Wilma Wilhelmina Cullen

It is with love and heavy hearts that we say goodbye to Wilma Wilhelmina Cullen, who passed away peacefully at Cedar Hill Long Term Care facility in Langley on Tuesday, July 14, 2021. A day that we will always remember.

Wilma arrived in this world on May 30, 1930, at St. Boniface Hospital in Manitoba, her proud parents George Jacob and Augustina Gaetz. She was the baby sister to Adeline (Lena), Sarah, and Ida (Edith) who have all since passed.

Mom’s first 14 years were in Lydiatt, Manitoba, where she did her schooling and was at the top of her class. When her mother became lonely as Wilma’s sisters all had married and moved out, she pulled mom out of school to stay at home helping out doing chores on the farm. These were hard times and one grew up very quickly learning to manage a household.

The summer of 1944, mom moved with her parents to a 33 acre farm in Green Bay, Manitoba. This was directly across the street from the future love of her life David, who had fallen heavily for her after noticing her trim ankles and legs.

It was May 30, 1947 at the tender age of 17, that David proposed to Wilma. They were married in the Green Bay Church Sept. 06, 1947 and so began their 65 plus years of marriage along with the raising of 5 children.

The rest of her life was devoted to her children. It was difficult times, it seemed like we were moving every couple of years to a new home, but mom persevered and managed to always keep us loved and well fed as mom was a great cook. Mom had a beautiful voice and loved to sing. One of her favourite highlights in school was singing in the Manitoba Music Festival. She also joined the United Church Choir to fulfill her love of singing. Numerous accolades were well re-ceived from audiences for her singing of Scottish songs at many Robbie Burns Suppers. Mom loved to dance and she and Dad joined an Old Time Dance Club. She also worked at the Delta Private Hospital for a number of years as a nurses aid and spent many years working along side David with their commitment to the Legion business.

David sadly passed away March 13, 2013 and mom spent the next 8 years missing him dearly.

Wilma is lovingly remembered by her 5 children, Nancy (Dale), Gwen (Doug), Kathleen (El-liott), Michael (Sarah), Robin (Debbie), 12 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

Mom, you left a big hole in our lives, but we will carry on each and every day knowing that you are still watching over us. We will always miss you, but smile knowing that you are finally with Dad once again. No matter how much we say we love you, we always love you even more than that.

A mother is that special person who can take the place of all others but whose place no one else can take.

The family would like to thank the staff at Cedar Hill Long Term Care facility for their dedi-cated and compassionate care that they provided during mom’s stay.

A celebration of life will be held for immediate family only in September.