Lucille Janice (nee Mierau) Brigden
August 14, 1929 - March 1, 2017
Lucille passed away peacefully on March 1, 2017, at Tabor Home in Abbotsford. She was born August 14, 1929 on the family farm near Langham, Saskatchewan, the second eldest of eleven children born to Peter and Martha Mierau. Lucille attended Mierau School until such time as she was needed to help on the farm and to care for her younger siblings. Lucille came to Abbotsford to pick berries at the age of 15. In 1945, the Mierau family moved to Abbotsford and settled on Matsqui Prairie. She met her future husband, Bill Brigden, while picking berries for Bill’s mother at her farm on Jackson Road in Abbotsford. On August 14, 1948, Lucille and Bill were married at St. Matthew’s Anglican Church in Abbotsford. In 1951 they moved to a farm on Ross Road (which is now Pepin Brook Estates) and lived and worked there until 1963 when the entire family, which now included 5 children, moved to a small farm on Fraser Highway. They continued to live there until 2014 when Lucille entered Tabor Home Extended Care due to ill health. Bill sold their farm in September, 2016 and moved to Tabor Manor so he could be close to Lucille. Over the years, in addition to taking care of her home and family, Lucille worked for periods of time outside the home. She was a hard worker who was only satisfied when she had done the best that she could do. Lucille loved plants, so working in greenhouses, and eventually running her own greenhouse, was perfect for her. She was well known for her beautiful fuchsia baskets. Lucille also loved to dance so for many years she and Bill would go to local community dances with their relatives and friends. Although Lucille was not actually fond of cooking, she was famous for her special sausage rolls and homemade tomato soup. Lucille is survived by her husband, Bill, of 68 years, as well as their children: Stuart (Susan), Abbotsford; Denise (Craig), Grand Forks, BC; Brian, Victoria; Murray (Nadia), Abbotsford; and Graham (Helene), Keremeos, BC. Lucille was blessed with 8 grandchildren: Jordan (Kaelan), Matthew, Jason, Wende (Jason), Jari, Alina (Chris), Felicia (Tyler) and Genina. In addition there are 16 great grandchildren. Lucille was predeceased by her brothers Norman, Gilbert and David Mierau. Left to mourn are Lucille’s brothers, Dennis (Charmaine) Mierau, Chase, BC; Ken (Edna) Mierau, Nelson, BC; and Bruce (Rosa) Mierau, Salmon Arm, BC. and her sisters, Doris Boehr, Lethbridge, AB; Mabel Watson, Fort Saskatchewan, AB; Shirley Meyers, Vernon, BC, and Kathy Hunchak, West Kelowna, BC. A Celebration of Life for Lucille will be held later in the spring. Date to be announced. The family would like to thank Drs. Egolf and De Leeuw. A special thanks to all the staff at Tabor Home for the excellent care they provided for mom. They truly went above and beyond.