Lois Edith (Mcdougall) Gillespie

Mom

Lois Edith Gillespie (nee McDougall) beloved wife, mom, Granny/Nanny, auntie, and friend passed away on February 9, 2022, at Sakura House, Woodstock, Ontario. Lois is survived by her loving husband Jim and children Lori (Dave) Brenda (Anthony) Tracy (Garth) Mike (Kim) as well as her Grandkids and Great Grandkids and Grand dogs.

Awaiting Lois in Heaven with arms wide open are her parents John and Muriel McDougall, brother Donald, sister Marilyn, nephew Kevin McKay along with many of her special furry friends.

Mom was born October 22/1945 and raised in the Norwood area of Winnipeg, Manitoba. She attended Nelson MacIntyre Collegiate. She started working for Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce after high school and shortly thereafter she met and fell in love with Jim. Jim and Lois married on September 4, 1965 and started their family. Being a bank family, our family was often transferred to towns and cities within Manitoba and Ontario including Thunder Bay, Dauphin and Portage la Prairie. Mom was able to easily make and collect friends at each stop along the way.

Lois was our family matriarch and peacekeeper. She loved each of us deeply. She was always very supportive and always had our backs.  Lois’ zest and enthusiasm for life and learning were evident in the many groups that she has been involved in over the years: Rotary Club, Bonsai Society of Winnipeg, Winnipeg Orchid Society, Ingersoll Creative Arts Centre, Charleswood Camels, London Orchid Society and Golf Clubs South Interlake, Glendale, Breezy Bend (where she had a hole- in-one) and Cobble hills most recently. She had a love of animals/nature/plants and a special knack for Bonsai but could grow anything well. She loved watching the birds until her last days.

Our little “firecracker/spark plug” had a tremendous sense of humour and was a calm in the storm. She was sometimes stubborn & determined and had a commitment to sobriety to further enjoy & experience life’s gifts. She was a lover of all and made friends easily every where she went.

Those that knew Lois well knew that we had a bonus seven or so years with her and we are thankful for that. We had a new mom whose commitment to keeping the kitchen floor clean found her sweeping countless times a day …. a new mom who didn’t really have the same filter and even became more funny. Mom made friends so easily…only took a minute. When those around her asked her how she was doing she’d say with a twinkle in her eye, “Not bad for an old boot” and wait for a reaction.

Mom had a stubborn spirit….and was a brave and strong warrior hummingbird. She fought to maintain sobriety, fought against cancer and against the brain bleeds that took parts of her away. VON was instrumental in helping get as much of Mom back as possible…it gave Mom hope & purpose…helped her with her voice and social and mental skills and gave her something special to look forward to. Mom became the official greeter and she loved going to “Club”. Special thanks to Mary Ellen and all those at the VON.

Mom we will see you in the flowers, birds (particularly Hummingbirds and Cardinals) and sunsets. Mom, we’ve already had reminders that you are near.

We would like to thank Dr. Sondhi and his team for their exceptional care of Mom, also the Sakura house who provided amazing end of life care for mom and compassion for our family as we were dealing with this difficult transition.

Cremation has taken place. There will be a private family gathering to celebrate Lois at a later date.

Lois’ favoured charities are Heart and Stroke Foundation, Canadian Cancer Society, VON Middlesex-Oxford, and Sakura House Woodstock, and VON Canada - Middlesex / Elgin. If so desired, donations may be made in memory of Lois and may be arranged through the Brock and Visser Funeral Home, 177 Dundas Street, Thamesford Ontario ( 519-285-2427 ) Expressions of love and sympathy may be placed and viewed online at www.brockandvisser.com.