WILHELMY-STEELE, Lise Georgette

1938-2020. It is with deep sadness that the family of Lise Georgette WilhelmySteele announces her passing on December 22, 2020 in Dartmouth. Predeceased by her husband, James (2003); and brother, Jacques (1995); she is survived by her children, Christine, Norman (Michelle), Geneviève (Ian Sherwood); grandchildren, Vincent and Marie Steele, and Winnie and Daphné Sherwood; as well as her siblings, Thérèse, Albert, Murielle, and Diane Wilhelmy; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Lise was born in Montreal in 1938 to Robert Wilhelmy and Léonne Gauthier and grew up in Arvida Que., where she went to school, danced ballet, co- founded a youth charity group, and worked at her father’s insurance company. She moved to Montreal where she met Jim. They married, started a family, and enjoyed all that Montreal had to offer, especially Expo 67, spending time visiting and participating in the international pavilions and celebrations. With their three small children, they moved to Nova Scotia in 1971 to follow Jim’s work with Fisher Scientific. They thought it would be a temporary relocation, however Lise was soon to discover the French community in Halifax and become an immensely proud and active part of it. From Le Club Français to the RANE ( Regroupement des ainés de la NE) and many associations in between, if there was a Francophone cultural or social event taking place, you could be sure to find Lise either in the limelight, behind the scenes, or simply in the audience supporting and enjoying the event. She was one of the founding members of the community choir Les Voix d’acadie for which she sang, sewed costumes, maintained the archives, and made lasting friendships for over 40 years. Lise was also an active member of the francophone Catholic Church (La Mission Sainte Famille), where she offered her services as a lector and among other things, lovingly laundered the church linens. Lise was an exceptional woman whose boundless energy and dynamic personality, cooking, baking, gardening, and sewing were both an inspiration and benefit to many. When you met Lise her joie de vivre, radiance, smile, and warmth were contagious. A stay-at-home mom during her children’s youth, Lise went to Mount Saint Vincent University once they reached high school and pursued a degree in two of her passions: mathematics and religion. She went on to work at Corporate Communications Ltd and later, enjoyed a successful career in pension services at the former Maritime Life. Throughout her life Lise was always active, enjoying swimming, skiing, and skating. In 1992 she moved to Oathill Lake and embraced the fabric of life in the lakeside community making lifelong friends and acquaintances. Locals may well- remember her swimming in, skating on, walking around, and admiring the view of the lake. She shared her passion for the lake with her four grandchildren, spending countless hours with them there. She delighted in each of them and they all loved their Mamie Lise. They will certainly cherish time spent with her as some of their best childhood memories. A lover of the arts, Lise enjoyed her collection of paintings and taking in concerts, opera, dance, and theatre with family and friends. Lise was a proud Quebecer who had a deep admiration for the Acadian people who had welcomed her so warmly; she often was heard to say, "Au Québec vis le jour, Québec toujours. Adoptée par l’acadie, l’acadie pour la vie." Lise will be a greatly missed tour de force; but her influence and energy live on in those she knew and loved. Many thanks for the grace and care provided by the staff, nurses, and doctors of 4 West, Dartmouth General Hospital. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Oathill Lake Conservation Society (www.oathilllake.ca), C/O Patricia Rowell, Treasurer, 48 Lorne Ave., Dartmouth, NS B2Y 3E7 or by E-transfer E-mailed to: prowell@ns.sympatico.ca

A small funeral mass is planned soon with the date to be determined, followed by a celebration of life later in 2021. Online condolences can be made by visiting: www.atlanticfuneralhomes.com (Dartmouth Chapel).