Lillie (Leigh) Pronovost (née Jacklin) passed away peacefully at the George Derby Care Centre on December 5, 2016, at the age of 97. Lillie will be lovingly missed by her daughter Jan (Bill), son Mark (Jacqueline), nephew Ralph Foster of Prince Albert, SK, and cousin Pat Mallinson (née Thelma Hedberg) of Three Hills, AB, as well as extended Pronovost and Jacklin families. Lillie was predeceased by her husband Romeo (Peter) of 70 years and by her sisters Maybelle and Florence. Lillie was born on a farm at Moose Plains, near Nipawin, SK. She started out life as a premature baby, spending her first three months in a shoe box near the wood stove. She has been a fighter all her life and as her dad called her, "a tough little devil".

Music was always an important part of her life as her parents were both musicians. When Lillie was 12, she joined the Jacklin Dance Orchestra as the drummer and at the age 14 was playing alto saxophone! Lillie excelled in school, always obtaining 100% in math and winning oratory contests. As well she was chosen to be valedictorian. Upon graduating she studied at the Commercial School in Melfort.

After working in a law office in Nipawin, at the age of 21 she packed up her saxophone, took the train to Vancouver and started to use the name, Leigh. She worked as an executive assistant at Columbia Bitulithic, and still played her saxophone with various bands entertaining the troops during WWII. In 1943 she married her handsome Air Force officer, sold her sax and became a full-time housewife. She always liked the sound of the Hammond organ and decided that she would never go back to playing music again until she could buy that organ.

For 20 years she raised a family, collected classical records, listened to radio music by the hour, sewed all her family's clothing and volunteered in Burnaby as a Brownie leader and Inman Avenue School PTA President. In 1967, Leigh acquired her pride and joy, a Hammond B3 organ. She taught Hammond organ and wrote her own musical arrangements. Her music provided her with a lifetime of enjoyment.

During their retirement Peter and Leigh enjoyed many outings, usually taking bus trips to their favourite walking and picnicking spots. Leigh earned the title of Burnaby's Doll Lady when she, with Peter assisting, restored and exquisitely dressed more than 1,000 dolls over 10 years for needy Lower Mainland children. When the work became too finicky for her arthritic fingers she dressed a family of bears, wrote a delightful story, and with Peter assisting again, visited many Kindergarten classes in Burnaby and Coquitlam.

Leigh and Peter were one of the most bonded couples we have known. Leigh had an outstanding memory for dates so it is very fitting that she chose to leave us on what would have been Peter’s 100th birthday! Everyone will miss her sweet smile. The family extends their gratitude to Dr. Dyment and Dr. Burns, and to the Seton Villa, Bayshore and George Derby staff for their loving care.

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 4, 2017 at Burquitlam Funeral Home, 625 North Road, Coquitlam. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to George Derby Care Centre in Lillie's memory.