Lillian Flora Dong

Lillian was predeceased by her husband of 67 years, Harry and her eldest son, Wayne Amiskusees. Lillian is survived by her children: Glen (Alberta) Worm and Elizabeth Gandy (nee Dong).

Lillian was not the eldest but she was the last of her siblings and is predeceased by her siblings William (Gladys) Worm; Hilliard (Velma) Worm - P.P.L.I. Rifleman; Florence (Les Magnuson) Poorman; Rose Worm; Margaret Worme; Peter Anderson (Maggie) Worm; Madeline (Tony) Kinequon; Vincent Clement (Mary / Ruth) Amiskusses - P.P.L.I. Rifleman; Edwin (Emma) Worm; Glen (Josephine) Worm; Irvin (Evelyn) Worm.

Friends and Family

Lillian was beloved by numerous friends, nieces, nephews, her grandchildren and as câpanak to great-grandchildren and will be missed for her kindness, her softness, sense of humour, and beautiful light. She had a rich social life and had many social outings, ladies lunches, and she belonged to several community outreach and support groups where she was a senior advisor and counsellor. She made time for Second Step at Chilliwack Hospice and Ala-non Family groups, a ladies social group and her bowling team and she was an active member in both her communities on Young Road and in the new neighbourhood of Garrison/Webster’s Landing. In Garrison, Lillian could be seen every day walking along the pathways along the Vedder River and our beloved Webster’s Landing talking to families and children playing in the park.

Lillian always travelled to Saskatchewan, and recently Lillian travelled to her traditional territory in Saskatchewan, Kawacatoose First Nation, and was grateful to make this journey with Tara, Tanis, Rheanna Dave & Eleanor, Donovan & Eli, Stephanie Royce & the boys. She spoke many times about this final trip and it will always be a treasured time for everyone. The western region, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia, was her territory, and Harry and Lil were always planning their next trip for the summer and fall months. Maps, tools and materials, food stocks and water would be loaded into the van or truck (enough for months) and off they would go, often travelling hundreds of miles per day to get to their destination. Every year they would travel to visit family and friends and this devotion to family is part of their legacy.

Grandchildren, Nieces, and Nephews

After this recent trip to Saskatchewan and the long range planning sessions for Kawacatoose, Lillian attended her grandson Evan’s wedding to his bride Maria, in Vancouver which was a highlight for her. It was a beautiful celebration of young love and she said as she was leaving, ‘They remind me of Harry and I when we were young’.

A great pastime for Granny, was watching sports with her Grandson Brock and cheering for the underdog teams across the land. She had many ‘favourite’ Teams but would always cheer for the Team she felt needed it the most! Hockey and football were always on and she loved so much this time with Brock, along with all the snacks that came with this past-time. They became real friends watching and learning about sports, and this time will always be treasured by Brock.

Lillian was a good friend and a great listener. She was calm, considerate, and loving and was always able to give advice in such a way that it was always received in the way it was intended, with love and respect. No one will miss this guidance and support more than her Granddaughter Tianna. They were like 2 peas in pod and so similar in many ways…beautiful..

There are many friends and family members who were part of Lillian’s regular telephone touch base calls which included Jan, Heather, Dale, Lana, and Tammy. Lillian and Harry were very closely aligned with Don and Helen’s dedication to family, community, education and justice and they were very proud of everything that they were championing. Lillilan, together with Harry again, will continue to be proud from heaven above, of her family and the progress that we make in our personal journeys.

Reading, Writing and Language

In the later years and certainly after her husband passed away, Lillian slowed down with her baking and sewing businesses which left time for other things she loved including reading. Lillian was able to consume a book within a few days and would be transported back in time within the pages of the romance novels she loved. She often had several books on the go at one time but her favourites were the pocket book romance novels that she would find in the vintage stores around Chilliwack for 25 or 50 cents. Along these romance and novellas, Lillian also picked up political satires, humanities and social science pieces, and fiction along with a good cook book or two. She leaves behind an incredible library of +200 books which is a treasure for her daughter Liz who has inherited Lillian’s zeal for reading.

Work

Lillian’s life always including design, crafts and creation. She had training as a seamstress during her time in residential school and quickly learned that she had a natural talent for design, draping and pattern making. Lillian could develop a pattern from a simple sketch or an idea of client, and bring any vision into reality. She worked as an entrepreneur for many years building and managing her own business in North Burnaby, Abbotsford and Chilliwack. Lillian created haute couture designs and creations of designers leading women’s apparel in the 1970s, 80s, and 90s at Beau Brummel in DT Vancouver. Lillian continued to sew and design throughout her life and many of these items that were created, were treasured by members of her family and friends.

Along with her creations in textile design, Lillian (Granny Pucket when she was in the kitchen) was an avid baker and typical of great bakers didn’t use a recipe and relied more on her hands and eyes as a gauge for more flour or water, salt or spices. Her baked goods were a commercial hit and her and Harry would travel to flea markets and community centers in the Fraser Valley selling their goods as their retirement project. They gained such a following that Lillian was known as the ‘Pie Lady’ in Abbotsford & Chilliwack and had a steady home business until recently when her baking pans and dishes were scaled down to regular baking days and not the heavy schedule where she managed to bake 75+ fruit pies, 50+ bannock breads, 24 dozen cookies, and assorted bits every single weekend!

Movies and the Theatre

Movies were pure joy for Lillian and Harry and their love of the cinema and theatre was evident especially around the Christmas holidays when they would get dressed in their best duds to attend local theatre and the Chilliwack cultural center. Queen Elizabeth Theatre was a special event and for many years, they would attend a play, the opera or the ballet in support of fine arts and performing artists. We encourage everyone to follow along in these foot steps to support fine arts everywhere.

From Liz Gandy:

Lillian’s daughter Liz, will feel the enormous space that is left behind with the passing of her Mom. Lillian was her trusted advisor and confident. There isn’t a remedy for this void other than the passing of time but love and memories of joy and laughter will be a comfort. Liz thanks the Chilliwack General Hospital and everyone who was there in support for her and her Mom, both in person and virtually, especially for these final last few weeks.

It is a testament of a person’s life when at 91, everyone desired more time with her. There is tsunami of notes, messages and flowers sent in recognition of this great and wonderful woman, our Mom, our Auntie and Kokum….

‘…If there comes a day when we can’t be together,

Keep me in your heart and

I will stay there forever…’

~Winnie the Pooh

~Rest in Peace Lillian, we love you lots~

All is well

Death is nothing at all, I have only slipped away into the next room.

I am I, you are you.

Whatever we were to each other that we still are.

Call me by my old familiar name, speak to me in the easy way which you always used to.

Put no difference in your tone, wear no forced air solemnity or sorrow.

Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together.

Let my name be ever the household word that it always was, let it be spoken without effort, without the trace of a shadow on it.

Life means all that it ever meant.

It is the same as it ever was – there is unbroken continuity.

Why Should I be out of mind just because I am out of sight?

I am waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere near, just around the corner,

All is well.

~author unknown, left for Liz Gandy by Lillian