Obituary of Lilas Reynolds Walling

June 24, 1925 – May 21, 2011. It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Lilas, much loved mother, grandmother, great- grandmother, and friend to so many. Mom passed away in hospice care at Maple Ridge, with Carol and Shimon at her side. Lilas is survived by her only child Carol Sigvaldason.She also leaves to mourn, her grandchildren, Shimon, Charlotte, and Ezra Karmel and great-granddaughter, Gaia Lilas Ho. Also her half brother Ron Reynolds and family, her step mother, Jean Reynolds, cousin Margaret Livie, and niece & nephew, Heather and Grant Robson. As well as family though, there are so many friends just as important to her who will find her passing so difficult. Lilas was predeceased by her husband , Oliver Walling and her daughter’s father, and first husband , Jonas Sigvaldason. Mom was born in Vancouver on June 24, 1925. Her mother was killed tragically when Lilas was five, and she was adopted by her grandparents, May and Rupert King. She graduated from Commercial High School, and soon had work with the government in the later years of the war. She married Jonas in 1950. By 1955, Carol was born, and Lilas left the marriage to pursue a life on her own her with her new baby. She was a court reporter in Burnaby, one of the last shorthand recorders in B.C.. She married Oliver Walling in 1965 and moved to Maple Ridge where Wally had work as warden of the Alouette River Unit and Twin Maples. She worked at MRSS for many years, until her retirement in 1984. She enjoyed the last twenty years of her life in her own apartment here in Maple Ridge. Lilas loved life and people, told wonderful stories, and always laughter was around her. She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer over five years ago and given three months to live. She accepted it with good grace and went on a trip to Nova Scotia with Carol. Without treatment, she beat the disease, and had her heart not been so weak, she’d probably still be out with her friends , shopping and generally making everyone’s day happier. Such a vibrant, generous, good woman; who was as unique as her name. As I used to say to her everynight when I went to bed as a child; I love you a million, zillion, gillion mommy-for ever and ever and ever. All who knew and loved Lilas, are welcome to a Celebration of her life, to be held at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church 12145 Laity St Maple Ridge on June 2nd at 11:00 AM. Please send flowers; she would love it.