In true Lillian fashion, at 3:30am (her preferred ‘get up and have breakfast’ time), Lillian J. Gagnon passed at home, with her daughters beside her, holding her hands.
She is lovingly remembered by her daughters Doris (Larry) and Paulette (Nancy), granddaughter Ahlea (Jason), and great-granddaughter Norah. Lillian will be missed by her brother Gilbert Carriere (Ottawa, ON) and her sister Grace Carriere (Winnipeg, MB), sister-in-law Estelle Taillefer, brothers-in-law Louis Gagnon, Gerard Gagnon (Yvette), Roland Gagnon, Gilles Desorcy, all of Manitoba and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and friends.
Mom was predeceased by her loving husband Joseph, her precious son Ernest, her sister Aline Carriere, brothers Paul, Leo, Jerry and Denis Carriere, sisters-in-law Yvette Turenne, Claire Desorcy, Jeanette Desorcy, Gilberte Friesen, Lynda Gagnon, Carmelle Gagnon, Simone Carriere, Evelyn Carriere and Helene Carriere, brothers-in-law Wilf Turenne, Oscar Gagnon, Donat Desorcy, Lorne Friesen, Guy Taillefer, as well as her half-siblings Jean-Marie, Georges, Germaine, Antoinette and Marie-Aurise. She was also predeceased by her nephew Marc Carriere, and nieces Michelle Marriott and Lucy Burda.
Lillian was born in Steinbach, Manitoba on July 8, 1933, to Georges and Cordelia Carriere. She grew up on the family farm in La Broquerie, MB, where she loved spending time playing games outside with her siblings, picking wild berries and fruit, and being close to her mom, who was her light and her life. Mom worked hard to finish high school early, graduating and completing her teaching certification at 17, at which time she started a very long and rewarding career as a teacher. Mom taught first in Manitoba, at Keewatin Public School, then spent the rest of her career with the Kenora Catholic School Board.
In her early 20’s, mom met the love of her life at a baseball game. Mom and Dad married in 1957, moved to Kenora in 1958 and welcomed their three children Doris, Paulette and Ernie. They would go on to build our family home in 1970, where mom continued to live until her death. It was her sanctuary, where she could entertain friends and family, spend time outside with her flowers, watch the birds and squirrels, and more recently feed the many animals that visited her yard.
Aside from raising three children, teaching, bowling, curling, camping trips at Rushing River, time at our camp on Black Sturgeon, and numerous other things mom loved, it was her foray into art where mom shined the brightest. She took many courses, including spending an entire summer in Spain; painting was her passion and her greatest love. Mom’s paintings grace many walls across Canada and the US. Although she was shy about showing her work, she was always very proud of what she had accomplished.
Mom retired at 57 and moved to Winnipeg for a year but became bored so she moved back to Kenora and taught for another year before retiring again at 59. Being a dedicated teacher, and loving children so much, mom went back and taught for 3 more years at 60, finally retiring at 63. Although mom never felt as though she made much of a difference, she touched and influenced so many lives. She was a loving, gentle and caring mother, teacher and friend. She will be remembered for her kindness, her big smile and her love of life.
The family would like to extend our infinite thanks to Dr. Bowerman, the INR Clinic, and the Emergency and Palliative care teams at Lake of the Woods Hospital. A very special thank you to Char Melillo of LOW Hospital Palliative Care, and Mike Limerick of HomeCare for their help in making mom’s final wish a reality – to pass peacefully in the comfort of her home surrounded by all the things she loved.
In honour of mom’s wishes, and because she so loved having friends and family visit, a come-and-go party to celebrate mom’s incredible life will be held on Saturday, October 4th, 2025, from 1:00 – 5:00pm please contact Doris or Paulette for address. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to It’s a Dog’s Life, the Kenora Cat Shelter, or The Muse.
In mom’s words “be kind to each other”.
