Ila Gwendolyn (Moen) Thomas

Ila Gwendolyn (Moen) Thomas was born at Tofield, Alberta and died peacefully in London, Ontario at age 96, surrounded by family. She looked forward to her move to heaven to join Dave, her husband of 59 years; their first-born infant son Kevin; her parents Iver and Olfrid; her brothers Harold and Eldon; her sisters Hazel and Doreen; and other loved ones who had gone before her.

Ila was the third of six children born to Iver and Olfrid Moen, who themselves were born into large families of Norwegian immigrants who came to Canada at the turn of the 20th century to settle and farm in the area around Bardo, Alberta. A rich heritage of faith, family, community, and song infused Ila’s life from birth.

She attended the two-room Anderson school in Bardo through Grade 10 and went on to high school at Camrose Lutheran College, years she remembered with great affection. Her father was a strong advocate for education and careers for his children. So, at age 19, after one year of teacher’s training, Ila began her career in the one-room school at Woodlawn where she taught 27 children in Grades 1 through 8. During the next three summers she earned credits to complete her Alberta Teacher’s Certificate, and she continued to teach in Holden and Edmonton until her children were born. She returned to full-time teaching in Calgary in 1975 and was proud to earn her B.Ed. degree at the University of Alberta at age 55. She spent the last 10 years of her career teaching Grade 3 at Rosemont School and retired in 1989.

Ila participated in church life from early childhood, beginning at the Bardo Lutheran Church which stood on land donated by her grandfather. She had fond memories of going with her father to ring the church bell six times at 6:00 p.m. on December 24th to herald the beginning of Christmas. She met Dave in Holden where she was teaching school and he was working at the Royal Bank, and they were married at the Bardo Lutheran Church in June 1951. Ila and Dave were committed members of Lutheran congregations everywhere they lived (Edmonton, Calgary, & Innisfail, AB; Coquitlam, BC; London, ON), and Ila was active with the Evangelical Lutheran Church Women. Her faith was a lifelong source of strength and comfort. She began each day with devotional readings and ended each day with her bedtime prayers.

Ila and Dave welcomed Ila’s mother into their Calgary home after the early death of Ila’s father. Their first house, bought for $12,000 in 1958, also became the home base for Ila’s three younger sisters before they were married. She and her sisters remained close throughout their lives, and whenever they were together, the Moen sisters sang. Ila also sang in church and community choirs from childhood well into her 90s.

Like her mother before her, Ila had many interests and talents and these were expressed in myriad church and community activities, hobbies, and side gigs over the years. She sewed clothes for her children and their dolls and made quilts for all her grandchildren. She created hats, led girl guides and children’s choirs, played piano and ukelele. She talked a reluctant Dave into ballroom and square-dance lessons, gardened, walked, biked, hiked, skied, and golfed. She sold Tupperware, World Book Encyclopedias and Avon products. She enjoyed crossword puzzles, Scrabble, card games, family reunions, road trips, and camping. Ila and Dave travelled extensively across Canada and the US, and around the world to Europe, New Zealand, Australia, Mexico, and China.

Ila and Dave were loving and supportive parents to their five children, all of whom became responsible senior citizens under Ila’s watch. They adored their grandchildren and spent extended periods of time with all ten of them as they grew up. None of her grandchildren will forget grandma’s inventive birthday cakes and the sweet surprises they held. In her final years, nothing gave Ila more joy than the arrival of her great grandchildren. Their photos were proudly displayed alongside other treasures in her curio cabinet, and watching videos of their antics and accomplishments was a daily source of delight.

Ila and Dave surprised themselves and their family and friends when, in their late 70s, they moved from their long-time home in Calgary to a newly built house in Innisfail. Ila surprised them all again when, at the age of 90, she decided to leave Alberta and relocate to London, Ontario. She loved her bright apartment and the beautiful, treed grounds at Grand Wood Park, a retirement home just around the corner from the home of her daughter Cheryl and family. She made many friends among staff and residents there and was famous for her collection of striped sweaters and for singing in her strong alto at church services and musical performances. Ila was especially grateful for the close and supportive friendship she enjoyed with her neighbour, Maritha Fraser, during the six and a half years she lived at Grand Wood Park.

Ila will live on in memories cherished, stories told, songs sung, and recipes shared by her five children: Cheryl Thomas (Walter Friesen), Heather Thomas (Craig Millar), Robyn Thomas, Craig Thomas (Colleen Thomas), and Kerri Anne Thomas; ten grandchildren (Kelsey Andries, Jill Rajewicz, Lise Rajewicz, Leah Andries, Trevor Thomas, Molly Thomas-Lee, Duncan Thomas, Rachel Friesen, Liam Thomas, and Sonia Friesen), three great grandchildren (Willa, Eddie, and Camilo), her sister Peggy Nichols (Pat Nichols), and many nieces, nephews, in-laws, and friends.

A celebration of Ila’s life will be held at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 40 Holmes Street, Red Deer, Alberta on December 14, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. Ila requested that people NOT wear black!

The service will be live streamed on the YouTube channel of the church (https://www.youtube.com/@goodshepherdlutheranreddee8615/streams) and posted there for later viewing. 

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Canadian Lutheran World Relief, your local food bank, or a children’s charity of your choice, or plant a native tree in tribute to Ila’s long and full life on this beautiful earth.