Lil Devisscher
Lily Nora Devisscher passed away peacefully September 21, 2015, at the Atikokan General Hospital in the sunroom of Extended Care, surrounded by her family and friends.
Lil was born in Ericksdale, Manitoba. After she graduated from Nursing School she worked at the Selkirk General and Mental Health Hospital. Lil also did outpost nursing at Norway House, Manitoba. She loved to tell stories about this experience. She came to Atikokan in the early 190s and was joined by her husband to be Jules Devisscher in 1953. They were married in Atikokan and raised three children, Wayne, Garry and Debra. Mom & Dad gave us kids a place on Crystal Lake to spend our summers. The cabin became a meeting place for a continual flow of visiting relatives and friends over the years.
Lil was a remarkable woman who gave of herself to her family and her community. She was a dedicated nurse and volunteer. She loved adventure and loved the outdoors: skiing, hiking, swimming, blueberry picking, walking along the railway tracks to Little Falls with Rosebud, canoeing, fishing, and of course rock collecting. These all gave her great joy.
She also enjoyed travelling with her daughter Deb to Germany to visit Helen and Fritz, Wendy Riding in Vancouver, Hawaii with Jules and Bob and Lis Riding, Florida with friends, and Peterborough to visit Debra and her husband Dennis. Of course, visiting friendly Manitoba where all her and Jules’ extended family lived was always on the top of the list throughout the years.
Over her Atikokan years, Lil volunteered in so many ways; some of which included the Horticultural Club, delivering books, driving the ambulance to Thunder Bay, and teaching young kids how to curl. Lil was such a part of the Atikokan community and would offer her services whenever needed or asked. She wouldn’t have had it any other way.
We, – Wayne, Garry and Debra – have been fortunate to have been unconditionally loved by her. Someone said to us, ‘She was the glue that held everything together’. We would definitely agree with that. We are sure she is continuing her adventures somewhere! Everyone we have met over these past days have a story about how amazing mom was from being the best hockey mom, to treating their baby as the most precious, to giving directions to take down the Horticultural Society’s hanging baskets of flowers. Lil was a compassionate, energetic, positive woman with a great sense of humour.
Lily Devisscher is survived by her children Wayne, Debra (Dennis), and Garry; brother George Riding (Emily deceased) and his children and their families, Brett & Sandy, Clint and Randy; sister Maryann Rothwell (Glen) and her children Terry, Karen and Joann; brother Johny’s wife Albena and their four children Rick, Lori, Cindy and Mark. She was pre-deceased by her brothers’ Jimmy, Johny, and Bob, her husband Jules ‘Duke’ Devisscher, and her sister May Parks.
Donations in Lil’s memory may be made to the Extended Care Wing of the Atikokan General Hospital, the Alzheimer’s Society, or any local charity of your choice.
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