Eileen Grace Cruickshank

Eileen Grace Cruickshank (nee Wilson), born May 17th, 1927 passed away, at the Red Deer Regional Hospital, on Friday, November 1st 2024. Ninety-seven busy and productive years of life!

Eileen landed at Pier 21 in Halifax after surviving the Blitz in London, England. She made that voyage with 3000 Canadian troops but her eyes were only on one repatriated soldier, Allan Gordon Cruickshank, whom she was travelling to Toronto to marry. Before Allan passed away in 2018, they remained married for 72 years!

Eileen certainly landed in Canada and hit the ground running. She was soon to be labelled the backbone and spinal cord of her school in Etobicoke. That secretarial job kept her busy but not nearly as busy as her life as wife and mother. Eileen is lovingly remembered by her son, John Allan Cruickshank (wife Elizabeth, nee Emmerton); daughter, Barbara Misener (nee Cruickshank) and her two children Alison Emily Misener and David Wilson Misener (wife Lori, nee Milec); plus three delightful great-grandchildren, Wilson, Nathanael and Faith Misener.

Before relocating to Red Deer, Alberta, in 2018, Eileen spent the majority of her time in Canada in Toronto and then Southampton, Ontario. Throughout her retirement in Southampton, Eileen delighted in contributing and prided herself in remaining helpful, useful and needed. She wrote articles in the local paper for the curling club, baked birthday cakes for the hospital every month, knitted numerous bonnets for the hospital gift shop and her well known British ‘rock cakes’ were eagerly snapped up at each hospital bazaar. Eileen still found time to knit hundreds of ‘Teddies for Tragedies’ for Doctors Without Borders. Her involvement in Probus, securing guest speakers, was one of her pleasures. Her interest in the lives and adventures of others was evident. Her love of travel and curiosity about everything kept her engaged and alive until her passing. We will miss her greatly.

Memorial donations may be made in Eileen’s name to the charity of your choice.