The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

B4 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, March 15, 2000 `Wonder/id blind m other' dies a t 8 6 By W ilm a Blokhuis BEAVER FOCUS EDITOR Blindness, and the loss of her right arm below her elbow, both the result of a ch ild h o o d . accident, had not robbed Lillian Stevens from living a full, rewarding life. Her injuries never stopped her from marrying and raising four children. She died on M arch 8th at the Milton District Hospital. She had moved to M ilton from Oakville about 20 years ago. A funeral service was held for her Monday in Milton. She was 86. In 1950, the Toronto Star published an article shortly after she gave birth, at age 36, to her youngest child. Lillian was described as a "W onderful Blind Mother" in the headline, and as "the best cook in the whole world" by her husband Edward Stevens. He died in 1982. The article described how well she coped, looking after a family she had never seen. It described how she man aged without the use a seeing-eye dog, white cane, or any special appliances adapted for the physically disabled except for a special writing instrument she used to write letters to friends. Bom Lillian Quinn on Jan. 9,1914, in Oakville, she was the second .oldest of eight children. The fam ily lived on M acDonald Avenue - then known as Division Street. W hen she was five years old, she found some interesting looking `toys' in an empty field, the present-day site of Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital. L illian Stevens, centre, holds one o f her great grandchildren for a photo taken on h er 80th birthday w ith h er tw o su rviving sisters, Evelyn Ford o f O akville, left, and H elen Law rence o f B urlington. we wanted to know anything, we would In the Toronto Star article, she Unknown to her, they were percussion recalled having hit the explosive with a always ask Dot." caps, left there by mistake after the end Then, about 40 years ago, "Lil called hammer. of World War I. "The explosion started a fire at the me and said: `D o you know what day it To her, "they looked like gold," said Evelyn Ford, of Oakville, her second nearby Oakville Basket Factory (which is?' It was July 2nd, the day she had her accident in 1919, and she wanted to talk stood at the com er o f Trafalgar and Old youngest sister and one of two surviving about it," said Evelyn. "That was the siblings. The other, and youngest, is M ill Roads), and the side of our house first time she ever talked about it. was blow n out, and the sidew alk Helen Lawrence of Burlington. "We chatted for about two hours and heaved." continued Evelyn. The front of "She took the top o f one cap, and she answered all of my questions." because she couldn't get it open, rapped the house is still standing. It was a conversion Evelyn will never "The crater was where the OTMH it on the sidewalk, causing an explo forget. "I asked her what her favourite sion," said Evelyn. "She lost her right maternity ward is today." "A neighbour, Jack Chambers, emp colour is, and she said she always liked arm below the elbow and hand, and her vision." By age 12, she was totally blind tied (the third oldest sister Doris) D ot's pink. W e're not sure if she remembered the colours, or if she imagined them. She pockets, and found she had enough from the severe damage to the optic always asked me about colours, or would nerves from the explosion. explosives to blow up what was then known as the north end of Oakville (the say `let me see it.' She called me every Basket Factory area where the family day." .x Lillian's accident was not the only lived). The oldest sister, Hilda, was sit ting on the porch looking at the Eaton's tragedy the family endured. Three years after the accident, the oldest sister Hilda catalogue." The family didn't talk much about the died o f spinal meningitis, said Evelyn. Lillian w ent to the Brantford School accident. It happened before Evelyn and M ay the Leprechauns be nearyou Helen were bom. for the Blind, and learned Braille. To spread Luck along the way "We didn't talk about it, because we She met Edward, a smelter worker, k And may all the Irish Angels didn't want to embarrass Lillian. But, if through her sister Theresa, the fourth oldest, who was dating. `T h ey w ent out as a foursome. Lillian didn't like Ted much at first," said Evelyn, "but later he got to her. He was always good to her. If she asked him for something, she got it." They were married in Oakville on June 10, 1939, and settled on Allan Street where they raised their family "She would phone to ask about bak ing, and she always remembered. She never called tw ice about the sam e recipe," said Helen. "She had a fantastic memory. She used her thumb to level off a measuring spoon." She was known to improvise. "Back in those days, cloth diapers were used, and she would wring them out by hand, holding one end with her stump and wringing them out with her one hand." She did all o f her own housework. She got to know their children through their voice, their footsteps, and by touching their faces. "I know each by his voice first," she told the Toronto Star, "by his step next, and finally when they're in bed asleep I feel their