Lillian Martin
August 29, 1918 - July 24, 2015
It is with great sadness that the family of Lillian “Lily” Martin (Aie) announce her passing on July 24, 2015. Lily was born on August 29, 1918 and grew up in Ashcroft, BC.
She was the second of eight children and is predeceased by parents Wong Du Dai Aie and You How Lim Aie, sister Betsy, brother Edward and her husband Donald.
Lily is survived by siblings Betty Wong, Loyd (Renee) Wongs, William (ChuiChu) Aie, Renay (Cort) Larson and Jerry Aie. She is also survived by grandchildren (great) and numerous nieces and nephews. It is with deep gratitude and heartfelt thanks to her granddaughter Pam and husband Kyle (Klumpp) for their dedication and loving care of Lil during recent years.
Lillian attended Lady Byng Elementary School. She travelled to China with her family and later returned to Canada in 1938 to work in Red Deer, AB. In 1942 she enlisted in the C.W.A.C. as a nurse in Yorkton, SK and was the first Chinese lady to join in that province, and perhaps in Canada. Lillian was posted to Halifax, Nova Scotia. Upon returning to Saskatchewan, she later met and married Donald Martin in 1944 who in 1945 was discharged when the war ended. They returned to Ashcroft in 1952.
Lillian was widowed in 1969 and was left to care for her granddaughter. She worked locally at the area fruit stands from Cache Creek, the Ashcroft Manor, and as far as Spences Bridge. She was very involved with family and community, which included baking for church teas. Her hobbies included crocheting, playing scratch tickets and reading romance novels. She loved flower and vegetable gardening, canning and cooking. Lily was famously known for her butter tarts and daily walks to town, where many of the locals would often pick her and her groceries up and help her home. Her kindness, graciousness and loving ways will be greatly remembered by her family and friends. May you rest in peace, Lily.
Funeral Services were held in Ashcroft on Saturday August 1st from Zion United Church where burial followed at the Ashcroft Cemetery.
Donations in Lily’s memory may be made to Variety ~ The Children’s Charity. Online condolences may be made www.tvfh.ca