Lillian Gillis

(Sr. St. Daniel of the Sacred Heart)

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Sister Lillian M. Gillis, after a long life, well lived, died on Saturday, June 24, 2017, at the CND Health Care Center, Sydney

Born in Grand Mira on May 14, 1914, Lillian was the daughter of the late Joseph and Florence (MacInnis) Gillis. At a young age, when employment necessitated that Lillian’s immediate family move to Detroit, Lillian herself requested to remain in Sydney with her beloved grandparents, Dan and Catherine MacInnis. It was, then, at Holy Angels Convent School that Lillian first met the Sisters of Notre Dame who were later to become her religious family.

Lillian entered the Congregation of Notre Dame in August, 1933 and made profession in 1935. She lived a life of dedicated service, particularly as a teacher in various places throughout Nova Scotia including Inverness, Iona, Mabou, New Victoria, River Ryan and Sydney.

Upon her retirement from the school system, and for the next twenty years, Lillian continued serving young people as a volunteer Librarian at Holy Angels High School. Shy and quiet by nature, Lillian was a hard-working, generous and devoted woman whose love of God was revealed in her genuine and sensitive caring of others.

In 2011, her health declining, Lillian moved to the CND Health Care Center where she devoted her days to prayer for her family, friends and especially her former students. The sisters of the Congregation are deeply grateful to Lillian for her unwavering commitment over the many years of her consecrated life. As well, we would like to thank the staff at the Health Care Center for the loving care extended to Lillian.

Sister Lillian is survived by her brother Stanley, Michigan. She was predeceased by sisters Rose, Mary and Florence, and by brothers John, James, Lawrence, Walter, Wilfred, Daniel, Frank, Michael and Edward. Until the time of her passing, Lillian remained closely connected to her extended American family.

Visitation for Sister Lillian will be held Tuesday, June 27 from 2-4, p.m. at

T.W. Curry Parkview Chapel, Sydney. Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Fatima Church, Sydney River, with Rev. Bill Burke officiating. Interment will be in Resurrection Cemetery.

Online condolences may be sent to www.twcurry.com.