LILIAN MARY SIRTONSKI (PETTIPAS)

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LILIAN MARY SIRTONSKI (nee PETTIPAS) With great sadness and sense of loss, the family of Lilian Sirtonski announces her death on Monday, December 23, 2002 at the Rideau Park Personal Care Home in Brandon, MB. Lil was 87 when Alzheimers Disease finally won the war. However, she died at peace and peacefully, with her eldest son Michael at her side. Lilian leaves behind two sons, Michael (wife Alana, children, Joseph, Alan, Shara Lee and David) and Garry (former wife Susan and son Daniel). Also left to mourn her are her sister Rita Ryan, and two brothers, Alvin Pettipas and Chuck Pettipas. She was predeceased by her parents, Walter and Marie Pettipas; brothers, Everett and Walter; and sisters, Marie Moxen and Pat Houle. Lilian Mary Pettipas was born October 7, 1915 in Descousse, Cape Breton into a large and loving family with four brothers and three sisters. She enjoyed a happy, rural childhood in a time before the horse was replaced by the automobile. She entered the work force at the age of 12, finding employment at the Aberdeen Hospital in New Glasgow, NS and helping to support her family back home. During parts of her life she worked in two textile factories and as a caretaker, housekeeper and apartment block supervisor. In the mid 1960s, she worked with the original Status of Women Committee in Winnipeg and, as a result, was interviewed on CBC Television in March, 1967. She was employed by Medox Health Services as a companion and homemaker and was a licensed Manicurist. Lilian like all her work and would not have taken (or would have quit) any job she did not enjoyed. Every place she worked, she garnered glowing references. One of her most cherished positions was as Housemother - Victoria General Hospital School of Nursing. As Housemother to a Residence full of exuberant, and some not so exuberant, young ladies hoping to become nurses, she was a combination confidant, grandmother and policewoman. The students affectionately dubbed her Diamond Lil and were proud to be called Diamond Lils Girls. Lilian loved reading and crossword puzzles with more than a passion and was seldom without several books and crosswords on the go. She also loved shopping for "some little thing" for someone special and always seemed to know who would enjoy what. Lil loved painting, art, sewing and horses and horse racing. In later years she came to hate the "great outdoors" with all its bugs and bees and was fond of saying, "I wouldnt live anywhere they didnt have street lights". Oscar Wilde would have wished that it was his line. She had many friends and the misfortune to outlive most of them. All her grandchildren were special treasures in her eyes as were her two daughters-in-law. Three years before she died, she said she had no fear of death and no regrets about her life - quite an accomplishment. Her generosity and her giving nature are symbolized by the fact that in October 1982 she received her final Certification of Appreciation from The Canadian Red Cross Voluntary Blood Donor Program thanking her for her support and for contributing to her community, but informing her that her name "must be deleted from our donor list due to your having celebrated your 66th birthday". Words cannot express our gratitude towards the doctors, nurses, and ALL the loving and caring staff of Rideau Park Personal Care Home, Brandon who made Lilians room her home in the truest sense of the word. Their kindness, their giving, their concern, and their love meant so much and will never be forgotten. It was a tremendous consolation knowing Mom was in the best place receiving the best possible care. No flowers, please. If friends so desire, donations in Lilians name, may be made to the Alzheimer Society. Cremation has taken place and there will be an inurnment Saturday, December 28 at 1:00 p.m. at Chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens, 4000 Portage Ave. followed by a memorial service at 2:00 p.m. at Neil Bardal Inc., 984 Portage Ave., entrance on Aubrey Street. NEIL BARDAL INC. 949-2200

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 27, 2002