- Lillian was born and raised on the family farm in Tilston, MB. She was the fourth child of Fraser & Elizabeth Campbell and attended school with her brothers and sister at Tilston. She married Michael (Mac) Cairns on November 11 1942 and moved onto his family farm several miles west of where she grew up. She spent the next 68 years calling that farm home.
As a new bride Lil moved into the Cairns family home with Mac''s father and his youngest brother Patrick. The house quickly began to fill up as Mac & Lil were blessed with 12 children over the following 18 years. Lil was the heart of the family ensuring there was fresh baking and bread, home grown meals, and clothing designed by her and sewn by hand. She had enough love for her own family and plenty extra for any other children who happened to be visiting, whether nieces & nephews or friends from school. As her children grew up and started their own families they often wondered how she juggled so many responsibilities at once. They can recall the countless times she would sit up late sewing clothes, the jars and jars of canning she put up each fall, milking the cows morning and night, and the numerous other jobs that come with so many children and living on a farm.
While Lil was often a shy woman, she had a quiet strength and strong faith that allowed her to deal with whatever life sent her. Even after her husband passed away, she was determined to keep her home and garden on the farm and did what she had to do to make that happen, including learning to drive at the age of 61. She continued to live there independently for another 26 years helped by her oldest son Bill & Patricia who lived on the farm as well. The last winter of her life was spent in her daughter Margaret & Barry''s home where she continued to be surrounded by her family and loved ones.
The greatest gift Lil gave to those around her was the love of family. This strong sense of family and belonging was passed to all of her children and grandchildren. As her family continued to grow and grow and grow, she was able to make each and every person feel special and incredibly loved. There was never criticism or judgement at Grandma''s house, every person who walked through the door was greeted with a smile, a hug, and a cup of tea.
Lillian passed away at the Melita Health Centre on Saturday, April 24, 2010 at the age of 87, surrounded by her children and their children. From her hospital bed, Lil told her family that "there was nothing better than holding the hand of a child". The number of people who will miss her is a testament to how she lived her life.
She was predeceased by her parents Fraser & Elizabeth (Cameron) Campbell; husband Mac; 3 grandchildren: Marlene Robertson, Matthew Melvin and Shawna Melvin; 1 great-grandchild Jayton George; son-in-law Maurice Donnelly; 3 brothers: Alex Campbell, Ken Campbell and Albert Campbell; 4 sisters-in-law: Maureen Campbell, Freda Cairns, Isabelle Campbell, and Pauleen Campbell; also 2 brothers-in-law: Jack Melville and Bob Cairns.
Lillian is survived by her 12 children: Bill (Pat) of Tilston, Myrna Donnelly of Brandon, Michael (Bonnie) of Medicine Hat, Jean (Ray) Robertson of Deleau, Betty (Jim) Eastcott of Brandon, Annie (Mike) Taylor of Carievale, Mag (Barry) Minshull of Pierson, Linda (Boyd) Minshull of Pierson, Nancy (Brian) Melvin of Regina, Shirley (Keith) Goforth of Pierson, Sheila (Murray) Brown of Melita, and Josie (Dale) Pidhirney of Medicine Hat; 39 grandchildren, 74 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild; sister Jean Melville of Ohpoe Beach, New Zealand; brother Bill (Maria) Campbell of Regina and brother-in-law Pat (Kay) Cairns of Melita.
Funeral Mass was celebrated on Thursday, April 29, 2010 at 2:00pm from the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, Melita, MB. Father Mark Nwosu Mass Celebrant. Mass of Christian burial took place at the Tilston Catholic Cemetery, Tilston, MB.
Prayers were said on Wednesday, April 28, 2010 at 7:00pm from the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church.
Donations may be given to the Tilston Cemetery Fund Box 70 Tilston, MB. R0M 2B0 or to the Shawna Melvin Bereavement Scholarship 700B - 4400 4th Ave. Regina, SK. S4T 0H8.
Redpath Funeral Home
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1923 - 2010 (87 years)
