Obituary of Hilda Lillian Alexander (nee Veck)

It is with thanks for a full life and a sense of peace that we announce the death of Hilda Lillian Alexander (Veck) on Saturday, July 8^th at the age of 101 years.

She will be lovingly remembered by her son David (Christine), granddaughters Catherine (Jon Guy) and Jennifer (Romney), and by great-grandchildren Nathan, Nicholas and Charlotte.

Mom was predeceased by her husband Kenneth, parents Rev. George and Mary Veck (Watts) and by siblings Dorothy, Art, Grace and Stew.

Mom was a consummate musician and piano teacher. She began giving private music lessons at the age of 13 and, over her lifetime, mentored thousands of young piano pupils. In addition to teaching privately, Mom taught piano in the Ottawa, Hamilton and Vancouver school boards for nearly 60 years. She was also the pianist at Ottawa’s Central Alliance Church, St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church and the Salvation Army Woodroffe Temple, and was in great demand as an accompanist.

In her work with the Salvation Army, Mom was active in Corrections Services, including prison visitation work in Vancouver, and then served alongside my Dad as administrators of a half-way house for newly released convicts in the Hamilton area. They always made time in December to “ring the sleighbells” for the Salvation Army’s Christmas Kettle Campaign.

A private interment has taken place at Pinecrest Cemetery. The family would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the staff at Garden Terrace in Kanata for their wonderful care over the past two years.

For anyone wishing to make a memorial tribute, donations to The Salvation Army would be appreciated.