Mildred (Millie) Irene Walters

Millie Walters (nee Pearson) passed away peacefully on Monday, April 13, 2020, in Stratford General Hospital at the age of 74. Millie is remembered by family and friends for her passion for life, love for her family and her dedication to breast cancer awareness. Millie’s childhood was spent growing up with her six siblings on their family farm in Kintore. Times spent with her grandparents, Aunt Mollie, and her cousins were wonderful memories for Millie. Caring for her animals, attending high school in Ingersoll and participating in Junior Farmers kept Millie busy during her teenage years. Millie was a tom-boy at heart but she loved to dance. While attending a Teen Town dance in Embro, she met her life-long dance partner, Keith Walters. Together, they built their home in Embro where they raised their family for 54 years. Through Keith she became an avid race car fan and enjoyed time spent travelling in the motor home to tracks across North America. Millie worked many years for the Royal Bank as she raised her family, Sandra, Marci and Jeffery.  She held many positions at the bank, but the role she enjoyed the most was as Customer Service Representative where she could interact directly with the client. Her clients always enjoyed seeing her friendly face. In 1980, Millie’s family suffered the sudden loss of their son, then aged 5.  His memory would later grow in the hearts of Millie’s six grand-children. Millie adored her grandchildren and never missed an opportunity to attend hockey games, cross country meets, figure skating events, basketball games, music festivals and theatre performances. In 1996, Millie was diagnosed with breast cancer.  In 2001, her life took an interesting turn when saw a notice in the local newspaper about the Rowbust Dragon Boat Racing Team out of London.  She had never paddled a canoe before but she was ready to become a member on the boat of breast cancer survivors. Millie’s passion for Dragon Boat Racing and devotion to breast cancer awareness brought her to later join Canada’s National breast cancer survivor Dragon Boat team, Canadians Abreast: Messengers of Hope.  In March 2003, she began her travels around the world, visiting countries such as South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Turkey. She also paddled throughout Canada and the United States. Millie knew the importance of raising awareness about breast cancer, living as a breast cancer survivor and showing others that you really can lead a full and productive life. Millie fought the disease and remained cancer free. In 2014, Millie hung up her paddle after suffering a stroke.  With the fight still inside her, Millie continued to live her life to the fullest, always with her loving family by her side supporting her.  She will be sadly missed by so many.

“I give thanks to the Dragon. For carrying me across the deep waters of Life.  Held safe in such love” – Lynn Shamal, Paddlers for Life, U.K. May 2010

Millie will be forever missed by her family. Beloved wife of Keith Walters. Cherished mother of Sandra (Wayne Kirwin), Marci (Chris Shelton).  Pre-deceased by her son Jeffery. (1980). Loving Grandma Millie of Samuel, Ben (Mackenzie), Colin, Chloe, Hannah, and Caitlyn. Dear sister of David Pearson (Anna), Pat Rudy, Robert Pearson (Brenda), Don Pearson (Nancy), Steve Pearson and Valerie Chambers (Tom) and sister-in-law of Lorene Krynen (Bill) and Gary Walters (Tina) and Ron Henderson. Pre-deceased by her parents, Lorene and Lloyd Pearson, her brother-in-law Robert Rudy and her sister-in-law Donna Henderson. Millie will be sadly missed by her many nieces and nephews and cousins. Cremation has been taken place and a private service will be held at Knox Cemetery. A Celebration of Life honouring Millie will be held at a future date. In lieu of flowers, donations for research to the Breast Cancer Society of Canada, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada or to any other charity would be a long-lasting tribute to Millie, and may be arranged through BROCK and VISSER Funeral Home.