After her usual quietly satisfying day in her back yard, feeding the birds, watering the flowers and watching the monarchs in the ever-expanding milkweed patch, Lois Aileen Menzies Tressam Brown, born in Hamilton on the 26th of July 1920, daughter of George Menzies of Carluke (Blackheath) and Muriel McKay, and elder sister of George Menzies (Gail) of Hamilton, retired to her favourite couch in the living room of the solid brick house that she and her second husband, Douglas Alfred Brown, son of Alfred Brown of Ancaster and Eleanor (Nellie) Butter had saved up for with meticulous economy and built together in 1953.
Peacefully settled, she prepared for her 99th birthday. Neighbors David and Heather Beland brought over balloons, Heather’s specially iced cake, bouquets of fragrant flowers, and, along with her yard-sale-hopping friend Nola Stewart of Ryerson Church, Lois celebrated her achievement of 99 years of active living with scoops of ice cream, after which she gingerly took a few steps and deep breaths into the early days of her 100th year. Shortly after the usual daily phone calls from her life-long friend Irene Burton of Dundas, and a last and loving visit by her niece Kathy Pettit (Kevin) of Dawson Creek, B.C. who held, amongst many nephews and nieces, a special place, she went aloft peacefully and gently a few days later, on the first of August 2019, in her own home as she had willed and determined, holding the hand of her son, Douglas Ian.
She will be missed by her circle of UCW friends at Ryerson United Church, a sanctuary which held many memories for her, including her marriage on the first of August 1941 to Pilot Sergeant Thomas (Tommy) Edward Tressam, (R75814), lost at sea flying a Boulton Paul Defiant on December 8, 1941 for which she bears the Memorial (Silver) Cross. Her subsequent marriage at Ryerson Church in 1948 was to Douglas A., a veteran of Hamilton’s 119 Squadron (10197A) who predeceased her in 1998. Devoted to the Church as an essential part of the Home-School-Church triad of family life, together they had many happy times at worship, at the Ryerson Couples Club, and at a variety of Church events. Amongst her many lessons taught by example were the duties of motherhood, resilience, durability, kindness, living with a generous heart, and always holding a sense of wonder at the extraordinarily intricate handiwork and complex declaration of the Divine Mystery expressed in a single flower. She was a great supporter of the No 6 RCAF Dunnville Museum, where Tommy had trained as part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, and along with Doug, the Bolingbroke Restoration Project at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. Her motherly instincts and sense of care and protection, and as time passed, a grandmotherly affection for those who passed through, were extended to many of the next generation who came to her home, and never left without a “Loveyouloveyou”, amongst whom were Doug Scott (Scotty) and Tom Lee; but she held an especial place in her heart for Xu Peng whom she viewed as her own grandson. There should be special notice given to the McMaster Family Health (Braley) Centre, particularly Dr. Dale Guenter, whose innovative approaches to medical care kept Lois healthful, happy, “full of beans”, and living with a sense of independence at home.
Visitation will be at MARLATT FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION CENTRE, 615 Main Street East (east of Sanford Ave.), Hamilton, on Wednesday, August 7th from 2 p.m. – 4p.m. and 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. A Graveside Service will take place at Hamilton Cemetery, 777 York Blvd., Hamilton (Section W), on Friday, August 9th, 2019 at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations would be appreciated for the Roof Restoration Project of Ryerson Church at 842 Main Street East, or to the work of The Healing Oasis ([email protected]).
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