Colleen Myrna Kathleen Millar

Colleen was born in Springside, Saskatchewan to Sidney and Audrey Large (nee Wolfe). She was raised in Yorkton with her brother Harley John and her sister Marcia Lorlie Anne. She was predeceased by her parents, brother and his wife Ruth (nee Nealon) and her beloved husband of 30 years Archie Millar.

Colleen was a devoted wife, friend and cherished mother and grandmother. She is survived by her son Russell of Winnipeg (with whom she had nightly conversations); her daughter Laurel and husband Steve McIntyre of Sidney; son Calvin Condy and wife Sun Ok of Kelowna; and daughter Catherine Condy and her husband Fred Denis of Victoria. She is survived by her grandchildren Nadine & Kaitlin McIntyre (husband Daniel); Samuel, Gloria & Benjamin Condy; Tarun Ghose and Maia Denis.

Colleen is also survived by Archie’s daughter Noreen Evers and his son Donald Millar. She is also survived by Archie’s grandchildren Ben, Sylvia, Will, Cheryl, Corwin and Jordan.

She graduated from Yorkton Collegiate in 1948. Colleen was an adventurer! She moved to Vancouver at age 18 where she worked as an early telephone operator. She returned to Yorkton a few years later where she met and married Donald John Condy. They lived in Prince Albert, Saskatoon, Toronto and finally Winnipeg in 1961 where they raised their 4 children together until 1975. They loved entertaining, camping and travelling including two trips to Spain & Portugal as travel agents.

Colleen returned to school as an adult learner to obtain her bookkeeping certificate and she worked for the Municipality of Bird’s Hill until 1977 when she and her youngest daughter Cathy and their dog Sheba, moved to Sidney to be closer to her sister Marcia, her children Carolyn and Kerri Morrison and Marcia’s husband Edwin LeClair. Colleen worked with Ed at the Town of Sidney for many years in the payroll department. She retired in 1988 when she met and married Archie Millar on June 25th 1988. Many fun years ensued as they traveled to Palm Springs in the winter, the Island and BC in summers – in their 5th wheel. They also enjoyed cruising to Panama, the Caribbean and Desolation Sound.

Colleen was a very independent and determined woman. She was always trying something new. If she wanted something done – she had no problem taking a course and learning how to do it herself. She was an accomplished gardener, salmon catcher, baker, seamstress, furniture restorer & upholsterer and more. She also enjoyed writing stories, and she loved painting – in oils, pastels, chalk and water colour. Her love of music and singing found her playing the piano, organ and violin! She sang with the St. Andrews Sidney choir for many years. She also volunteered her bookkeeping skills with Abbeyfield Society.

Colleen lived her life with the intention of helping those around her. She epitomized this in her devotion to Archie, allowing him to live an extended time in their home for many years in his later life as his eyesight and health failed. Archie was a founding father of the Saanich Historical Artifacts Society (now Heritage Acres). Colleen was a member for many years and spent many a morning volunteering there as a guide.

Colleen maintained her many friendships from across Canada and the USA over the years as she shared her stories by mail and email. She was adored by her neighbours in Sidney and was blessed with friends from the prairies who visited her. She loved her role as Grandma Colleen – convincing her daughters to move back to the island to ensure she had her grand children nearby. She and Kaitlin spent many cherished hours together as violinists and artists!

Her last year was one of joy with her friend Valdemar and sadness as she lived with the difficulty of dementia.

Colleen and her family are thankful for the devoted care of her family doctor – Lora Morrice (Liz and Penny); her orthopedic surgeon Zane Zazour, the caring medical teams at Saanich Peninsula, Victoria General, Aberdeen and Kiwanis Village (especially Gord) who were very kind to her.