faces with my hand." She took no time for self pity. In the Toronto Star article, L illian said: "I haven't' time to feel story for myself. "I'm too busy raising my family. I have to make sure the children's hair is combed, that Teddy washes behind his ears and gets off to school in time; that the ironing is done and the dinner ready when Ted com es home. "Oh, y e s . . . and I have to listen to all my favourite radio programs. So you see, there's no time for self-pity." M elanie M artin of Oakville, E velyn's daughter, said "when I talked to my aunt about death, she asked m e `how will I know you?' and I answered `I have blue eyes.' You know, your eyes are the win dow to your soul." She is also survived by her four chil dren, Ted and Ken of Simcoe, Brian of Cambridge, and Lynda o f M ilton, 10 grandchildren, and 12 great children. J Smile on you St. Patrick' s Day. IIHWMK O A K V ILLE CARP sponsors essay contest for secondary students T he Halton C hapter o f C anada's A ssociation for the Fifty Plus (CA RP) is sponsoring an Intergenerational C ontest as part o f its m illennium celebration. The contest is open to H alton students attending sec ondary schools for both public and Catholic boards as well as independent schools. Students are asked to w rite an essay o f 500 to 750 w ords detailing an experience they have had, or an interview they conducted with a grandparent or senior. T he contest essays will be judged on both literary skills and content, says CARP. Each secondary school will subm it its w inning entry to the judges no later than M arch 31st. Judges w ill then select the first, second and third-place entries. Prizes are $300 for first place, $200 for second place and $100 for third. W inners, parents, a representative o f their school, direc tors o f education, and ju d g es will be invited to C A R P 's M ay 24th m eeting, w here prizes will be aw arded. T he stu dents will be asked to present their essays to the group. For m ore inform ation, call H arry B ow ers at 335-5717. VALK R fs h i ' liL a s s fc s 88 Dunn St. Downtown Oakville | For all your St. Patrick's D ay needs: - leprechauns - music MS Soctaty of C o ro d o M uM pteSdm otis in y o u r C O M M U N IT Y T he Oakville Beaver - cards IK L c b b w s (905) 338-7160 J - foods and m any more gift ideas B E G I S T E J 2 UOW 1- 888- 822-8467 www.supercitieswalk.com Cheep! Cheep! CANADA'S LARGEST ^ FASHION FABRIC DISTRIBUTOR Special Selection! DIAPER FLANNELETTE M an wide, 100% cotton. White only. * Our Reg. 2.19 m NOW Cheep! Cheep! F ab ric fro m Special Selection! ASSORTED DRAPERY LACES 120 cm wide, 100% polyester. W h ite * ivory. 0 9 9 Our Reg. 8.98 m NOW A m Special Selection! SATINS, SATINS, SATINS ISOan wide, 100 % polyester. Assorted colours. 099 Our Reg. 7.98 m NOW w m Special Selection! CNENIUE JAQUARDS UPHOLSTERY 140cm wide. NOW Special Selection! PRINTED KNIT ENDS 150cm wide. Our Reg. 7.98 m NOW JL gg n NOW TAKING SPRING & SUMMER REGISTRATIONS! Special Selection! W-l-D-E BROADCLOTH 150cm wide, polyester/ cotton blond. Our Reg. 6.98 m NOW 2 "TM Special Selection! PRINTED HOME DECORATOR ENDS 140an wide, 100% cotton. Our Reg. 8.98 m NOW 2 " m Special Selection! RECENCY BEMBERG UNING 120cm 100 % bemberg rayon. Basic colours t brigbts. Our Reg. 8.98 m NOW Kindergym Ages 2-5 yrs Artistic 5yrs + 1 Rhythmic 6 yrs + · Birthday Parties Spring Begins April 14th Sum m er Begins July 4th (weekly sessions) 3"m 3"n, Special Selection! PRINTED POLYESTER 150cm wide, 100% polyester. Our Reg. 14.98 m m49 ________________ NOW * T n Special Selection! NATURAL UNEN BLEND SUITINGS 130-145cm wide. Assorted textures & blends. go Our Reg. 11.98 m NOW 9 n Special Selection! CRAFT PRINT ENDS 115cm ( I some ISOan) wide. Our Reg. t.9 8 m m 00 m NOW 4 Special Selection! ARCTIC/LAMBSKIN FLEEC E SOLIDS 150cm wide. 100% polyester. Our Reg. t± 9 9 14.98-16.98 m NOWQ 1 m 4". 9 Special Selection! PAVIIU0N BURNOUT SHEER COLLECTION 150cm wide. Assorted designs. 09 Our Reg. 18.98 m N O W O IT 'S BACK! BY POPULAR DEMAND! ATTENTION SEWING ClUB MEMBERS! N O W S YOUR CHANCE TO STOCK UP FOR SPRING 2 0 0 0 ! NOT A MEMBER? JOIN NOW ! 11 Entire In Store Stock! , Huge Special Selection! Spring 2000 Fashion Collection SOLIDS, PRINTS, BASICS AND SEW MUCH MORE! Individually priced. CRAFT NOTIONS NOW 2 0 % * OFF Our Reg. Price *Sewing Club Members Save an additional 10%! BUY 1 m a t O u r R eg . P rice , GET NEXT m (o f equal v a lu e ) fo r $ 1 . Full metres only. Buy 1 full metre at Our Reg. Price, set the next full metre (of equal value) for $1.0fter valid for Members only, March 1-31, 2000. S a le in e ffe c t M arch 1 -2 0 ,2 0 0 0 . M ost item s available in m ost stores. Look for the red sale tags. S ale prices ap p ly to in -s to c k m e rch an d ise only. No special orders. D ue to advanced deadlines, this flyer was prepared w e e k s in ad v an ce , and s o m e item s m ay therefo re be sold out. OVER 65 FABRICLAND STORES IN ONTARIO TO SERVE YOU, INCLUDING: G Y M N A S T IC S -- ^ C E N T R E OPEN SUNDAYS 12-5 1 4 0 R e b e c c a S t. O A K V I L L E 8 4 4 -7 7 2 8 V isit o u r rite n « w w w .fflbricland.ca o r call our Inffolinot 1 -8 8 8 -7 8 0 -0 3 3 3 220 Wyecroft Road U nit 52 842-ELFS (8 4 2 -3 5 3 7 )