APRIL 17, 1927 – NOVEMBER 1, 2021
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Lillian Chalmers on November 1, 2022 at the age of 94. Lillian is predeceased by her husband Thomas Junior Chalmers in 1978, her parents Mabel and Oscar Calberry and her two brothers Percy and Doug. She is survived by her children Bill (Rusti) and Lynn and her grandchildren Royce (Amanda) and Bailey, and her 3 great grandchildren, Hayden, Thomas and Lillian. Also survived by her brother Ross (Betty) and sister Marg (Derry), sisters in law Ann and Ruth and numerous nieces and nephews. Lillian trained as an RN at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children graduating in 1948 and came to BC to work at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Comox. She met her husband Tom in Courtenay where they settled until they moved around from Nanaimo to Victoria and finally to the lower mainland. Lillian worked as an RN for a few years and loved volunteer work with various organizations such as Meals on Wheels, RCMP Victims Assistance, Fair Haven and SBUC Thrift Shop to name a few. She received many awards over the years including Burnaby Home Town Hero Award. Lillian was very involved in South Burnaby United Church, the UCW and the church choir. Lillian loved to travel to Ontario, many foreign destinations and could be found every summer at the family beach cottage. Lillian moved back to Comox for the last 4 years of her life. May you rest peacefully, forever in our hearts, in God’s embrace, and reunited with Tom. In lieu of flowers donations can be made in Lillian’s name to Toronto Hospital for Sick Children or to BC Children’s Hospital.
A Memory from Bailey Schaff, Granddaughter
11/25/2021
“When we lose someone we love we must learn not to live without them, but to live with the love they left behind.” -Unknown And my Nana left a lot of love behind. My Nana, Lillian Chalmers was adored by everyone she met. From her close relationships with her 4 younger siblings, through her years training to be a nurse at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children, then working as a nurse in Victoria at the Royal Jubilee, Comox at St. Joseph’s, and finally Burnaby General, growing her own family, and the many, many years she spent volunteering and serving others who needed her help. She was a social butterfly through and through, she poured love into everyone she met and she received that love back. I’d love to write about all the chapters of my Nana’s vibrant life especially as I keep learning more and more about them. But, for now, I’ll just express how much I miss her, we all do. I suppose it’s she, though, who missed Grandpa the longest. May you Rest In Peace, Nana. Grandpa’s waited a long time to hold you again.