Obituary
GILLILAND, Helen Cherrie, 22 November 1939 to 2 June 2022
We sadly announce the death of Cherrie Gilliland at Trenton Memorial Hospital on June 2nd, 2022. She leaves behind her beloved husband of 58 years Donald, sons Gus (Kelly) and grandson Charles of Leander, Texas, son James of Ottawa, and brother Jack (Marie) of Howe Island, Ontario. Cherrie was born in Noranda, Quebec, where her father was a mining engineer at the O’Brien Gold Mine. The family moved to Tillsonburg, Ontario, in 1952, and then to Kingston, Ontario in 1955. In October 1958, at a dance at the Royal Military College, Cherrie met Don Gilliland, a first-year cadet, and attraction turned into a lifelong romance.
Cherrie completed her BA degree at Queen’s University, then spent a year teaching in Belleville while Don completed his engineering degree. They were married shortly after his graduation in June 1963 and they embarked upon an Air Force career which took them to 19 homes at 14 postings in 5 provinces and 5 countries. In Canada they enjoyed living in Penhold, Alberta; Ottawa, Ontario; Summerside, P.E.I.; Gimli, Manitoba; Toronto, Ontario, Chatham, N.B., and Trenton, Ontario. Overseas tours included Washington, D.C., London, England, Lahr and Baden Soellingen, Germany, and Rome, Italy.
Cherrie taught again in Red Deer, and yet again in Ottawa and Toronto. Boys joined the family, Gus in 1968 and James in 1970, and Cherrie was a superb mother. She was also a pretty good curler and bridge player, very competitive on two continents, comfortable in many cultures, and a very competent newsletter editor.
Upon retirement in 1995, Don and Cherrie returned to the Bay of Quinte near Trenton to enjoy the home which they had designed and built earlier, where she loved to work in her gardens. Always an organizer, Cherrie became a very active member of the Trenton Branch of the Retired Women Teachers of Ontario, and for many years organized marvelous bus trips for her colleagues to cultural and entertainment venues, earning the prestigious Cora Bailey Award. Travels included wintering in Mexico, visits to “the kids” in Texas and Florida, and cruises in Europe and Alaska.
Breast cancer became an issue in 2008, then tongue cancer in 2012, and then a stroke in 2018. Cherrie tackled each of these challenges with courage and resolve, helped by the support of the huge group of friends and colleagues she had developed along the way. She was blessed with the “cheerfulness” gene, and would often lift the spirits of her buddies with what her husband called “Cheerful Cherrie” messages. She was a great old friend, and we will miss her enormously.
In accordance with her wishes there will be no visitation and cremation has taken place. A celebration of her life will be held shortly. Cherrie has asked that you please do not send donations, but instead give flowers to someone you love. Online condolences at www.weaverfuneralhomes.com
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Cherrie Gilliland November 22 1939
June 2 2022..
Death notice for the town of: Trenton, Province: Ontario
death notice Cherrie Gilliland November 22 1939
June 2 2022
mortuary notice Cherrie Gilliland November 22 1939
June 2 2022
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