Lillian Katherine Burt

Lillian was born on February 27, 1923 the youngest child of John and Katherine Saunders. She had one sister Isabelle. Summers were spent with her grandmother on her farm. Family was always the center of her life, although Lillian did have some life long friends that were very important to her.

After graduating from high school Lillian entered the Plummer Hospital School of Nursing. She graduated in 1944 and worked in the Sault for about six months. Lillian had especially enjoyed the work in the O.R. at graduation she had won an award that would further her oportunity to train in this area. The training would have been in Montreal and it seemed like a big move for her. She had a serious relationship and decided not to take the offer. She and a friend did take a 6 month contract with a hospital in Petrolia, but true love won out and Lillian came home and she and Chic were married.

Lillian became a full time wife and mother. They had two sons Jim and Bob. They had an apartment above HR Lash but decided to build their own home. They built on Nixon Road, they did a great deal of the labour themselves. In 1958 they moved into the house and that is the home where their boys grew up. Many wonderful memories were made in this home. Lillian was a loving and caring mom, but like most mothers of that era she had the dreaded wooden spoon, although I am not sure it was ever even taken out of the drawer!

Family was the centre of her life. Lillian had been raised with strong values, and she taught those values to her children. She was very close to her sister through out her life. Her husband was the love of her life and her sons meant the world to her. Lillian was thrilled to become grandmother to Taylor, Graeme, Katherine and Steven. In recent years the most important thing for her, probably the thing that gave her the most joy was being great grandmother to Nevaeh, Jackson and Gabriel.

Lillian returned to the work force in 1960 Lillian went back to work. She returned to the Plummer Hospital where she had trained until she was offered a job at Algoma Steel Medical where worked untl she was sixty. She had been laid off due to economic conditions. Her husband became ill and required her care. She spent the next eight years caring for him and never returned to work.

Lillian never found caring for him to be difficult but recalled the special moments they shared during this time provided her with many special memories. In 1996 her beloved Chic passed away. Three years later Lillian decided to sell the house and move into an apartment.

Lillian was a loving and caring woman. Hardworking is an understatement in how Lillian lived. She had enjoyed travelling and she and Chic had travelled to both the coasts. Chic was a member of the Shrine club and there were many trips with that. She had also been to England with friends. She enjoyed seeing the world.

Being a nurse and what it embodied was an important part of Lillian’s life. Lillian had always been a natural caregiver, not only was she good at it but she enjoyed it. There is a nurses prayer that says

Give me strength and wisdom,

When others need my touch;

A soothing word to speak to them,

Their hearts yearn for so much.

Give me joy and laughter,

To lift a weary soul;

Pour in me compassion,

To make the broken whole.

Give me gentle, healing hands,

For those left in my care;

A blessing to those who need me,

This is a Nurse's prayer.

In so many ways that describes Lillian.

When you think of it during the course of her life she had seen so many changes in the world. Lillian was content, happy with her life. In a recent conversation with a family member they were discussing wisdom and Lillian said wisdom is a mixutre of having knowledge, how you use that knowledge and who you are. Wisdom is the ability to reason things for yourself and using kindness along the way. Those were more than just words to Lillian that was how she lived her life.

Lillian had taken care of herself, she lived those lessons she had learned in nursing school, but she was 92 and had some health issues over the yearsand had a great deal of pain but Lillian with the help of you her family was coping quite well. She was living on her own. It was unexpected and so sudden when she became ill and passed away in what was just a matter of days.

Lillian had taught you so much, she was a woman of strong values and she passed those on to you her family, she taught you about the value of family, the importance of hard work, she showed you how to love.

BURT, Lillian Katherine (Saunders) - Mom passed peacefully, just short of her 92 birthday with family and in the care of the Algoma Residential Community Hospice on Thursday February, 12, 2015. She has left us to be with dad John (Chic) deceased two decades earlier. Dear mother of Jim (Sandy), and Bob (Debbie). Loving grandmother to Taylor (Kristy), Graeme, Katherine (Josh) and Steven. Devoted great grandmother (nana) of Nevaeh, Jackson and Gabriel. Daughter of the late John Sidney and Katherine Saunders, dear sister of the late Isabelle (late Bill) Lash, Dear sister in law of the late Peter (late Lily), late William (late Marie), Isobel Culina (late Tommy), late Betty Brawley (Jim). She is also survived by many nieces and nephews. Lillian was a caregiver in both her professional and maternal careers. A School of Nursing Plummer grad of 1944, she began her nursing career on 2nd Floor Plummer Hospital and completed it in the Medical Department of Algoma Steel. A kind and devoted wife, mother and grandmother through the years, and recently completely amazed by the daily development of her great grandchildren. The second career continues on in memory. Sincere appreciation to all that contributed to Mom’s comfort over the years and especially the last few months. Staff at Sault Area Hospital 3 B and Emergency and especially Dr. Hemy and the wonderful caregivers at ARCH. At Mom’s request a private family service will be held at graveside with interment West Korah Cemetery. Mrs. Helen Smith officiating. Memorial contributions to ARCH or the charity of your choice would be appreciated. Expressions of sympathy may be offered at www.arthurfuneralhome.com