Muriel Jean Lillies (Mollard)

Obituary

Passed on December 18, 2021

August 19, 1932 – December 18, 2021     It is with sadness the family announces the sudden but peaceful passing of Muriel Lillies (Mollard) on Saturday, December 18, 2021 at the age of 89 years.

Left to cherish her memory are her children Clifford (Marilynn), Kimo (Wendy), Russell (Kimberley), and Susan ((Terry). She also leaves behind seven grandchildren: Cindy (Murray), Gordon (Amy), Curtis (Kesneil), Brenlee (Fabio), Tanis (Jeff), Kyle, and Tessa (Landon) as well as eleven great-grandchildren.

Muriel was predeceased by her husband Harvey in 2006, her parents Queenie and Happy Mollard, and six brothers: Snookie, Reggie, Mutch, Bobby, Fred, Roy, and Kenny, along with sister Allie.

She is survived by sister Joan, sister-in-laws Ruth and Lillian, and numerous nieces and nephews. Over the years Muriel was employed as a dental assistant, a receptionist at the hospital, a cashier at the Allied Hardware store, a janitor at the RCMP station, a cashier at Kern Korner gas station, and a flyer inserter at the Stonewall Argus Office. These jobs allowed Muriel to deal with the public and with people – which suited her personality. She was a people person! Muriel volunteered her time as a Girl Guide Leader, belonged to the Figure Skating Club, was a supporter of the Ladies Hospital Auxiliary, helped in the Annual Campaign Fundraiser for Cancer for over twenty years, and assisted with the local Terry Fox Run.

In her spare time Muriel loved to golf, curl, and swim. When her body no longer enabled her to participate, she was an avid cheerleader! She was a faithful fan of the Stonewall Blue Jays baseball team. Through the years Muriel enjoyed travelling with family and friends. Her travels took her to familiar places and allowed her to discover new ones. Mom was born and lived her entire life in the community of Stonewall. She was very proud of this achievement as is evident by this letter she composed at the age of 62 to be shared and passed down to her great-grandchildren:

To my great-grandchildren, As I sit here trying to think of something to write about to the children of the future, I consider myself a real “Stonewallite”. As a true “Stonewallite” I would like my great grandchildren to know what Stonewall had to offer during the years I was growing up. Stonewall was and always will be known for it’s limestone quarries. Sixty percent of the people worked in the quarries from 1930 to 1940. My Dad worked in the quarries, which then was owned and operated by the Winnipeg Supply and Fuel, for forty-seven years. We lived right down in the quarries as Dad always looked after the horses. Of course as the years passed on the horses were replaced with trucks.

We were fortunate to have had a wonderful childhood as every pothole produced an ice pond in winter. With seven brothers hockey was a great thing in our household. Also, in the summer time, we had enough in our family for a full baseball team – no need to look for friends ….. we had our friends at home! Also we had nice steep hills to ski down – no money for bought skis – we made our own out of old pot bellied barrels with a piece of harness leather nailed on. We iced them every night – best skis in town and lots of fun. You children will never have to make such toys but really we had so much fun!

As the years have rolled by, the town has grown. We have used all the rock that could be used so the quarries were sold and have moved out of town. Now, most of our residents work in Winnipeg and commute back and forth every day. It’s no longer the small town and no longer only Stonewall people as the homeowner’s come from far and wide to reside in our town. As I write this note to you I am sixty-two years old and I have lived in Stonewall for all my years. I hope if you have a chance to write to your great-grandchildren that you can say you have spent all your years in this wonderful town.

Thank you Stonewall for being such a great town and for being so kind to me. Sincerely, Muriel Lillies (Mollard)

The family would like to thank the home care workers and Muriels’ friends who looked after Mom which allowed her to stay in her home at Lion’s Manor for as long as possible. Thank you also to the staff at Rosewood Lodge and the Grace Hospital for your care and compassion. Due to current health restrictions a service for family will be held later in the year.

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