Lillian Alice (Ferguson) Longhurst

Lillian Alice Longhurst

Lillian was born in beautiful Prince Edward County, Ontario, near Cherry Valley, one of many children. Prince Edward County is known for fruit growing. Her father was a farm labourer while her mother raised the kids. She grew up on the small family farm and had fond memories of the place. She sometimes told a story of her sister Betty and the farm rooster terrorizing each other, and another of a brother who tried to ride the pig (frequent unsuccessful attempts)! She met her future husband, Ted, when she was working at a canning factory, and he at a cement plant. They married and moved to Deep River when Ted got a job at Atomic Energy of Canada. They lived most of their lives in the same house on Silvie St. and raised their three boys there (Glenn, Bruce, and Brian). Lillian enjoyed a vibrant social life, which included bowling, gardening and anything else that let her meet people. She loved to talk!  Lillian canvassed for the March of Dimes and did other charity work - another chance to meet people and chat!  Lillian was able to make a couple of trips to British Columbia to visit her youngest son Brian and his partner Megan, and returned to Buchart Gardens near Victoria, a place that she and Ted first visited on their honeymoon. Lillian enjoyed baking, and is very well remembered for her famous pecan pies ( and tarts, cookies, holiday turkeys, gravy, …). Making the pies, which have to be baked at a certain temperature until they ‘jiggle’ a particular way, and then further at a lower temperature, is now a lost art. In his later years, Ted suffered from dementia, and passed on in 1996 at the age of 62. Lillian cared for him at home during his entire illness. Lillian carried on living at the family home, often with the assistance of her middle-son Bruce, and great family friends, the Potters, the Stechishens, and others. She suffered from heart problems in her later years, and passed away on September 30, 2019 at the age of 81.

The Longhurst family is grateful for the efforts of Dr. Tom Greenfield and his staff, the staff of the Deep River and District Hospital, Dr. Dick and staff of the Ottawa Heart Institute, and our many, many friends.

Friends may call at the Valley Funeral Home on Thursday, October 3 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. A Funeral Service will be conducted in the chapel of Valley Funeral Home on Friday October 4 at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be in the Deep River Community Cemetery. In memoriam donations to the Ontario March of Dimes would be gratefully appreciated.