BREHON, LILAH V.: Lilah Viola Brehon was born on May 6, 1923 near Maymont, SK and passed away on May 10, 2014, at Saskatoon, SK. She attended school at Keystone and Etonia near Maymont and then Battleford. Following completion of Grade XII, Lilah chose to follow her mother's profession and become a teacher and began practice teaching at Grey School near Maymont which was the school her mother had taught at in the early 1900's. Lilah taught at many Saskatchewan schools--Paddockwood, Keystone, Happyland, Glaslyn, Maidstone, Kelvington, Furdale--and finished her career with 16-1/2 years at Hanley where she taught typing and bookkeeping and was offered a scholarship to finish her degree. Lilah was proud to receive her Bachelor of Arts degree from the U of S in 1963. When Lilah retired and moved to Saskatoon, she joined the Broadway Painters and later the Bridge City Artists. In 1973, Lilah was diagnosed with cancer for the first time. Several years later, Lilah, Olga Stefaniuk and Marie Thiessen organized several successful Retreats for Women Facing Cancer. This evolved into HOPE Cancer Help Inc. These 3 dynamic women won the Saskatoon YWCA Women of Distinction Award in 2001 in the health, well-being and spirituality category. In 2013, just days before Lilah's 90th birthday, HOPE recognized Lilah as the last surviving founding member and for her 20 years of service to the organization. Other pastimes included curling, bridge, reading, travelling to foreign countries, and volunteering at Bethel United Church. Another great passion of Lilah's was genealogy. She spent many hours reading history and gathering and recording data about the family. Lilah felt a great sense of accomplishment when the Brehon family collaborated to publish a Brehon family history book in 2013. Lilah's relatives remember her as a lively, fun loving person with a very determined nature and the spunk to get her where her determination led her. She was always ready to help others whether babysitting nieces and nephews when they were small, inviting them for a meal when they were attending university, or giving rides to friends to church, cards, or an outing. She will be sadly missed by her brother and sister-in-law, George and Gladys Brehon, Saskatoon, SK.; her sister-in-law, Anna Brehon, Maymont, SK.; and her thirteen nieces and nephews, 23 great nieces and nephews, and 10 great-great nieces and nephews. Lilah was predeceased by her parents, Alec and Annie Brehon, her older siblings, Colles and Dick Brehon and Muriel Pattison; her brother-in-law, Rev. Earl Pattison; and sister-in-law, Shirley Brehon. We would like to thank everyone for their visits with Lilah during her time in hospital. Special thanks to Palliative Care Services, Bayshore Home Health and her friends and staff at Preston Park. A celebration of Lilah's life was held at Grosvenor Park United Church in Saskatoon, SK on Friday, May 23 2014 at 10:00 am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hope Cancer Help Centre or to a charity of your choice. Condolences may be sent to [email protected]. Arrangements have been entrusted to SASKATOON FUNERAL HOME (244-5577). ____________________________________________________
