Lilian Fraser (nee Brown) passed away at Victoria General Hospital, November 27, 2020 after a brief illness. She is predeceased by Stuart, her husband of 61 years and her brother Denis Brown (Joan) both in 2018. She is survived and lovingly missed by her three sons; Ian (Barb), Colin (Crystal), Bradley (Jacquie), as well as her grandchildren Hunter (Catie), Adrienne and William. Born in Ystradfellte, Wales in 1934 Lilian grew up in the Welsh countryside. Immigrating to Canada with her parents in 1953 she found herself in Cinema, BC where she met and later married Stuart in 1957. Mum and Dad owned and operated Cinema Service, a gas station, post office, coffee-shop, general store and theatre all in one. Lilian obtained her teaching certificate at Victoria’s Normal School (now Camosun College) and started her career in a one-room school house, stoking a pot-bellied stove and teaching grades 1 to 8. Lilian and Stuart moved to Quesnel and started their family and later moved to Victoria in 1967. Lilian obtained her Bachelor of Education from UVic and taught in both public and private school systems for 20+ years, retiring from Monterey Elementary in 1990. In retirement, Mum and Dad travelled in their motorhome around North America, as well as the UK and Europe. They also enjoyed cruises to Alaska and a trip to Maui. Lilian was an avid Scrabble player, baker extraordinaire and volunteer; giving over 10 years of service to the Global Village Store. Mum was teased for years for accidentally doing a very long and loud “burn-out” while driving the family van (in reverse) out of the driveway and across the street. The lights of her life were her three grandchildren. A trip to Grandma’s house was filled with artistic fun and games, baked goods and trips around town. In recent years, as life became more challenging, she moved to Amica on the Gorge. The family would like to thank the staff at Amica for caring for Lilian for the past 18 months. Lilian will also be missed by her extended family, friends, fellow volunteers and her neighbours.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The Alzheimer’s Society https://www.alzheimer.ca/en or The Heart and Stroke Foundation https://www.heartandstroke.ca/
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
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Catie Fraser
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Niall Macnaughton After carefully reading every one of the entries, I suspect they only scratch the surface of experiences with this wonderful woman. They are a great reflection of a truly gifted person.
There are so many things I remember about Stuart and Lillianas as a marvellous couple, How devoted they were to each other and their wonderful family of terrific guys. Lillian was stalwart, and support of everything she did, and everyone she cared about. She was so caring about her “gentlemen fellows”.
I had the pleasure of recently meeting her during one of my walks along the Gorge. She was soldiering on using a walker with an attendant at her side. She was just as bright as she has ever been and very friendly on seeing me.Lillian was a great and generous baker. I especially loved the lemon cakes.
Stuart and I were the best of friends for over 40 years during which not a moment went by when we weren’t thinking and talking about our respective families. I thank God for the wonderful partners we mboth had who were so solicitous, careful and caring with our children.
Everyone loved Lillian. She was gracious and elegant to the end.
I miss them everyday.RIP in Stuar’s arms forevermore.
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Mavis Degirolamo Lillian was a light to hope and joy. I volunteered with her at global village store and on the board and she brought good humour and laughter to whatever task she undertook. She and Stuart helped in so many ways…setting up furniture! Finding odd items to use, fixing broken pieces….Lillian was very creative in her solutions. Since she left Global Village she has been deeply missed and I know that now, the space in our hearts will be bigger. Rest In Peace Lillian, and to her great family, please find comfort in cherished memories…Lillian was loved dearly.
Mavis
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Terry McTeer Ian / Hunter and the Fraser family;
Sincerest condolences on the passing of Lilian.
From all the McTeer’s.
Hope this works; my favorite slow march
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Hunter Grandma, there are not enough words in the English language for me to describe how much you meant to me. I’ve been sitting here for a few days, trying to think what to write, and I still don’t know what to say. I am truly at a loss, as is the entire family. You and Grandad were remarkable role models for Adrienne and I growing up, we couldn’t have asked for better grandparents. So much of who I have become is thanks in part to your influence on my life. Some of my favourite things are thanks to you: Scrabble, scones, welsh cakes, Mr. Bean, tea, Willows Beach, Double Decker buses, the list could go on infinitely. Thinking back on our time together, I will always cherish the visits we shared. Whether that be at your house, my parent’s or at Amica, I was always so excited to see you. On a weekend, I would ask Mom and Dad if we could come to your house for a visit. Days off from work, I would ensure to stop by for a hello. You were truly my favourite person. When I was at University, I enjoyed sharing my research papers with you, eagerly awaiting your feedback (after all you were a teacher!). I was so thrilled to introduce you to Catie back in 2015; your approval of her meant a lot to me. Catie and I were married in your backyard this summer. Although you were unable to attend (due to Covid) we felt your presence throughout the day. Catie and I last visited you in October, and we were so happy to have shared with you photos from our wedding day.
