Winnipeg, Germany, England, Toronto, Ottawa, Camp Borden, Halifax, Shilo, Stonewall, Saanichton, Sidney, Victoria and Pugwash.
Jean was a piece of work despite, and maybe because of, being vertically challenged. She loved laughter, curling, knitting, golf, caramels, a fun party and a good gin & tonic. She was a ferocious reader of grisly murder mysteries and did not suffer fools gladly. She bragged about her ability to drive across the country with one hand tied behind her back and never saw a gizmo she didn’t covet. She blithely rewrote history, invented words like ‘pizzerinktom’ and ‘dooflicky’, and in later years, had no filter whatsoever, making for some ‘interesting’ observations and cringing moments for her family.
Predeceased by beloved husband, Norris ‘Willy’ Williamson, sister Mabel Trelka (Simpson), brother-in-law Charles Trelka, sister-in-law Norma Holbrook (Williamson), parents Lyle and Mable Simpson (McKee). Left to remember and celebrate a life well-lived – daughter Norene Smiley (Greg) Pugwash NS, sons James Williamson (Laura Griffin), Chemainus BC, and Jon Williamson (Angela Beattie), Calgary AB, granddaughters Erin Smiley (Darrell Fardy, great granddaughters Amelia and Genevieve) and Emma Smiley (great granddaughter Ella Tilley), nieces Susan, Sandra, Beverly and Christine and nephew Joe.
Big thanks to VON home care workers in Cumberland County and the staff of East Cumberland Lodge for their warm and friendly care in the last year. Arrangements entrusted to Mundle’s Funeral Home, Pugwash.
Donations to ECL, PO Box 250, Pugwash NS B0K 1L0, or a charity of your choice.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Lila E Jean Williamson February 14 1927 June 29 2020..
Death notice for the town of: Pugwash, Province: Nova Scotia