Lillian Olive Macmanus

With sadness, the family of Lillian (Lily) Olive MacManus (née Bristow), 81, announces her death, at home in Woodstock, Ontario, on Saturday December 4, 2021.

Born December 14, 1939 in Sexsmith, Alberta, Lily lived in the Peace River Country until moving with her family to British Columbia in 1955. She graduated from McBride High School in 1958, after which she worked at various jobs in Vancouver, Edson, Sioux Lookout, and Toronto.

While living in Toronto in 1965 she faced the choice of either returning to her family in the West, or visiting Australia.  She chose Australia, and lived there 52 years.  After spending some time living and working in various Australian cities, she moved to Darwin in 1969.  Lily worked a number of years for the R.A.A.F. base in Darwin, including during Cyclone Tracy’s devastating Christmas landfall on Darwin. Eventually Lily moved into the legal offices for the Territorial Government where she worked until her retirement in 2004.

During her years living in Winnellie, outside Darwin, Lily continued in the love of horse first found during her western childhood.  She deeply loved her horse Battler and was an active participant in Darwin’s horse community.  She also found great joy in a series of dogs who were her faithful companions.  In all of this, Lily enjoyed socializing with her many friends and gardening year-round in Darwin’s tropical weather.

Because of health and mobility challenges, Lily returned to Canada in September, 2017.  She has been living with her niece Melissa in Woodstock, Ontario ever since.

Lily is survived by her brother Bill (Evelyn) Bristow, two nieces, Coralie (Jonathan) Cowan and Melissa (Brian) Murray, and eight great-nephews and great-nieces.  She is predeceased by her parents, Edward “Bert” Bristow and Elna Bristow (née Peckham), and her sister-in-law Carole Bristow (née Meek).