It is with sadness that we heard of the passing of Lilian Dudfield on December 19th, three weeks after her ninety-fifth birthday. She was a great lady, one who was a mover and shaker, a person who has made a big difference in her community and one who will be missed by many people.
Lilian was born Lilian Welsh in London and married a Canadian soldier, Albert Peters. Al was killed in June 1944 and Lilian came to Canada as a War Bride with their son Michael in 1945. By 1949 Lilian was in Vancouver where she married Bert Dudfield and together they had five children, four girls and a boy. Lilian has twenty three grandchildren and seventeen great grandchildren.
She has been a great knitter and, even though she had arthritis in her fingers, each grandchild has had a baby blanket for their first child and for this Christmas she knitted the seventeen great grandchildren socks, toques or mittens. Family was very important to her and she was beloved and respected by them all.
Lilian arrived in Mission in the early seventies from Prince George and joined Mission Healthcare Auxiliary in 1983, by 1989 she was President. She was a great stickler for procedure and Roberts Rules and was the one who brought in our Policies and Procedures and revamped the Bylaws. If Lilian saw a need she made sure that it was filled and she saw a need for Hospice in Mission so was instrumental in starting the Mission Hospice Society in Mission in 1985. She also became known in the community as the Queen Mother, as with her commanding presence, accent, white hair and a feather hat she was every inch the part.
Lilian enjoyed her last years at Cedarbrook Chateau. She did her exercises in the swimming pool to help her aches and pains, went on the bus outings and was an eager participant in the various planned events. Lilian kept up with current events, local, national and international, and could be counted on for a wise comment on anything. She also embraced new technology, texting, e-mailing and using Skype.
Lilian has received many commendations for her contributions to the community and these include the Queen’s Jubilee Gold Award, the Queen’s Jubilee Diamond Award and life membership in M.H.C.A.
Many members in the auxiliary have said ‘when we grow up we want to be just like Lilian!’ She will be missed.