Obituary of Lillian TURNER

Following a short, but intense battle with lymphoma, Lil Turner passed away at the age of 86, in Calgary. Born and raised in Montreal, Lil served our country in the R.C.A.F. at the rank of LAW (Leading Air Woman) in St. John’s, Newfoundland during WW II, where she met the love of her life, her husband Bert. She broke tradition in the 1950’s as a working wife and a mother of two … as a legal secretary, then office administrator and secretary in the oil and gas industry, with a finishing career as a real estate agent. She was written up in the Herald as the “woman behind the men” that organized the Canadian Petroleum Exposition in conjunction with the 1966 Calgary Stampede. Over the years Lil was an active member of her local community, the Air Force Association and Kensington Legion. She represented women veterans as a participant in the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay. She was a keen and competitive scrabble and bridge player whenever she got the chance to get into a game. She maintained an active social life, loved to dance, host house parties, and “dress to the nines,” and to tend her flower garden and paint. Lil beat cancer three times before in her lifetime, but was not able to stave off this last attack on her body. Lil leaves behind her loving husband of more than 67 years, Bert, from whom she was rarely apart; son Lorne (daughter-in-law Naida and family) of Richmond, B.C.; daughter Janis and grandson Trayton, of Calgary. A Memorial Service will be held, to honour her and celebrate her life, at The Royal Canadian Legion (North Branch No. 264), 1910 Kensington Rd NW, in the Chinook Room, on Thursday, March 1st, at 2:00 p.m. / 1400 hours. If friends so desire, in lieu of flowers, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Poppy Fund, #1, 4539 – 6th Street N.E., Calgary, AB T2E 3Z6, Telephone: (403) 265-6304.