Lil was born in the white house at the end of the long curving laneway. It has returned to the earth now. It had an orchard, with an August apple tree; fields ploughed by her father with two horses, one named Bessie; and a barn with hens, chickens and a rooster, and cows whose milk provided family income. There was a smaller barn with pigs and wee piglets, a source of joy in a child’s life.

There was also a front garden. We see it in the photos of our grandparents’ 50th wedding anniversary. It had lilacs and roses and peonies. It was the access to the front door, which went into the parlour, which had an organ and ferns. Only the Methodist minister was welcome in the parlour, except when grandmother played hymns and “serious” music.

Life moved to the rhythm of the seasons. The kitchen garden provided food to put by for the winter, in jars or in sand in the cold cellar under the house. Butter was churned, milk was separated and sold in tins left at the end of the laneway, bread was made in the wood stove in the kitchen, which also provided the heat in winter and hot water for doing the washing in a “machine” moved by hand while seated on a milking stool. Hay in the barn’s loft sustained the animals over winter. The horses drank water from a barrel near the summer kitchen door, fed by a pump. There was no electricity or running water. Living took courage.

Lil was the last child of her mother Mary May Warman (48) and her father John (55), born four years after her youngest brother Lloyd and seven years after her youngest sister Jessie. Her sisters Grace and Nan had already grown up and gone away to Normal School to become teachers. Earle and Carman were still home, tormentors of little sisters!  Havelock finally left during the Depression, on a harvest train to Saskatchewan, to find work and support the family; Lil in turn went to Swift Current alone to arrange his care in his last years. Her bedroom had a bed with a straw mattress and down pillows, and a chamber pot beneath it. In the winter, welcome heat came up the two staircases from the kitchen stove. Baths were once a week in a huge tub in the kitchen, near the stove.

Lil thrived. After morning chores, she went by buggy or sleigh to a one-room school, where she used a slate and chalk to do her work. Back home, clothes were sewn or knit, rags became floor mats, and hand-made quilts graced the beds. When it was time for high school, the girls in the family boarded with relatives in Harcourt. Her father had been a carpenter and knew the value of education. When she graduated, she followed her sisters to Moncton and went to Business College. The older sisters supported the younger ones, providing money for board. Lil found work in a Moncton office and flourished. She was smart and well liked. Life took courage during those years - War raged in Europe, our family lost young friends, and everyone worried.

Lil loved children. She graced my birthday parties. Did you know that she invented adding bananas to peanut butter sandwiches? She did this after the War ended, as only one stalk of bananas made it to Moncton during the War – I know, because I was allowed to choose one from that stalk. There were no toys, but having an aunt like Lil to read to me was wonderful – she listened, and made a small person feel big! She helped us in our wartime garden too.

Uncle Ed came into her life. He was a gentle and caring man, perfect for Aunt Lil. Unfortunately, he had a mother who did not wish any of her sons to marry, so the  couple were finally married by “eloping” to Halifax in 1950. Lil and Ed were married in my family’s church, the United Church on Windsor Street – I am the child in the wedding photos. They lived in Moncton, with an apartment on Mountain Road, and were so happy to be together. Ed was away from home often, working as a commercial traveller, but still they made friendships as a couple that lasted decades.

Anne was born in the “old” Moncton Hospital, near downtown. My mother visited, and I sat outside on the steps. Children were not allowed to visit hospitals in those days, probably because there were epidemics of polio. Lil waved to me from her window. I remember.

These are Lil’s “Roots”. I will leave it to others to write of her “Wings”. I feel deeply blessed to have been part of her life.

It may be unusual for a son in-law to write on positive terms about his mother in-law but for me is easy since Lillian, oops! … Mrs. MacDonald was so wonderfully accepting and nurturing woman. Talking about nurturing I remember the old saying: “the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach” (now I know how I got caught! …by her daughter… hum!?). Lillian, among many other virtues had perfected the art of cooking. My beautiful daughter: Stefanie (who wrote the first “story”) is correct: I still talk and miss her strawberry pie… it was so, so good! But it was not the only enchanting dish she made. She also was a strong woman who survived the loss of her husband many years ago and even a leg more recently, as my other beautiful daughter, Rebeca states in her “story”.  

She had many friends who loved her; she enjoyed curling and was a loyal team member. Lillian was a very loving mother and grandmother. Unfortunately her ailments prevent her from enjoying her great grand children.

May she rest in peace.  

Grace, Nan, Grandpa, Grandma, Lloyd, Lillian, Jessie.

Jessie and Lil in front; Nan, Grandmother and Grace behind. About 1925.

Jessie, Lillian, Gertrude (Havelock's wife), Grace and Nan.
This anniversary was an occasion for the family to gather. The War was over. Havelock would have come from Saskatchewan, possibly for the first time since he had left to find work during the Depression. Earl and Gracie, possibly expecting Carolyn, were in Toronto; Carman was likely flying up north after he returned from RCAF service. 

