LILLIE VANDENBERG

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LILLIE VANDENBERG Sweet memories will linger forever; Time cannot change them, it's true; Years that may come cannot sever Our loving remembrance of you. With great sadness we announce the passing of Lillie (Lil) Vandenberg, beloved Mother, Nana, and Aunt at age 98 on February 6, 2013. A life-long Winnipegger, Lil grew up on Garfield Street, and then lived for many years with her husband Arnold and daughter Carol, on Greendell Avenue in St. Vital. Summers were spent at West Hawk Lake. In 1965, Lil and Arnold moved to Montreal with an Air Canada transfer. Upon retirement, they returned to Winnipeg, residing on Lyndale Drive, then Corydon Avenue. After Arnold's death, Lil moved to Villa Cabrini Retirement Home where she enjoyed an active life. Last year, with failing health, she moved to a nursing home in Toronto to be near daughter Carol Catchpole, granddaughter Laurie Lyle and husband Charles Skipper, and great-grandchildren William and Henry. Lil also leaves behind grandson Trevor Catchpole, niece Brenda Janakas, nephew David Campbell, and their families. We remember Lil always looking lovely, and her light-hearted way and funny wit endeared her to everyone she met. She was a compassionate person. While raising her own daughter, she took in five foster children and taught Sunday school. During the war, she worked in Eaton's Mail Order. She also volunteered with the Red Cross for almost 20 years. More than anything, Lil loved to dance. She was part of a pattern-dancing group with the West End Senior's Centre and Stradbrook Centre who performed at nursing homes and shopping malls throughout Winnipeg, dancing with her good friend Freda Kozak until she was 90. Lil was never one to sit still - always keeping herself busy with the things she loved to do, like cooking, baking, knitting and sewing. She always had a crossword puzzle on the go and was an avid reader. Heading to the shopping mall by bus was a regular outing, even in Winnipeg's cold winters well into her 90s. The family would like to extend their gratitude to all the health care professionals who helped care for Lil in her final years at Riverview Health Centre in Winnipeg and the Mississauga Long Term Care Facility. No service will be held, but we invite you to help celebrate her life by sharing your memories via the Winnipeg Free Press obituary guest book or by contacting the family at laurie.lyle@rogers.com. Cards (no flowers please) can also be sent to her family c/o Aftercare Cremation Burial Service, 1097 O'Connor Drive, Toronto, Ontario M4B 2T5.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 09, 2013