LILLIAN MCLENNAN (GOODMAN) (GOODIE)

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LILLIAN MCLENNAN (nee GOODMAN) (GOODIE) July 10, 1912 - August 17, 2009 After a long life of love, laughter and productivity, Lil passed away at The Convalescent Home of Winnipeg. Lil was born July 10, 1912 in Vancouver, BC, the youngest daughter of Johanna and Richard Goodman. In 1918, they moved to Selkirk, Manitoba where she grew up. After completing high school, she attended teacher's training in Winnipeg and taught for two years in a small country school at St. Rose du Lac. In 1934, in the middle of the depression, Lil went to Brandon Mental Hospital to study to become a psychiatric nurse. After graduating with the General Proficiency and Silver medals in that program, she had the opportunity to take the Medical Technology course there. Medical Technology then became her lifelong career. In 1943, she moved back to Winnipeg to marry her longtime sweetheart John McLennan. After working in the labs of the Winnipeg General, Grace Hospital and Trainor Labs, she and her friend Catherine Howlett took on the challenge of setting up a new lab training program at Winnipeg General Hospital. In 1963, they moved to the newly created Manitoba Institute of Technology where Lil taught Hematology. This institution later became Red River College. Lil was very proud of the fact that twice one of her Hematology students got the highest mark in Canada. Lil and John enjoyed 57 years of loving married life. Their life was very full. They enjoyed many activities with friends and family including: dancing in the early years, trips to Falcon Lake, traveling to Europe and Hawaii and gardening in the later years. Lil also contributed her sunny disposition, as a volunteer, to the activity program of the CNIB and as a member of the board at the Convalescent Home. Lil was predeceased by her loving husband John in 1995 and her sisters, Margaret Griffith in 1990 and Ellen Campbell in 2002; her half brothers Bob Goodman and Jim Goodman, her half sister Catherine Reichert and her sister-in-law Ellen McLennan. She will be greatly missed by her half sister, Sally Byrd and nieces and nephews, George (Linda) Campbell, Donna (Claud) Cho-Chu, Terry (Shelagh) Griffith, Faye Griffith, Ross McLennan and Bob McLennan as well as many grand and great-grand nieces and nephews. She will also be missed by numerous friends, in particular Wendy Elcomb who played a very special role in her later life. All will miss her laughter and love for life. Lil's family and friends will join in a celebration of her life on August 24, at 12:30 p.m. at Chapel Lawn Funeral Home, 4000 Portage Avenue. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of your choice. Chapel Lawn 885-9715

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 22, 2009