Obituary of Brooke Lill

Sept. 26, 1935 - Sept. 14, 2023

Ralph Brooke Lill, aged 87 formerly of Vineland, Ontario passed away peacefully Thursday September 14, 2023 at the Park Place Retirement Residence in Aurora, Ontario. 

Predeceased by his parents Ralph and Marjorie (Rawlinson) Lill, his wife Katherine Anne (Phipps), sister Patricia (Alguire), and brother John. He leaves behind many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews and two great-great nephews and a great-great niece. Sadly missed by his wonderful, witty and loving companion Joan Marshall at the Jacob Retirement Residence in Beamsville.

Brooke attended his early school years in Kapuskasing and then attended McGill University where he received his B of Science in Geology. Following university he joined the RCAF in 1955 as a flying officer/navigator until 1959. Brooke and his wife Kathie lived in Pointe Claire, Quebec following their marriage and then moved to Rosedale in Toronto. Sometime later they moved to Regina where he was employed for several years by Crown Life Assurance. He joined Sun Life Assurance company and spent many years with them finally retiring as Assistant Vice President of Mortgages. After retiring they moved back to Ontario settling in the lovely area of Vineland in the Niagara peninsula.

Brooke and his wife Kathie loved to travel and saw much of the world, bringing back with them beautiful photographs of the wonderful places and people they met along the way, who very often became life time friends. 

Brooke loved a good meal and was very happy taking friends and family to his favourite restaurants of which he had several, and where staff and management knew him well and treated him like royalty. He was a very generous man to everyone and loved to be in a social atmosphere with friends and family.

He was a member of the Hawkesbury flying and glider club for many years. He was an avid fisherman and member of the Rob Roy Trout Club for almost 50 years. He was also a member of the Granite Club in Toronto. He enjoyed a game of golf, and played as well as taught tennis. He also played squash, and racketball and took up the game of pickleball in his later years introducing it to his friends at Heritage Village. He served as President of the Heritage Village Condo Association for several years. He also volunteered at local schools in Vineland as a mentor to students.

Brooke’s family would like to thank the staff at the Jacob in Beamsville, a place he was proud to call home and to the staff at Park Place Retirement Residence for the wonderful care and compassion for the short time he was a resident. He loved it when they all called him “Uncle Brooke”. 

The family would also like to thank Dr. Habing of Beamsville who was Brooke’s Family physician for over 17 years and as well as Dr. Robinson who attended to him in his final days. Their kind words about Brooke were nice to hear.

As per Brooke’s wishes there will be no visitation or service.

Cremation has taken place and a private ceremony will take place in Clarksburg, Ontario where he will rest with his wife Kathie.