On Sunday 04 August 2019, Lillian Secord, 97, passed away peacefully at home, after a long progression of dementia, the last surviving of seven children of Fred & Elizabeth Mutrie of Leamington & Meaford, Ontario. Despite contracting polio at the age of two, she never let her physical challenges deter her from engaging in a full life. Never one to feel sorry for herself, her positive attitude, determination & razor-sharp wit led to rewarding, lifelong friendships. She met Lloyd Secord in Leamington, a dashing trombone player in the High School band. They were married in Toronto in the fall of 1944, where they both returned to Queen’s University at Kingston for the completion of his final engineering year. On his graduation they moved to Toronto where he worked in the emergent aerospace industry, and never left.

They formed steadfast bridge partners with other couples from St Giles – Kingsway Presbyterian Church, first Bob & Margaret Stevens and then Dr Gord & Kay Bremner. During this time, they were introduced by their good friend, Jim MacKillican, to the idyllic beauty and serenity of summering in the Madawaska Highlands. Here they picked up their summer bridge partners on Norway Lake, Dr Herb & Margaret Handford. It was not uncommon for them to play until sunrise, Lillian an enthusiastic participant.

Many rousing games of Hearts were also played with the combined Handford/ Lockwood clans, punctuated on special occasions by Jack’s cannon fire, which Lillian loved. Even by herself there was always a deck of cards in her hands. She was a master of Solitaire and Cribbage, often skunking her son Tim. Lillian was instrumental in sharing this love of card games with her grandchildren Erin & Scott.

Tim & his wife Jan have picked up the mantle, introducing Lillian’s great- grandchild, Calvin, son of proud parents Scott & Kylie, to the life- filling experiences of cottaging in this area. The friendships Lillian nurtured and enjoyed have continued through the following generations.

During Lillian’s last eleven years, she had the great fortune to receive loving care and attention under a cadre of support workers led by Greg Bechard & Brenda Enright of HomeInstead Senior Care, together with the steady, compassion guidance provided by palliative care specialist, Dr Mavrogiannis.