Idella Gillis

79 – Westmount

L. Idella Gillis passed away after a lengthy illness on April 15, 2013 at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital at the age of 79.

Idella was born in Frankville, Antigonish County, on October 1, 1933, the youngest child of the late William and Sophie (DeCoste) Levangie. Idella graduated from Mount St. Bernard Secretarial School in 1949. She moved to Sydney where she was employed at the Bank of Nova Scotia and the Post Record (CB Post). Idella was a member of Holy Rosary parish, Westmount since 1954 and a member of the C.W.L. for 25 years. She was a volunteer with the Girl Guides of Canada, an original member of the Westmount “Bunco Club” and a lifetime member of TOPS.

Idella was known for her dedication to family and friends, her unreserved honesty and her no nonsense outlook on life. While raising her family, she was a talented seamstress and knitter. Idella loved words (Scrabble champ) and was skilled with numbers (doing many tax returns for friends and family.) She was an accomplished cook and baker, a talent she shared with neighbors, friends and family and passed to her daughters and granddaughters. She was an avid walker. Idella was always up for new challenges including obtaining her driving license at age 65! Her greatest sense of pride came from family. Idella was predeceased by her husband of 58 years, John, in 2011.

She is survived by her six children: Caron Harker (Jim), Dartmouth; Sharon Fitzsimmons (Jim), Dartmouth; Michael (Sheila), Howie Center; Denise MacNeil (Owen), Riverview, NB; Scott (Elizabeth), Saint John, and Rosanne Gillis-Roy (Andre), Howie Center. Idella was extremely proud of her 17 grandchildren: Chris, Andrew. Kylene, Tiana, Brad, Lindsay, Zach, Whitney, Erin, Mark, Adam, Ryan, Brandon, Shea, Callaghan, Sloan and Sophia and her 6 great grandchildren: Katelyne, Maclaine, Addison, Declan, Brogan and Carter. Idella will also be greatly missed by her second family, Steve, Susie, Sheryl, Shauna, Stuart and Beryl Sutherland. Idella is survived by brothers, Paul Levangie (late Josephine) and Cyril Levangie (Delores), and sisters-in-law, Mary Levangie (late Norbert) and Dorothy MacNeil (late John F.). Besides her parents, she was predeceased by sisters Priscilla DeCoste, Anita MacDougall and Jeanette Pertus and brothers Russell Levangie and Norbett Levangie.

Special thanks to Georgia and Dr. Liam Orrell, Dr Juris Lasovskis, Cape Breton County Homemakers, Billie Stubbard and the staff of 4B at CBRH for their care.

Visitation will take place Thursday, April 18 from 7-9 pm only, at T.W.Curry Parkview Chapel. Funeral mass will be celebrated at 11:00 am Friday, April 19 at Holy Rosary Church, Westmount with Fr. Dan MacInnis officiating. Reception to follow at Westside Legion, Midgley Drive, Westmount.

Family flowers only. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Arthritis Society. Online condolences to www.twcurry.com