Lillian Hourd

(This life story was written by her children: Charlotte, Donald, Lenora, Leona, Glenn, Cathy, Gerald and Edward and was posted in the Willowdale newsletter). Mom was born in the Warmley district to John and Pearl Gulka on February 3, 1929. She was the second youngest of 7, Mary, Bill, Annie, Steve, Pete and Johnny and the last surviving member of her family. Mom attended Warmley School until Forest Edge School was built and finished her education there which was a lot closer to home. Neighbors and schoolmates included Stenders, Caswell’s, Cross’s and others. After she completed school Mom worked on the farm and helped her older sister’s with their new families.

Lillian met Ernie Hourd who was home from overseas during WW 2 and was hauling wood from the “bush” which took him right through Gulka’s yard. They were married July 1, 1948. Their first child was born in 1949 and 7 years later had #6; two more were added, one in 1961 and the last in 1968.

We moved many times over the years and finally settled in Kennedy where they lived up to the time they moved into Rudyard Manor in Kipling. This made for a very busy house, having 6 children all under the age of 7. There was no running water, disposable diapers or furnaces and air conditioners for many of these years so Mom had her hands full. In addition to all the “kid” things she had to do, there was always a large garden, lots of canning and meals to make.

Mom loved being outside helping with anything that would get her out of the house for any length of time. When she was still at home she enjoyed taking the team of horses for a drink at the spring when Grandpa came in from the field.

Mom told us the story many times of her pet deer which she bottle fed and would come back every spring. She had tied a red ribbon around its neck so no one would shoot but it didn’t come back on spring and she was sure it had been shot.

Mom would climb trees as a girl and take eggs from the crows nests and drop them down to brother Johnny who caught them in his hat. Johnny was very sick with rheumatic fever and had to learn how to walk again so Mom carried him on her back until he was able to walk.

Mom loved having fun!! When one of her brothers would come for a visit they would always end up in a wrestling match on the kitchen floor. This annoyed Dad who commented “are you two ever going to grow up“? Visiting her grandchildren, she would always leave having put cornflakes in their beds or a pair of the girls underwear in their purse to be opened in a store for all to see. I can hear her laugh!

In the 70’s she started working for the DNR at Kenosee Lake. She loved it there because she was finally out of the house and really enjoyed the people she worked with and the fun they had together.

When Dad passed away in 2008, Mom started her journey into dementia which ended up as a resident at Willow Lodge in 2009. It was a very hard time for her but as this condition grew worse she settled in and has now been there for many years (fifteen years to be exact).

As a family we could not have wished for a better place for her to be looked after. We believe KIHC is the best or at least one of the best long term care facilities in the province!

We have been so blessed to have this wonderful person as our Mother, who has loved us so unconditionally for all our lives. Thank you Lord for making her our “Mom”.

Lillian was predeceased by her husband of 60 years – Ernest (Dec. 8, 2008); parents – John and Pearl Gulka; sisters Mary (Alex) Marykuca and Annie (Steve) Kovach; brothers: Bill, Steve, Pete and Johnny; father and mother in law – Edward and Alice Hourd; daughter-in-law Debbie Hourd; in-laws: Alma (Harvey) Fraser, Eleanor (John) Smith, Earl Hourd, Gwen (Dave) White, Heather Gulka, Herb Nichol and Tony Cancade.

Lillian is lovingly remembered by her children: Edward (Bernadette), Gerald (Halina), Cathy (Ken) Siver, Glenn (Barbara), Leona (Calvin) Hutchison, Lenora, Donald (Joanne) and Charlotte (Darcy Wilton); sisters-in-law: Fay Gulka, Joanne Gulka, Audrey Nichol, Beth Schick and Jean Cancade; grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren, as well as by numerous nieces and nephews and friends.

The funeral service for Lillian was held on Monday, January 20, 2025 at 1:00 pm in the Parkland Bible Church, Kipling, Saskatchewan with Merv Daku officiating. Live streaming of the service was available courtesy of the Parkland Bible Church and will be available with the link that is posted below. Interment will follow in the Hazelwood Cemetery.

If friends so desire, contributions in memory of Lillian are gratefully accepted by Kipling LTC Activities, Box 420, Kipling, Saskatchewan S0G 2S0