- Brandon Sun Passages
- All Titles
Search:
Notices are posted by 10 am Monday through Saturday
The Very Reverend, The Honourable Dr. LOIS MIRIAM WILSON
Born: Apr 08, 1927
Date of Passing: Sep 13, 2024
Send Flowers to the Family Offer Condolences or MemoryThe Very Reverend,
The Honourable
Dr. LOIS MIRIAM WILSON
Died peacefully, September 13, 2024, at 97 years, with courage, grace, strength, and gratitude for life.
Predeceased by her parents, her four siblings (Jean, George, twins Marjorie and John) and her husband, the Reverend Dr. Roy Fyfe Wilson, with whom she shared in ministry and engaged in a life of extraordinary Christian witness and service. Equals in intelligence, compassion, and steadfast faith, theirs was a loving and mutually uplifting partnership. Lovingly remembered by children Ruth (Ian Casson), Jean, Neil (Josée Guérer), and Bruce (Tracy Houlding); grandchildren Nora, Annie, David, Meg, and Jane Casson; Lois and Murray Adamson; Sarah, Stuart, and Iain Wilson; Evan and Megan Houlding; great-grandchildren Charlie, Maggie, and Leah; Jasper; Simon and Naomi; Rune and Maxime; Fyfe and Kipp; numerous Freeman and Wilson relatives; and a global community of treasured friends and colleagues.
Born in Winnipeg on April 8, 1927, she was the youngest child of the Reverend E.G.D. and Ada Freeman. The family moved to Thunder Bay, where Lois spent her childhood. When she was in Grade 7, they moved back to Winnipeg, where she attended United College (University of Winnipeg) and became an active member of the Student Christian Movement. Ordained in 1965, she and Roy served in ministry in Winnipeg, Thunder Bay, Hamilton, Kingston, and Toronto. A formidable advocate of social justice and peace, she worked with prodigious energy and irrepressible spirit in pursuit of the common good. Served as Moderator of the United Church of Canada, President of the Canadian Council of Churches, President of the World Council of Churches, independent member of the Senate of Canada, Special Envoy to Sudan, Member of Canada’s Nuclear Waste Environmental Assessment Panel, Chancellor of Lakehead University, and in a great many other capacities, locally and globally.
Her engagement with the arts-notably music, theatre, literature-she regarded as essential to life. So too was her energizing connection with the natural world. She spent every summer of her life canoeing, on Lake of the Woods, in Quetico Park, where she led canoe trips with youth, and on Lake Superior, as a child tenting with her family and then for over 60 years at Birch Beach (Thunder Bay). She approached life with openness, humility, and joy, grateful for the privilege of learning with and from others working to make a better world. Lois authored 10 books that reflect on her experience. That she chose to celebrate her 85th and 90th birthdays by organizing two public symposia,
“an ecumenical conversation” and
“an intergenerational dialogue,” respectively, speaks to who she was to the end.
Service of Thanksgiving will be held on Tuesday, October 15, 2024,11:00 a.m., Metropolitan United Church, 56 Queen Street East, Toronto. Livestream: https://youtube.com/live/TPRqkbxQUL8. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to The Lois Wilson Memorial Fund, United Church of Canada Foundation, 3250 Bloor St. W, Toronto, ON, M8X 2Y4. Gifts will fund programs in social and economic justice, Truth and Reconciliation, and mitigation of climate change.
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 28, 2024, Sep 28, 2024
Condolences & Memories (5 entries)
-
I share the memories with my sister, Susan Melnick. We attended Sunday School and CGIT, which were under the guidance of Mrs. Lois Wilson. She always had a twinkle in her eyes. I am proud to have watched over her lifetime as she continued along her path to become The Very Reverend, The Honourable Dr. Lois Mariam Wilson. May she rest in peace. Thank You for being part of my life. - Posted by: Pauline York new Melnick (Atlantic United Church Winnipeg ) on: Oct 01, 2024
-
A foster child she took me under her wing and gave me self esteem. I loved her very much. United church in Thunder Bay. Both her and her husband gave me a good start to a good life. - Posted by: Carol Ozubko (Babysat her children when I was very young.) on: Sep 29, 2024
-
I was fortunate to attend Atlantic United Church in Winnipeg with my family. Reverend Dr. Roy Fyfe Wilson conducted the Sunday Services. His wife, Lois Wilson, conducted Sunday School, The Ladies Guild and CGIT as well as other contributions. My sister, Susan, and I and our friend, Robin, attended Sunday School every Sunday. Robin and I attended CGIT. Our family moved away from the area. Lois Wilson continued towards Her Calling and I continued to be amazed at her journey all the way to The Very Reverend Dr. Lois Mariam Wilson. I have read some of her books and I treasure them. She always had a twinkle in her eyes. I know she was here for a very special reason and is now in resting in Eternal Peace Forever. Thank You dear lady for being part of my life. - Posted by: Pauline née Melnick York (Atlantic United Church Winnipeg Manitoba ) on: Sep 29, 2024
-
We remember the Wilsons very fondly as the foundation of our early life at the church including Sunday School,Explorers and CGIT. They were the foundation of all activities at the church and so highly admired. We were so very sorry to see them move on. - Posted by: Lana Thiessen-Storey Jocelyn Martens-Preston (Former members of Atlantic United Church) on: Sep 28, 2024
-
I attended Atlantic United Church in the early 50’s. I was pre-school age when I began Sunday School there. I clearly remember our handsome, friendly minister, Reverend Wilson and his lovely wife, Mrs. Wilson. Often, Mrs. Wilson would walk through the Sunday School which I think was in the basement of the church. I was always thrilled to see Mrs. Wilson, partly because she knew my name. I was and am still touched by the kindness I felt from the Wilsons. I know she had an exemplary life and I am grateful to have my young memories of her. May she rest in peace. Her life is a blessing to me. - Posted by: Susan Melnick (Attended Atlantic United Church Winnipeg) on: Sep 28, 2024