(Ernest) Earl Warman (b. 1886) was the brother of Grandmother Mary May Warman Cail (b. 1874). He was married to Gretchen Little. This would have been about 1924, as Lil is the little child and was born in 1922. My mother Jessie is next to Earl and Grace Little, Barb's and Ken's mother is next to Gretchen. I do not know the other girl, possibly a cousin.

Here is a bit of family history:  

  The descendants of John Cail, who married Mary Warman, daughter of Annie Johnston and Richard Warman of Moulis River, who were married July 8, 1896 were:

• Grace Elizabeth born Feb 9, 1898 and died April 13, 1982.  Married G. Ernest Little in 1929.
• Baby Herbert John, born and died in 1900.
• James Havelock born Sept 19, 1901 and died September 1997.  Married Gertrude Knapp Jan 6, 1941.
• Annie Johnstone born Dec 1, 1904 and died Dec 6, 1992.  Married J. Alanson McNally Sept 5, 1936.
• Earle Thorborne born Dec 4, 1908 and died Nov 10, 1975.  On Sept 15, 1937 married Grace Aleta Hurst, born July 6, 1911; died May 5, 1994.
• Carman Melburne Keith born Jan 1911 and died Aug 15, 1988.  Married Hazel Beers.
• Jessie Emily Hazel born Oct 20, 1915 and died Oct 1989.  On Aug 2, 1940 married Norman Karl Beattie born Sept 3, 1909; died Jan 24, 1988.
• Lloyd Gordon born May 21,1918 and died Jan. 1976.  Married Mildred Kinnie.
• Lillian Mary born Aug 14, 1922.  On Sept 16, 1950 married Edward J. MacDonald who died Oct 20, 1970.

In the photo, by Havelock Cail: Norman Beattie, Ken Little, Mac McNally, Barbara Little McGregor, Grace Cail Little, Granddad, Ernie Little, Lois Little Greco, Grandma, Norma Beattie Gross, Nan Cail McNally, Lil Cail MacDonald, Gertrude Cail, Jessie Cail Beattie, Lloyd Cail. Missing are Carman Cail and Earle and Grace Cail.

Thanks Dad....  :)

Well, I'm glad Stef wrote first because her memory is better than mine.

I also loved when Nana took us the the Beaver Curling Club. I remember that she would sometimes turn on the lights in the bar and give us ginger ale from the fountain. The bar smelled like beer and varnished wood. She would also give us some of Ava's cookies.

We did spend a lot of our young childhood at her house. It was a beautiful neighbourhood on Masters Rd with a big gorgeous yard. I also have fond memories of her gardens, baking, buttons, shoe boxes, the smell of her make-up and perfume, her groovy dresses, costume jewelry, the cubby above her bed. She kept us busy for sure. Those memories seem really magical. I think she also really enjoyed our childhood.

Later when her leg was amputated I was in awe of her bravery. She seemed to just accept it and move forward with optimism. We planned a visit in October and I'm so sad that it wasn't soon enough to see her again.

I have seen in home movies that Nana had fun being social with friends and she loved curling and watching sports, but I know that she was endlessly interested in and devoted to her family.  And like Stef, I'm inspired by her strength, she was extremely capable and energetic and hearty. I will treasure my memories of Nana.

Of course I have countless wonderful, fond memories of Nana.  

Rebecca and I loved spending time with her in the Beaver Curling Club.  She would let us 'work' in her office on the adding machine and typewriter, rummage through the storage closet (full of hula hoops, trophies, and other magnificent paraphernalia), and treat us to Western sandwiches and chocolate milk.

We also spent lots of fun-filled days and nights at her house on Masters Road.  She had a closet full of her old dresses and jewellery that we would dress up in.  Her jar of buttons and old Christmas cards kept Rebecca and I busy for hours and hours. I can still remember the soft smell of the powder that she had with a puff in a lovely container in her bathroom. I also remember crawling into bed with her while she listened to baseball games on the radio.

I loved admiring Nana's gardens - her beautiful roses of course, and the rows upon rows of fantastic flowers - what I remember most were her snap dragons, sweet peas and pansies!  

And then there was her baking!  My Dad STILL talks about her strawberry pie that he ate over 35 years ago!  My favourites were her lemon tarts and biscuits and strawberry jam.

Nana loved children.  I remember when she lived in the home on Magnetic Hill she loved to do homework with the child whose family ran the home.  Nana and my own daughter Elsa and a really beautiful relationship.  Even though they didn't spend lots of time together, the time they did spend was so special - you can see it in the photos I have posted.

I am so grateful for all the memories I have of Nana.  She was one of the strongest people I have ever known.  I will miss her dearly.

Love Stefanie