ILA MERLE GIBSON

Ila Merle Gibson, 87, passed away peacefully on Thursday, Sept. 16, 2010 at the Extended Care Wing of the Atikokan General Hospital in Atikokan, Ont.
She was born Aug. 5, 1923 in La Vallee, Ont. Ila moved as a young girl with her family to Emo, Ont. in 1926.
Ila was united in marriage to Norman Thomas Gibson, and in 1963 the family moved to Atikokan, where she was a member of the First Baptist Church.
Ila was a kind and loving person. Whether it was sitting around the kitchen table having coffee, playing games, or visiting, her greatest joy came in spending time with her family.
She loved the outdoors, especially hiking, picking berries, and camping. Her time indoors often was spent sewing and knitting for her family and friends.
She was an outstanding cook, and everyone loved her homemade bread, “Ila” buns, and fudge.
Ila enjoyed her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, as well as caring for her mother and the many children that she baby-sat over the years.
In 1994, she suffered a debilitating stroke and her family was proud of her strength and determination to rise above her condition. Sheila was her mother’s shining light; she was devoted to Mom and her daily care.
Ila also spent many joyful weekends at her daughter Carol’s home on Rainy Lake.
Ila is survived by her children, Carol Champley (James) of Fort Frances, Ont., Sandra Brouwer (Roy) of Atikokan, Ont., Cindy Gibson-Smith (Mark) of Sudbury, Ont., and Sheila Doran (Doug) of Atikokan, Ont.; grandchildren, Toni Ealy, Sheri Weiland, Michael Zerebeski, Jason Blakely, Shannon Brouwer, Shelby Smith, Sabrina Smith, and Liam Smith; and great-grandchildren, Samantha Ealy, Paige Weiland, Cynthia Weiland, Jackson Weiland, Eden Brouwer-Girard, Avonlea Brouwer-Girard, Morgan Carson, and Holden Zerebeski.
Also surviving are two sisters, Ida Olsen and Edith Warren; and many nieces and nephews.
Ila was predeceased by her parents, Francis and Mamie Cain; husband, Norman Gibson on Oct. 6, 1974; brothers, Francis Cain and twin brother, Ira James Cain; and grandson, Todd Blakely.
Funeral services were held Monday, Sept. 20, 2010 at 1 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Atikokan. Rev. Dave Baxter officiated, with interment in Little Falls Cemetery in Atikokan.
The pallbearers were Arthur Olsen, Jason Blakely, Roy Brouwer, Mark Smith, Doug Doran, and James Champley.
Should friends so desire, in memoriam donations may be made to either the Atikokan General Hospital, 120 Dorothy St., Atikokan, Ont., P0T 1C0 or the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario, 920 Frenette Ave., Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 3N4, or c/o Green Funeral Home, P.O. Box 427, Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 3M8.
Online condolences may be offered at www.greenfuneralhomefortfrances.com
Ila will be dearly missed by her family and friends.
“God knew that she was suffering,
That the hills were hard to climb,
So He closed her weary eyelids
And whispered ‘Peace be thine.’
Away in the beautiful hills of God,
By the valley of peace so fair,
Some time, some day, we know not when,
We will meet our loved ones there.”