Obituary of W. Christie Willis

It is with great sadness that the family of Willa Christie Willis (nee Arthurs), announce her passing which occurred on November 21, 2018. Loving wife of almost seventy years to the late Philip Watson Willis, Christie was born in Saint John on February 11, 1920, daughter of the late William and Laura (Hayter) Arthurs. Christie devoted her life to her family and friends, by whom she was deeply loved and cherished. Her great kindness and compassion gave Christie an empathy that opened people’s hearts and her tenderness also extended to the animal kingdom and to all of God’s creatures, "great and small". Christie was a source of wisdom, inspiration, and strength to her family and to all who knew her, and she filled their world with her love. Christie is survived by five of her children: Stephen (Judith) Willis of Saint John, New Brunswick, Mary (Theodore) Osborne of London, Ontario, Katherine Willis (Jeff Dalcourt) of Kingston, Ontario, Elizabeth (Robert) Kromer of Montague, Prince Edward Island, and Elaine Willis (Richard Chaykowski) of Kingston, Ontario, also by her chosen son Fentahun (Martha) Tiruneh, of Washington, D.C., by her grandchildren Alexander, Susan, Rachel, Matthew, Sarah, Emily, Erich, Philip, Isabel, James, Edward, and John, several great-grandchildren, and by her numerous nieces and nephews. Christie also leaves to mourn her caregiver and loving friend Lois Kilpatrick of French Village Road, New Brunswick. Besides her husband and parents, Christie was predeceased by her brother Glendon Arthurs and by her sister Elva Bemrose, and also by her youngest daughter Margaret Willis, aged fifteen, and by her grandson David Willis, aged eighteen. Resting at Brenan’s Funeral Home, 111 Paradise Row, Saint John, NB (634-7424) with visitation on Friday, November 23 from 2-4 and 6-8 PM. A funeral service will be held from St. Paul’s Anglican Parish, 4 Church Avenue, Rothesay, NB on Saturday, November 24, 2018 at 11 AM. For those who wish, in lieu of flowers, donations to the Greater Saint John Community Foundation, St. Paul’s Church or a charity of the donor’s choice. Condolences may be placed at www.brenansfh.com.