The death of Mary Elizabeth, "Lil" Espey , beloved wife of Roy , occurred at the Riverdale Personal Care Home on Monday, July 22, 2002. Visitation for family and friends will be held at Memories Chapel, 330-18th Street N. Brandon on Wednesday, July 24, 2002 from 4:30 pm. to 6:00 pm. The Ceremony to Celebrate Lil's Life will be held at the Rivers United Church on Thursday, July 25, 2002 at 2:00 pm. The Rev. Glenna Beauchamp will officiate. Interment will follow in the Rivers Cemetery. Donations in memory of Lil, may be made to the Riverdale Personal Care Home, 512 Quebec Street, Rivers, Manitoba, R0K 1X0 or to a charity of choice. Complete obituary information will follow. Arrangements are with Memories Chapel & Pre-Planning Centre, 727-0330.


The death of Mary Elizabeth, "Lil" Espey , beloved wife of Roy , occurred at the Riverdale Personal Care Home on Monday, July 22, 2002. Lil was born in Artiglave, County of Eire, Ireland on December 24, 1919. She imigrated from Ireland at the age of seven years and settled with her parents and three younger sisters on a farm at Crandall, Manitoba. Lil's early school years were at Crandall School. Following her marriage to Roy Espey, she and Roy farmed for thirty-two years at Cardale, Manitoba. In 1972, they purchased a home in Rivers. Lil worked at Rivers Hospital for the next ten years. Over the years she was active in many organizations. Lil was a member of the Ladies Loyal Orange Lodge, serving as Deputy Grand Mistress for two years. She was a volunteer with the Boy Scouts of Canada and a member of the United Church Women. Family was her pride and joy. Her Centennial project was a salt and pepper collection, which has far exceeded 100 sets. Lil is survived by her husband of sixty-two years, Roy; sons, Ron (Emily), Maurice (Bernice), Jack (Donna), Bill (Velda) and daughter Margaret (Bill) Grahlman. There are ten grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren. Lil also leaves four brothers and three sisters. She was predeceased by; a grandson, Brian Espey; sisters, Daisy and Dorothy and brothers, David, Ron and Roy. The Ceremony to Celebrate Lil's Life was held at the Rivers United Church on Thursday, July 25, 2002 at 2:00 pm. Rev. Glenna Beauchamp officiated. Honorary pallbearers were: Doug and Margaret Marriott, Ted and Shiela Smith, Don and Suzan Ramsey, Wayne and Melva Ramsey, Graeme and Mildred Shaw, Lorne and Frances Radcliffe and Pat and Liz Feschuk. Urn bearer was Ron Espey. Interment followed in the Rivers Cemetery. Donations in memory of Lil, may be made to the Riverdale Personal Care Home, 512 Quebec Street, Rivers, Manitoba, R0K 1X0 or to a charity of choice. Arrangements were with Memories Chapel & Pre-Planning Centre, 727-0330. No wall was ever built so tall that it could fully hide, This fragrant flower of summer days, the rose, the garden's pride. The passing of the seasons sees leaves and petals fall, yet memory of their beauty changes not at all. For beyond the highest wall, there is another land, Where the rose is tended now by God's own loving hand.


CARD OF THANKS:
We would like to say sincere thank-you to all who extended expressions of sympathy at the time of Lil's death. The many food donations, floral arrangements, visits from family, friends and neighbors were all greatly appreciated. Thank-you to Rev. Glenna Beauchamp and Memories Chapel, Funeral Home for their guidance and kindness. Thank-you to Dr. Anita Vermaak and all the staff at Riverdale Personal Care Home for all they did for Lil. Your thoughtfulness will remain in our hearts forever.
Roy and Family.
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