Lilian Bird

LILIAN ETHEL BIRD

(NEE BREWER)

Peacefully on Thursday, June 16, 2011 at the Portage General Hospital, Lilian, beloved widow of the late Malcolm Bird, passed away at the age of 90 years, just short of her 91st birthday. Mom was born at Glyne Gap, Bexhill on Sea, Sussex, England June 28, 1920.

She was the eldest daughter of six children of George and Florence Brewer. There were numerous step-brothers and sisters from previous marriages. The sands and beaches of the English Channel was her playground. She was the only one chosen to attend a Catholic School, although not of that faith. She was chosen to form a children's choir to sing Latin masses, which she felt was a great honor.

At the age of 14, she started working out at various jobs and left home just before her 16th birthday to become a housekeeper. When war struck she experienced, on the south coast, almost daily routine of bombing and machine gun raids on the English homes at what was to become "Battle of Britain". The sinking of Her Majesty Ship, (HMS), "The Hood" by the German Battleship the Bismark remained a vivid memory to her.

Not all the events of the war were sad but she also remembered many humorous happenings which would still bring laughter. In spring of 1941, she was working in a factory in Slough, Buckinghamshire, but was evacuated to Yeovil, Sommerset in September 1941, but still had to spend most nights in a backyard shelter from the bombings.

At the age of 21, she returned to the South Coast and joined the Navy, Army and Air Force Institute, better known as the "NAAFI" and was posted to Talavera Barracks in Aldershot where she served meals to hundreds of Canadian Troops at the NAAFI canteen. While on relief duty at Waterloo Barracks in November 1941, Everett Bird introduced Mom to his brother Mac, who was just 3 days off the troop ship from Canada. A strong friendship began. When the Canadian troops went into Battle, an occasional letter kept them in touch. In March 1944, she met a British career soldier, Christopher Clayton, six days before his unit left for battle in Europe, while watching the sky full of planes on "D Day", June 6, 1944. Wedding plans were made and they were married in April 1945. Sixty hours later, Chris rejoined his unit in Europe. News of his death in Germany came five days later. The message arrived the day after peace was declared.

Mac had sent long letters of encouragement and their friendship grew stronger. When Mac was on his last leave in England they were married on October 6, 1945. Mom left England for Canada on April 10, 1946 on MS Aquitania with hundreds of War brides and "Lord Alexander" the new Governor General of Canada. She landed at Pier 21 in Halifax and arrived in Winnipeg via the train where she was met by her husband, Mac, Maureen Neufeld and her mother Mrs. Surridge, family friends of the Bird family. Maureen and Mom forged a friendship that lasted to this day.

Dad and Mom celebrated 51 years and 28 days of marriage with dad passing on November 4, 1996. She felt their marriage was blessed by their sons, Peter, Andy, two great daughter-in-laws, five precious grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Her hobbies were many, always a helpful cub/scout and cadet mom. Mom took a leading role in doing the ground work in what became "The Manitoba Warbrides Association". Mom greatly enjoyed her Warbride sisters whenever they came together. She was an active member of The Crescent Heights Presbyterian Church.

Mom and Dad were actively involved with the local Militia unit from 1948-1968. This association with the unit continued through the involvement of their children and grandchildren up to the last few years. Besides the support of the Bird families, mom was always grateful to all her friends and extended families being the Dyer family of Oxbow, Saskatchewan, the McMillans, the Cooks, and the Peeters families since dad's passing in 1996.

Mom was predeceased by her husband Mac, her parents, George and Florence Brewer, sisters Cicely Carr and Kathleen Kelly, brother Walter Brewer, brothers-in-law, Tom Kent, Fred Carr and Cliff Kelly and nephew John Carr of England. She was also predeceased by her brother-in-law Everett Bird, his wife Lyla and their son, Delwyn; brother-in a�"law Ernest Wenham, brother-in-law Bertram Bird and his wife Fern; and brother-in-law Gordon Cohen.

Left to mourn Lilian's passing are her sons Peter (Jane) Bird of Surrey, B.C. and Andrew (Nellie) Bird of Portage; grandchildren Stephanie (James) Kulferst of Vancouver, Nancy (Daryl) Martin of Toronto, Jennifer (David) Roy of Portage, Angela Bird (Josh) of Winnipeg and Shawn Bird (Jodi) of Winnipeg; great-grandchildren Jordann Zimmer, Kiera Roy, Grace Martin, Imogen Kulferst and Poppy Martin. sister Dorothy Kent and her sons Frank and Colin and their families; sister Margaret Palmer and her son Kevin and daughter Maria and their families; sister-in-law Doris Brewer and her daughter Yvonne ( Roger ) Kimpton and sons Mark and Neil; nephew Patrick(Sue) Kelly and their daughters Sarah and Rachel and their families; nephew Steven (Gaenor) Kelly and their daughters Emma and Laura and son Richardas well as many great nieces and nephews all of England.

Also to mourn her passing are her sister-in-law Hazel Wenham, nephew Clem (Diane) Wenham and their children Perry (Stacey) Wenham; their children Audrey, Cadance and Tatum; nephew Daniel Wenham all of Estevan, Saskatchewan; sister-in-law Darlene Cohen of Portage; nephew Vincent (Jim) Chermishnok of Amsterdam, Netherlands; niece Valanne Chermishnok with her son Tyson of Portage; nephew Jim (Alice) Hudson of Kelowna, B.C. She also had extended family, Robert (Nona) McMillan and their son Lyle(Michelle) McMillan and his family and their daughter Sharon (Jamie) Dent and their family; also Bruce (Shareen) Cook. There were also other Bird families, Foster families, Patton families, West families, Bayes families, Tillett families all of Petersfield, Selkirk and Winnipeg, and also a long time friend, Maureen Neufeld of B.C.

A Celebration of Lilian's life will be on Thursday, June 23, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, Portage la Prairie, MB led by Rev. John Zondag. Interment will take place at Hillside Cemetery.

As expressions of sympathy, if friends so wish, donations may be made in Lilian's memory to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, 103 Wilkinson Crescent, Portage la Prairie, MB R1N 1A7, Cancer Care Manitoba Foundation Inc. 675 McDermot Ave, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9,or the Children's Wish Foundation, Portage Regional Committee, Box 1106, Portage la Prairie, MB, R1N 3C5.

A tree will be planted in memory and cared for by McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel www.mckenziesportagefuneralchapel.com