Sunday, July 16, 2023
Hilda was amazing. I first met Hilda when I was six years old. I remember calling on Peggy on my way to school and noticing the hooks at the back door entrance for the kids to hang their jackets on. Every hook had a label...Margaret, Michael, Catherine, John, Gordon, Maureen...not sure if Jim had earned a spot yet as he was a baby. I guess with seven kids Hilda had to be organized. I don't know what surprised me more; the fact the kids all had a special place to hang their coats or suddenly realizing Peggy's real name was Margaret.
Peggy moved with her family to Orillia in 1963 when Andy passed away. Thanks to my parents and to Hilda, Peggy and I managed to visit back and forth every summer for years and we are still great pals to this day, 60 years later. One summer my sister even travelled with me on the train to Orillia to visit with Peggy and her family. When we visited Hilda, she had nine kids to content with instead of seven. I can't imagine looking after nine kids but Hilda took everything in stride and made both my sister and I feel so welcome. She had a wonderful sense of humour and always had great stories to tell. I can still see Hilda loading seven kids into her station wagon the day she left her home in Falconbridge to start a new life in Orillia. What a strong, brave woman.
Sending my heartfelt condolences to the Reilly family. You were blessed to have such a wonderful mother and I know you will all miss her dearly.
Jackie Bell (nee Sissons)
