Lily Florence May Zirk
Lily Florence May Zirk passed away at the Fraser Hope Lodge on February 28, 2017 with her family by her side. Lily was predeceased by her Mom and Dad, Selina and Armond Smith, and in-laws Lydia and Henry Zirk, her loving husband Benjamin and son and Robert Zirk also by sisters Margaret (Salmer) Halverson, Josephine (Rudy) Hopp and Vernice (Lee) Saunders and her brother, Arnold Smith. In-laws Marie (Roland) Fithen, Wilfred (Marriane) Zirk, Louie (Frances) Zirk, Erman (Dorean) Zirk, Helen (Ben) Baribeau, (Emma) Zirk, Walter Emmanual and Charlie Zirk. Lily is survived by her daughter Sharon Spencer, granddaughters: Danine Hahn and Leanne Kozak, grandson James Kozak, great granddaughters: Jesseca and Alysia Hahn, great grandsons: William, Aleksanr and Cameron Kozak. Also survived by in-laws Gladys and Fay Zirk, Herb (Darlene) Zirk and William Zirk, plus numerous nieces and nephews who she loved very much. Lily was born in Foremost, Alberta in 1920. She moved with her family to Lacombe AB where she completed her grade 13 and worked. In time she met and married Ben. They moved to Weyburn Sask for a few years and when Ben was discharged from the army in 1946 they decided to go to Vancouver looking for work. He got a job working for the Canadian Pacific Railroad. They built a house and then got transferred to North Bend. At first Lily hated the small town but it didn't take long and she loved it there. They raised their family and had many happy years. She often talked about the many friends and all the good times and memories. Lily worked in Carlson's store for years until Ben's work with the CPR again moved them first to Port Coquitlam and then to Vancouver. Along this journey Lily managed an apartment in Port Coquitlam and then a huge one in New West. Massy Place. Then when they went to Vancouver she managed an apartment on First Ave, right across from Kits beach and then one on 4th Ave just a few blocks up. She always took the time to take her grandchildren to the beach when they visited. Lily worked very hard. One month they had nine suites to paint at the end of the month. Not easy with people moving in and out at the same time. But, she did it! Lily was people person and got along great with all her tenants and with everyone who knew her. When Ben retired from the CPR they bought a condo in a senior's complex in Abbotsford. Here they also made great friends and really enjoyed their retirement. Lily was secretary on the board for most of the time that they lived there. They loved playing cards and bingo in and away from the building. Lily got to be quite a pro at pool. They also spent a lot of time throughout the years travelling to Alberta and Saskatchewan to visit relatives and going to Reno and Las Vegas. They came to Hope every week for lunch and many times stayed for long visits. When Ben became ill Lily quit her job as secretary to take care of him. Ben passed in 2004. After some time Lily started playing cards and Bingo again. She spent a lot of time baking pies and cupcakes to take along for her friends to enjoy. Lily loved her visits to Hope and playing cards at the Hope Legion and at the Golden Agers Hall where she was a member. She was also a member of the Hope Station House. She loved to dance and loved the musicians and also the people who became friends there. She loved to go to the casino in Langley. Lily and Sharon spent a lot of time together, either in Hope or Abbotsford. Lily worked hard all her life which is what made her such a strong and friendly person. She was even an honorary member of TOPS in Hope so that she could join in their meetings and activities. She loved the TOPS girls. Lily was a very special wife, mother, grandmother and friend to everyone she knew. She came to live in Hope with her daughter until she had her stroke which was why she was in the Lodge. She is in a better place now but our lives will never be the same without her. May she rest in peace. There will be no service by request.