Lillian McDougall

Lillian Jane McDougall (née Latham) passed peacefully into the arms of the Lord on January 11, 2021 at the Rocky View Hospital in Calgary, Alberta, at the age of 86. 

Mom was born in Timmons, Ontario on October 27, 1934, to Johnston and Lillian Latham (Hackett), the second oldest of four children.  The family moved to Sudbury in 1942 living on Hyland Drive.  She attended Sudbury Secondary and her last year of high school at St. Joseph’s College in North Bay where she distinguished herself in basketball and by her “vivacious” reputation. She completed her teaching certificate in Toronto and returned to Sudbury where she worked as a primary and elementary school teacher for 35 years at various schools within the Sudbury Catholic School District. 

Mom was passionate about the things that mattered most to her, education, her role as a teacher, and being a supportive and loving mother.  Her home was always full of books and was a favourite place for her children’s friends to gather and receive compassionate advice and an understanding ear. She never spoke ill of anyone and always advised to pursue your personal dreams and aspirations.

Mom quietly stood at the frontlines of the new generational vanguard of independent superwomen; a single mother and a full-time professional while attending Laurentian University at nights.  She completed her BA degree (Philosophy and Religious Studies) at the age of 48, the first person in her family to ever receive a university degree.  Her life included many difficult challenges, but all were confronted with courage and grace. 

Mom loved to joke and sing and would regale family and friends with her repertoire of favourite Doris Day songs, among others. She patiently put up with repeated lacrosse balls and hockey pucks crashing through house windows, could teach the rules of baseball and was even known to join a game of pickup basketball into her 50’s.  She enjoyed nature and her children’s childhood memories are filled with vacations on the French River, Georgian Bay and Rocky Mountains. 

Mom is pre-deceased by Donald Arthur McDougall, brothers Johnston (Johnny) Latham, Brian Latham, and sister Faye Wasylenki. She is survived by her children Myles McDougall, Wendy Thompson and Donna McDougall, daughter-in-law Patricia DiBastiano-McDougall, grandchildren Tara Hayes, Mateo McDougall, Gavin Barker, and great grandchildren Levi, Lily and Ella Hayes. 

The family would like to thank the medical staff on the Rocky View Hospital’s Unit 84 and her caregivers at the Mayfair Care Centre. In lieu of flowers, the family request the donations be sent to Pathways to Education Canada. 

Due to current restrictions, a celebration of life will be held at a later date. A Private Funeral Service will be held at St. Bonaventure Roman Catholic Church on January 16, 2021 at 2:00 PM MST (4:00 PM EST). A livestream of the service will be available below in real time via Zoom; Meeting ID: 851 0564 0523    Passcode: lillian

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