Ila Merle Cain Gibson

Ila Merle Gibson, age 87 years, passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 16, 2010 at the Atikokan General Hospital Extended Care Wing.

She was born on August 5, 1923 in LaVallee, Ontario. Ila moved as a young girl with her family to Emo in 1926. She was united in marriage to Norman Thomas Gibson, and in 1963 the family moved to Atikokan. Ila was a member of the First Baptist Church.

Ila was a kind and loving person. Whether it was sitting around the kitchen table having coffee, playing games or visiting, her greatest joy came in spending time with her family. She loved the outdoors, especially hiking, picking berries, and camping. Her time indoors was often spent sewing and knitting for her family and friends. She was an outstanding cook and everyone loved her homemade bread, “Ila” buns, and fudge.

Ila enjoyed her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and caring for her mother and the many children that she babysat over the years. In 1994, she suffered a debilitating stroke and her family was proud of her strength and determination to rise above her condition. Sheila was her mother’s shining light; she was devoted to Mom and her daily care. Ila spent many joyful weekends at her daughter Carol’s home on Rainy Lake.

Ila is survived by her children, Carol Champley (James) of Fort Frances, ON., Sandra Brouwer (Roy) of Atikokan, ON., Cindy Gibson-Smith (Mark) of Sudbury, ON., and Sheila Doran (Doug) of Atikokan, ON; grandchildren, Toni Ealy, Sheri Weiland, Michael Zerebeski, Jason Blakely, Shannon Brouwer, Shelby Smith, Sabrina Smith and Liam Smith; great grandchildren, Samantha Ealy, Paige Weiland, Cynthia Weiland, Jackson Weiland, Eden Brouwer-Girard, Avonlea Brouwer-Girard, Morgan Carson and Holden Zerebeski; two sisters, Ida Olsen, and Edith Warren; and many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her parents Francis and Mamie Cain, husband Norman Gibson on Oct 6, 1974, brothers Francis Cain and twin brother Ira James Cain, and grandson Todd Blakely.

Funeral services were held on Monday, September 20, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Atikokan, Ontario. Reverend Dave Baxter officiated with interment in Little Falls Cemetery.

Pallbearers were Arthur Olsen, Jason Blakely, Roy Brouwer, Mark Smith, Doug Doran and James Champley.

Should friends so desire, in memoriam donations may be made to either the Atikokan General Hospital, 120 Dorothy St., Atikokan, ON., P0T 1C0, or the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario, 920 Frenette Ave., Fort Frances, ON., P9A 3N4, or in care of Green Funeral Home, P.O. Box 427, Fort Frances, ON., P9A 3M8.

Online condolences may be made in care of www.greenfuneralhomefortfrances.com.

The family would like to give special thanks to the outstanding care and compassion given to her by the nurses and staff at the Extended Care Wing. To Ila and her daughters they had become part of the extended family.

Ila will be dearly missed by her family and friends.

"God knew that she was suffering,

That the hills were hard to climb,

So He closed her weary eyelids

And whispered 'Peace be thine'.

Away in the beautiful hills of God,

By the valley of peace so fair,

Some time, some day, we know not when,

We will meet our loved on there."