Lillian Josephine Melisek

Melisek, Lillian Josephine (1925 - 2024)

Lillian Josephine Melisek May 12, 1925 – July 28, 2024 passed away peacefully on July 28, 2024 at Nipissing Manor Nursing Care in Corbeil, ON in her 100th year. Lillian was a long-term resident of Elk Lake.

She is survived by her brother Albin and sister-in-law Helen of Sault Ste Marie and her sister Camilla Adair and husband William (deceased) of North Bay. Lillian was pre-deceased by her parents Joseph and Julia Melisek and her sisters Adele Sexton, deceased 1963 and husband (Joseph deceased) and Emilia (Mamie) Giles deceased 2016 and husband (Melville deceased). Though Lil never married, she was Aunt Lil to sixteen cherished nieces and nephews and their families now living throughout Ontario, Quebec, Western Canada and California.

During her forty-two-year career with Northern Telephone she was a local pioneer, breaking ground for women managers and adopting many operational changes.  After her retirement in 1984, Lillian returned to Elk Lake and was active in her community supporting the New Prospects Seniors club, the local museum and Nativity parish. She was an avid crafter and maintained a large garden.  She was frequently consulted on her memory of Elk Lake history and graciously shared her wisdom with newcomers and long-time residents.  In her younger years, she was an active local landscape artist and her work was displayed proudly in the family home.

Lillian lived a faithful and fulfilled life. Her family is honouring her memory and respecting her wishes with cremation followed by a funeral mass to be held on Tuesday August 27th 2024 at 11am at St Peter the Apostle Church, 299 Airport Rd, North Bay.  Interment will be in the family plot in Kirkland Lake cemetery.  We wish to thank the health team at Nipissing Manor for their dedicated care. We also thank Lil’s Elk Lake neighbours and caregivers for their care and support as this allowed Lil to remain in her Elk Lake home until 2022. If you wish to honour Lil’s memory, we respectfully request that you support her charities, Alzheimer’s Society of Canada, Blanche River Health and Nativity Parish (Elk Lake).