Deaths

Pauline Tibbitts Wilkins

1919 - 2017

A traditional funeral will be  held on Saturday, July 8 at All Saint’s Church in Abercorn.  Visitation will be with an  open casket from 10:00 a.m. and  a communion service at 11:00 with Reverend George Campbell.  .  Interment will follow in the family plot at Pleasant Valley Cemetery. A  reception and time to share  friendship will take place at the Women’s Institute School Hall in the village.

WILKINS, Pauline  Glenroy  (nee Tibbitts)

May 21, 1919 – July 3, 2017.

A loving heart stopped beating

Surrounded by the presence and constant love of her daughter, Glenroy ,  Pauline Wilkins passed away peacefully and with strength in the early hours of  Monday July 3, 2017.  at the palliative care unit of the CHUS Hotel Dieu Hospital in Sherbrooke .  Pauline had just recently celebrated her 98^th birthday surrounded  by good  friends  at the residence of her daughter and son in law where she had made her home  for the last six years. 

Always, and to the very end, she was the loving and devoted mother of Glenroy  and son in law Andre Loubier of Sherbrooke.   She was predeceased by her beloved husband, the late Hollis C. Wilkins of Abercorn.  (1903-1976) Together they had always formed a strong family unit and  enjoyed many gatherings at their farm, which Hollis had named The Foothills. 

 Pauline was the only daughter of the late Delbert J. Tibbitts and Winnifred Dinah Spicer of Abercorn.  She was predeceased by her three brothers and sisters-in-law, Norman (Muriel) Hollis (Pauline) and Desmond (Helen)  and by  her  much loved nephew, the late Clifford N. Tibbitts (Lina) of Newmarket .She was also predeceased by the brother and sister of her late husband and their spouses,  Gordon Wilkins (Hilda) and Mary (Cleveland) Willey. 

Pauline also leaves to mourn her niece Joan (Gerald Legacy) of Trenton and their son Nathan, as well as special cousin George (Donna) Shover of Montgomery.  Pauline was the special aunt of Lisa (Justice Alan Diner) and their children, Zanthy, Justin, Theo and Aaron. Of Thornhill Ontario..These families visited her often.   Pauline also enjoyed many hours of pleasure  with  Jason(Elizabeth) and their children Kevin and Sean of Montreal.   She leaves other family members , friends, and former neighbours who were  very special to her with  mention of Monique & Malcolm Flowerday, who enjoyed a cup of tea  and a chat at her home several times a week.      

Pauline embraced life to the full extent.  She loved people and her home was always open to family and friends.  She was an extremely proud, kind, and caring lady with boundless energy and devotion to family and community, and a tireless volunteer. .She gave much time to the patients of Foyer Sutton for many years, where her lemon pies were reserved in advance for the fund raising annual food sale and tea. She was truly committed to the Women’s Institute and to the Abercorn Branch where she had been president for a number of years., and for which her Mother was a founding member in 1924   She possessed a  keen  interest in the pioneer families and  the history of the area  to which she devoted much time. .   As a reflection of her work, Pauline’s family have already received condolences from the community with mention of  “grande dame de notre communaute” “great lady from our community who leaves a tremendous legacy.  She is an integral part of the DNA of Abercorn.”

She was also determined to keep the little Church of All Saints in Abercorn open and to this end she was involved in renovations there over the years which permitted an interior more in character with the date of the building,  She recently donated  an antique altar table in memory of her late husband and parents and  was influential in restoring part of the original altar railing.  Photos from her private collection relating to the Church and village are framed and hang in the entrance.   

The family wishes to express sincere thanks to Pauline’s very kind family doctor Zoltan Ferenczi  who was always there for her for so many years  We extend also  special thanks to the medical team at Hotel Dieu and particularly Carole for the wonderful care given to Pauline.   Much appreciation is also extended to the CLSC and COOP  teams.   Profound thanks to the family’s many friends , caregivers, and employees for their kindnesses, visits and support beyond measure, with special  mention of  Evelyne.  We also extend profound appreciation to Dr. Claude & Lucille Grondin for inviting Pauline to enjoy many days and weekends  at the family home property where she grew up.  Words cannot express the joy she felt from returning there at the age of 94.

Mom will truly have returned home and to the milieu she has devoted much time and effort for.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Pauline’s memory to the SPCA Monteregie, the Frontier Animal Society, or  to the Brome County Historical Society of which she was a life member or to the charity of your choice. 

Funeral arrangements intrusted to :

Brome-Missisquoi Funeral Complexe,

 402 rue de la Rivière, Cowansville, Québec, J2K 1N3,

450.266.6061

www.complexebm.com

  Funeral Director Mr. Robert Farnam, a long time friend of the family.

In closing, hereby follows  the same quotation printed for Pauline’s late husband, Hollis Wilkins in May 1976..

“Soft falls the eventide of life

Gently like the setting sun

A lifetime’s work is ended

And a well earned rest is won.