Margarhita (Rita) Elizabeth Gill late of Chilliwack, B.C. and formerly of South Pender Island passed away peacefully with family around her on Dec. 8, 2004 in the Chilliwack Hospital at the age of 97 years. She was born June 8, 1907 at Crook, Co. Durham, England and lived in Oporto, Portugal; Santos, Brazil and Montreal before settling in B.C. in 1948, moving to the Gulf Island in 1952 and then to Chilliwack in 1980.
Rita loved the outdoors and had a special love for animals, especially cats and she was an avid bird watcher. She enjoyed painting and sewing.
Funeral Mass was held in Chilliwack on Dec. 10, 2004 at St. Mary’s R.C. Church. Fr. Gino Aloisio, Celebrant. Casket Bearers: Victor Gill, David Gill, Wallace Mitchell, Victor Toop, Mark Hryciw and Ardell Bourgeois. Honorary Casket Bearer was her great-grandson, Landon Gill.
Rita is survived by 2 sons; Richard (Pat) of Chilliwack; William (Sandra) of Palo Alto, California; 2 grandsons, Victor (Malinda) and David (Leah) all of Chilliwack; 3 granddaughters, Jen Gill of Ca., Andrea (Peter) Baum of Ca. and Wendy Gill of Denver, Colorado. Also survived by 2 great-grandsons, Landon Gill of Chilliwack; Ryan Baum of Ca., great-granddaughter, Jamie of Ca.
and a brother, George Machen of England.
She was predeceased by her husband, William Gill, in 1984.
The family wish to thank the doctors and staff at the Chilliwack General Hospital and the staff at Henderson’s Funeral Home.
Should family and friends so desire donations in her memory may be made to the Children’s Hospital in Vancouver.