Grandma, I end this with a poem I wrote about you back in 2006, titled My Grandma.
Someone who I look up to
Someone who loves me
Someone who is fun to be with
Someone who likes things I do
Someone who helps me when I am in need
Someone who is careful and neat
I will love her forever
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Susan Albion Lilian was a wonderful star full of life and laughter and of course welsh cakes. Her laughter was never loud but a low chuckle. She was loved by all of us at the Victoria Global Village store. She took care of the jewelry section of the store: ordering and displaying it. She has been missed for some time but will never be forgotten. I would go by and visit her and Stuart from time to time and it was always a pleasure. On one such visit, she gave me the coveted recipe to her treasured-by-all welsh cakes. Although I miss her, the sweet memories of our time together are always with me. I have been so very lucky to have known her and shared time with her. Thank you dear, Lilian.
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Morgan Brown I have very fond memories of visiting Victoria and staying with Lilian, Stuart, Grandma and the boys – my first memories are of the trip in the summer of 1974 with mum and my sister Helen. With a full house (Lilian, Stuart, Mum, Grandma and five kids), we got taken to all sorts of places, played innumerable games of badminton, and built log forts at the beach. We children did NOT look forward to going to a week-long summer day camp at Camosun College (Lilian’s “sinister” plot to reclaim some peace and quiet); however, Lilian’s scheme worked out wonderfully as we went on field trips collecting specimens from tide pools and forests.
Over the years it has been great to pop in to see Lilian and Stuart, when I (with Catharine and our own boys) visited my parents (it was because of L&S that Mum and Dad moved to Victoria after retiring). Welsh cakes were always offered (mmmm), along with tea and Stuart’s red wine. I was particularly interested in Lilian’s tales of settling in the Cariboo with her parents – how difficult and challenging that must have been. It is sad that Lilian and Stuart are both no longer with us, but I have such cherished memories of my visits.
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8
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Sheila Doyle We are so sorry for your loss Brad and Jacquie. May your memory of her ease the pain. Sending hugs and prayers.
Dale and Sheila
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Adrienne Grandma was truly one of the most influential figures in my life. My brother and I were lucky enough to live about 5 minutes from Grandma and Grandad’s house, where we spent most of our childhood days. Our time spent with Grandma was always full of laughter, fun, and education. Grandma always had activities for us to do at her house; painting, knitting, reading “Pumpkin Soup”, helping me trick/scare Grandad, playing “Donkey” and many many more. Grandma taught me how to play scrabble at an early age and all of the tricks on how to be an excellent player.
One of my favourite memories was when I was at their house and somehow got my socks wet. Grandma decided to put them in the oven to dry them off. Well, Grandma ended up forgetting they were in there.
After finally realizing my socks were in there, maybe due to the burning smell, she laughed and said “I cooked your socks!” Later that day Grandma and I went to the bank and I (3 years old at the time) told one of the ladies working that Grandma cooked my socks.As I got older I really cherished the visits we had together. Your baking was always something I really looked forward to, as did everyone else. I personally think cheese scones are better than the regular ones but that’s just me. Grandma and Grandad liked to “squabble” when we were over which made our visits very entertaining. I know they put on a bit of a show when we were there, especially Grandad, he would often say “your old granny” when referring to Grandma just to get a reaction out of her. One of my favourite things was Grandma’s laugh. She would be telling a story and wouldn’t be able to talk because she would be laughing so hard. Her laugh was contagious.
Our visits always ended with Grandma and Grandad waving to us from the window, which made me smile.The Christmas right after Grandad passed away, Grandma told me she wanted to give me something. She handed me Nana’s ring (Grandad’s mother) which she gave to Grandma many years ago. Grandma told me that Nana gave it to her “in hopes” that she would have a granddaughter someday that she could pass it down to. That has been the most meaningful gift I have received and I have worn it every day since.
I love you Grandma and I am honoured to be your only granddaughter. Thank you for helping shape me into the person I am today. Right-o got to go, TTFN.
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Tom Lewis She will be sadly missed
Happy Birthday Dear Lillian,
You are so missed and SO loved by all who had the pleasure of knowing you.
Getting to know you and falling in love with your family has been one of the greatest gifts of my life.
I wanted to thank you for helping to raise your grandson, my husband, Hunter in a way that has added so much happiness to my life. He speaks of you so fondly and his love for you and his family is one of the reasons I fell in love with him in the first place.
Please know how much I appreciated the time we spent together over the years; I only wish we could have had more time together. I will miss your stories and how you filled the room with laughter.
Also, you should know that I have been practicing my scrabble game, in the hopes that I can someday be as worthy of an opponent as you were to Hunter.
With love,
Catie