Eileen Priscilla Willson

Eileen P. Willson (Tupps)

“A life well-lived” By Judi Wild (Eileen's youngest daughter)

Mom was such an inspiration to all who were fortunate enough to be a part of her life.

I accredit her longevity to her great sense of humor and her healthy life-style. For the last 12 years she was legally blind. Most people didn't know that, because she didn't APPEAR to be blind, she saw with her brain.

She was a practical nurse for years, as well as tirelessly caring for many family members as they grew older.

She enjoyed traveling to Greece and Reno with her husband Reg.

Mom preferred a quiet, more pensive life-style....especially in the later years:

writing stories was one of her many passions,

as well as creating art, sculptures and crafts,

designing clothes for her massive doll collection,

working long hours in her large garden & making preserves,

turning a house into a home,

and walking with her beloved dogs in the woods.

She enriched her curious mind by surrounding herself with a library of books including: naturopathy, herbology, gardening, psychology, Oneirology (the study of dreams) and was devoted to researching the religious beliefs of the world....even as her blindness slowed her down, she continued with the aid of a magnifier for the visually impaired.

AND of course spending time with Reg, the absolute love of her life.

Mom was my greatest fan. She encouraged me to explore my talent and stressed the importance to make art my life's work.

Such a diverse lady was my Mom. She was:

strong-willed, independent, proud, brave,

persistent,

a loyal friend & confidant

caring, thoughtful

and was very passionate about life.

These were some of Mom's favorite sayings that Nicki and I grew up with:

“No such thing as can't”

“When the going gets tough, the tough get going”

“Those are able who think they are able”

“Nature is my church”

“Don’t let housework take over your life – in other words, enjoy life a little.”

“If you love something, set it free,

If it comes back it is yours,

If it doesn't, then it never was”

“What will be - will be”

…........and one of her most frequently used sayings.......

“Well, I'll love you and leave you, for now”

The memory of Eileen, (Tupps) will live with all of us, forever. I am so proud to call her Mom.

MY TRIBUTE TO OUR MOTHER (EILEEN (TUPPS) P WILLSON

Most of my memories of our mother are when we were children, due mainly to the fact that whereas she spent most of her years in Canada , I have spent most of my life in England.

I remember that as a small child I was a ‘brat’ and a real embarrassment to her, including the time when I chased all the pigs out of their pen with a stick; when I entered a High Church with my dress and boots absolutely covered in mud, holding the hymn book upside down and singing at the top of my voice completely out of tune and she had to face the embarrassment of coming to collect me; when I was pulling my little sister who was sitting in a tin bath, along the road and a car came along and I then just ran off and the poor driver had to get out of his car and move this tin bath together with my sister off the road; when after watching workmen setting piles of grass alight I thought I would have a go when no-one was watching as well as setting the surrounding area alight, I almost set all our wooden huts alight; and another time when I was coming home from Rabbit Hill School and accepted a lift from a farmer on his tractor and passed my mother who was coming to fetch me from school and I just waved to her and when the farmer asked me if I knew that lady and I replied, ‘Oh yes, that was my mother!’

Another time, which neither my sister nor I will ever forget, is when there was a man drowning in the lake near to where we lived and she just jumped into this deep lake, fully clothed and still wearing her shoes, to rescue him without giving any thought to the danger she was putting herself in.

I remember her scouring the area surrounding our home in Canada for wild blueberries and strawberries to make jam and also for the ice cream that she made and put outside in the cold to set.

I will never forget how caring and thrifty she was and tried not to let things get her down.

When we first came back to England, we were not very well off but my mother always took so much trouble in buying us Christmas presents. Although she could not afford to always buy us new toys she would go out of her way to buy us beautiful second hand ones. I remember this baby doll she brought me one year along with a pram and when wheeling this out one day I accidentally tripped over, let the pram go and this doll ended up with having a cracked head. Of course, I was broken hearted, but she promised me that she would take it to the toy hospital in Reading (which was a long way away for her in those days) but she succeeded in having this crack repaired.

My mother was always very thrifty and I remember her always darning our clothes rather than just throwing them away. She was always a happy person who made the most of life and believed in hard work to succeed. She also always took a great pride in her appearance and even when she lived on a ranch in Alberta she would always make sure her hair was tidy and that her finger and toe nails were polished.

Even although in her later years she lived so far away from me, she was always ready to give me help and advice and I will remember her for her courage and bravery.

Biography of Eileen Willson

Eileen Willson was a remarkable woman who’s life extended over 9 decades.

She was born in England to Eric and Kate Mugliston on Jan 20 1923 and was the last of 6 siblings : Kay, Margaret (Peggs), Francis (Frig), Jean and Peter .

In 1945 she immigrated to rural Alberta as a war bride to Peter Poholka. They had 2 children: Judi and Nicola. She completed her nurses training during the 70s and practiced in both Alberta and BC.

Her 2nd husband was a rancher and she became an energetic and enthusiastic partner in this way of life. She became a great cook, animal lover and author.

Her last husband, Reginald Willson was the true joy of her life. They lived for 25 years in Tsawasswen BC and traveled to Greece, England and Reno.

Eileen was an avid gardener , hiker and student later in life and did not let the loss of her sight slow her down one bit!

She moved to a beautiful assisted living home- Augustine House in Ladner BC in 2011.

In 2014 she suffered a major stroke that robbed her of her voice & the use of her right side. Later, she was transferred to a lovely extended care facility in Comox, where she could be closer to her youngest daughter Judi.

Eileen leaves to mourn her passing:

2 daughters , 2 stepchildren, many grandchildren and great grandchildren . As well as other friends and family.