Nester – It’s with heavy hearts that we bid farewell to the matriarch of our family and a dedicated member of the Brooks community. Lillian Joyce Nester passed peacefully February 20, 2025, at the Brooks Hospital with an exhausted body after a life well lived. Grandma was born at home on the farm at Patricia during a blizzard to Steve and Mary Ulrick, the 6th of 8 kids, on February 23, 1935. She was blessed to have grown up in a family with strong values that taught her how to work hard, clean impeccably, care unconditionally and laugh without worry. If you knew Lillian, you knew she lived her life much like she was born, in a whirlwind that never let grass grow under her feet. Being one of the middle girls, she was called upon to help raise the younger ones and spoke that she was often in trouble for one thing or another. She looked forward to 4-H with the John Ware Beef Club and completed her Grade 12 by correspondence in between working for local families and as the switchboard telephone operator in Cessford. She met the handsome ranching soldier, John (Jack) Nester, who’d returned from WW2 to homestead in the Cessford area. They married on October 14, 1953, and built a successful ranch on the edge of Berry Creek, where they created a life and family on the same hard work and strong values both her and Grandpa knew as kids themselves. Son, Jack Nester, was born January 13, 1955 and soon after daughter, Marj (Nester) Veno, was born April 18, 1956. Life was busy raising her family, but there was always room for anyone who stopped in at the dinner table where food was always plentiful and hospitality was always warm. If it was on the menu in her kitchen, it had been grown by her hand. From raising her own chickens, turkeys, pork and beef to milking cows and growing a “Hutterite sized gardens” for canning, pickling or sharing with neighbors in need. While she could create a meal for a king from the scraps of a peasant, her baking lacked nothing in comparison even still to this day and we’ve all been lucky to have shared a seat at her table. Lillian was the ultimate supporter of all things kids and community. If it was a gathering at the Cessford Hall, regardless of the occasion, you better believe she was there to peel the spuds, help host the party and dance the night away! She was a lifetime member of the Ella Jane WI Club at Cessford and curled many years in Pollockville. She was always game to toboggan and try to ski with the kids on the creek hills or sit in the cold to cheer on a hockey game. She loved social gatherings and if it meant a good game of cards or a reason to laugh, she was all in. And in all things cleaning, for the kids 4-H steers she even knew the perfect mix of Mrs. Stewarts bluing to turn calves’ hair white. To put it bluntly, she could do it all! The ranch was sold in ’82, where Grandma and Grandpa retired to Brooks. They quickly found themselves a new welcoming community with several recreational activities. If you were around the horseshoe pits, curling rinks, or cribbage tournaments, you’d find Jack and Lill. Their competitive spirits found them inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame for Horseshoes in 2007. This came following a lengthy career traveling Canada in their motor home to play horseshoes and have fun. Later, she and her cribbage partners travelled to Prince Edward Island to play in the Canadian Legion Cribbage championship. She was a very active member of the Legion Ladies Auxillary and served on the executive for many years volunteering to cater for countless memorials and events where there was always a sideways look and a lot of laughter. In 1976, Grandma’s world changed with the arrival of 4 grandkids in 6 years. That excitement brought tons of pride for them both and they lived through every phase of watching them grow, become adults and start families of their own with open arms. She flourished under the title of GREAT Grandma, or Nana Grapes, to 11 Great Grandkids and one Great Great Granddaughter. Grandma never missed a chance to cheer enthusiastically at a rodeo, roping or hockey game and she was everyone’s number one fan. It’s safe to say Lillian lived her life to the fullest. She always carried herself with class and took a lot of pride in her appearance. We can all hope to have as many chapters to our stories full of memories as her. Lillian is survived by her daughter Marj Veno (Murray McArthur). Granddaughter Janet (Steven) Yule and their sons, Tate and Wyatt. Grandson Travis Nester and his sons, Colby and daughter Hunter, Hayden, William and Paul. Granddaughter Christy (Brad) Wemekamp and their children Tyler and Amber Helle and Cassie Wemekamp. Granddaughter Kelsey (Wes) Yule and their children, Cash and Piper. Sister-in-law Louise Berg, Brother-in-Law Louie and Doreen Nester and many nieces and nephews. Predeceased by her husband Jack Nester, son Jack Nester, son-in-law Greg Veno, her parents Steve and Mary Ulrick, siblings Iva and Mike Kozy, Lloyd Ulrick, Norma Thurlow, Hilda and Austin Bunney, Roy and Florene Ulrick, Marlene and George Pickering, Betty and Bob Prentice. Memorial Service to be held on Tuesday March 11, 2025 at 2:00 pm, at the Heritage Inn and Convention Centre, Brooks, AB. Rev. Esther Crews officiating. If so desired, donations can be made in her memory directly to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, 2300 Yonge St, Suite 1200, Box 2414, Toronto, Ontario M4P 1E4.
Cremation is entrusted to and conducted at
Smith Funeral Home Ltd., Brooks
Funeral arrangements entrusted to:
SMITH FUNERAL HOME LTD.
BROOKS, ALBERTA
Condolences may be forwarded through www.sfh.ca
Telephone 403-362-4636 or Toll Free 866-362-4652
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