Mills, Isabelle Margaret

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MILLS: Dr. Isabelle Margaret, Professor Emerita U of S, September 3, 1923 - August 10, 2021. Isabelle passed on to the next stage of her life with full acceptance, surrounded by love and completely at peace on Tuesday, August 10, 2021. Predeceased by her devoted parents Samuel and Isabelle Mills; all her siblings: Dr. Agnes Groome ( Dr. Leslie), Ivy Smith (Robert, Allan), and Reuben Mills (Iris); and nephew, Byron Mills. Isabelle leaves to mourn her dearly loved family members: her nieces Jean Cooperberg (Dr. Peter), Dr. Ruth Isabelle Kurtz, Mary Kainer (Michael), goddaughter Gae Benson (Lee), Vivian Palsson (Arnar) and her nephew Alan Mills (Sherrel); her great nieces Ruthie Shugarman (Daniel), Leah Kainer (Aaron Hayes), Karla Dawn Wilkins (Jeff), Brenna Pratt (Jason), Kari-Lynn Mills (Darcy Holderness), Janaya Palsson (Ben Cairns); her great nephews Michael Cooperberg (Kim Lorine), Daniel Kurtz, Thiago Kurtz (Dr. Andrea Breen), Anton Kainer (Magdalena Raganowicz), Lindsay Kainer (Emily Russo), Kris Hatlelid (Paula), CA Hatlelid (Joel Frohman), Tyler Mills (Carissa), Jordan Mills (Raelynne), Brady Palsson (Jennifer) Harold McArthur (Barb Cabrera); great great nieces Talia Shugarman, Francesca Kurtz, Catherine Hatlelid, Cherise Lutcher (Jessie), Shanille Eashappie, Aubrey Palsson, Brjnn Palsson, Ivy Cairns, Samea McArthur-Cabrera; great great nephews Lekai McArthur-Cabrera, Cooper Shugarman, Lev Styles Cooperberg, Joaquim Kurtz, Alec Hayes, Luca Kainer, Ethan Hatlelid, Ayden Wilkins, Justice Eashappie, Treyton Ferozedin, Kruz Ferozedin, Laughlin Palsson; great great great nephews Jace and Jaxon Lutcher; and great great great niece Oakley Jones. She leaves many friends among whom are her namesake Isabelle Brunel (Norm); Tyson, Erin and Eleanor Isabelle Brown; Randy, Karen and Ian Clark; Doug and Simone McCosh. She also honours her special friends Randy and Karen Clark, Tyson and Erin Brown, with their little Ellie (Eleanor Isabelle), Allen and Brenden Beck, Doug and Simone McCosh, Brenda Baker, Bonnie Nicholson and Dianne Gryba, whose music brought Isabelle great joy. She also took great joy in creating delightful homes, with the addition of her plants, in her apartments, condo, or house, where family and friends were always welcome to share her lovingly prepared food. Isabelle was passionate, dedicated and nurturing as she built her life on her love of teaching, from kindergarten piano students to advanced university classes. She directed church and college choirs in Brandon, Manitoba and Saskatoon, with love, encouragement and zest, always drawing out their best. Her position as Assistant Dean, U of S, gave her a deeply appreciated opportunity to work with individual students. She took them all into her heart and many into her lovely, welcoming home. There was always a thread of humour and laughter running through her speech. Because of her own often painful experience as a disabled person, she worked tirelessly for the Abilities Council, the March of Dimes, and for accessibility for the disabled at the University of Saskatchewan. From the seed of her own frustration at not even having an accessible parking place or office space her dedicated work led to widespread change for which she is still known as a notable pioneer. She established a bursary to be awarded to a disabled student with the objective of eligibility for gainful employment. Her Christian faith was central to her being. She worked as a young woman with United Church Youth Caravans, passing on the faith her own parents had given her. She was active in many roles in many churches throughout her life. She was a devoted friend of St. Andrew's College. She lived confident that God loved her, sustained and guided her through hardships, illnesses and sorrows. She died knowing that she would live on in that same love, and looked forward to bright wholeness of being. Isabelle's family expresses their heartfelt thanks to the Franklin staff and residents, the SHA Home Care personal care givers and nurses, the occupational therapists, Daily Living Private Care, Dr. A.J. Harrington for 40 years of fine care and friendship, and Dr. Jason Hosain for listening, visiting in person, and giving her a truly good passing on to the next stage of her life, and to her large and loyal supportive Circle of friends. It was Isabelle's wish, if friends so desired, that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the University of Saskatchewan directed to the Dr. Isabelle Mills Bursary, at G15 Thorvaldson Building, 110 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5C9. Visitation for family and friends will take place on Wednesday afternoon between 3:00 and 5:00 pm at Saskatoon Funeral Home (4th Ave. and 25th St.). The Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, August 19, 2021 at 2:00 pm at Knox United Church, Saskatoon, SK. Rev. Dexter VanDyke will officiate. A reception will follow in the lower hall. Following cremation interment of her urn will take place in the family plot at the Fleming Cemetery, Fleming, SK. The Service will be livestreamed and can be accessed by a link on Isabelle's full Obituary/ Tribute page at www.saskatoonfuneralhome.com where condolences may also be left for the family.

Arrangements have been
entrusted to
Saskatoon Funeral Home
306-244-5577

As published in Brandon Sun on Aug 17, 2021