Margaret Eileen Little

Margaret Eileen Little (1926- 2025)

It is with profound sadness that the family of Margaret Eileen Little announce the passing of a remarkable mother, grandmother and community member. Eileen was born in Wakefield Yorkshire, to Annie and Harry Clarke. She was their oldest child, their only girl and the first of three children. Eileen spent her early school years reciting and memorizing late 19th and early 20th century English poetry. She had a remarkable memory both for poetry and historical events that held fast until her last few days. After her primary education, Eileen was awarded a scholarship at the local Art School she attended in Yorkshire. This experience opened her eyes to the marvels of the world and unleashed her artistic spirit.

Eileen’s wonderful childhood was upended and forever changed by World War II. She remembered observing Veterans of the first World War digging trenches upon the announcement of the second World War, over her backyard fence. Eileen joined cadets at age 14 and then proudly “joined up” at age 17 for volunteer service in the Royal Air Force (RAF) without her parents’ knowledge. At the recruitment centre for the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) she expressed interest in driving lorries. Her request was summarily dismissed upon her admission that she had no prior experience, and she was promptly assigned to nurse training.

Eileen was stationed at a few RAF airbases throughout England, where she enjoyed training, marching and working on the wards before eventually serving as a nurse on the gangrene ward. She had vivid memories of desperate young Allied Forces men whose pungent limb injuries required amputation, since penicillin was only available towards the end of the war. Eileen was stationed in Gloucestershire England RAF Fairford, where she met a dashing young Canadian named “Jimmy” at a dance held in one of the aircraft hangers. It was only later that Eileen understood that the name of her future husband was actually Ernest Little, although he continued to be addressed as Jimmy by herself and her parents for the rest of their lives. Evidently, it was love at first sight; later that evening, Ernie declared to his Air Force mates that he had just met the woman he intended to marry. Soon after their meeting, Ernie sent a letter home to Calgary asking his sister Mary to withdraw some funds and purchase an engagement ring for his future bride. After a brief courtship, they were engaged on February 14, 1945. Eileen and Ernie were married in Wakefield Yorkshire on June 27, 1945, shortly after the end of World War II.

Eileen was one of approximately 48,000 "war brides" to arrive in Canada. Like Eileen, these women were the wives of Canadian servicemen stationed abroad during World War II.  Eileen travelled on the Lady Rodney, a luxury liner commissioned to transport the war brides. Her trans-Atlantic journey ended in Halifax at Pier 21 in May of 1946. Along with other war brides, Eileen then travelled by train to the province of their final destination. It was in Calgary, Alberta, that Eileen was met by Ernie and some members of his family at the train station.

Eileen and Ernie first settled in Biesecker, Alberta where Eileen learned many culinary skills such as baking and canning from the German immigrant women who took her under their wings. Soon enough, Ernie was able to secure a more lucrative employment opportunity in Calgary. Ernie bought some land for a few hundred dollars and a small oil shack secured from his brother, who worked for an oil company in Southern Alberta. Ernie eventually built two houses in Calgary and this is where eight of their nine children were born. The family of ten moved to Edmonton where the last child was born.

While enjoying their time in Edmonton, Ernie was a farm boy at heart and he remained restless given his life-long, unfulfilled dream of owning his own farm.  A tiny advertisement in the Edmonton Journal in the 1970’s for a small farm on Vancouver Island caught his eye. While visiting their daughter in Horseshoe Bay, Ernie and Eileen asked to see the farm and a day’s excursion to Vancouver Island was planned.  Although the farm needed extensive renovation, Ernie and Eileen took a great leap of faith, envisioning the potential of rejuvenating the land and farm.  Ernie and Eileen sold their home in Edmonton and purchased the 20-acre farm South of Nanaimo, in Cedar. It promptly became the “Little Farm.” In their retirement years, the pair worked day and night to make the farm their oasis. With the two youngest children still in school, arrangements were quickly made to send them to school in Nanaimo and Ladysmith.  Goats, sheep, cows, pigs, horses, turkeys, geese and chickens were all raised on the farm, to the great delight of the grandchildren and many visiting school children. The farm became a special place and a refuge for the family and friends alike. Eileen made thousands of Roast Beef and Yorkshire pudding dinners - complete with Ernie’s favourite Crumb Cake - to commemorate birthdays, anniversaries, Sundays, comings and goings, and of course new grandchildren. The farm hosted five weddings and two grand anniversaries (40th and 50th). Grandpa Ernie erected a rope swing in the loafing barn; it was used and fought over by countless grandchildren. Eileen was responsible for feeding the summer crews. Along the way, Ernie, Eileen and the farm attracted many people who chose them as their adopted family. Of all the places in which they lived, Ernie and Eileen spent their happiest years together on Vancouver Island.

Eileen and Ernie were married for 60 adventurous years until Ernie passed away in 2010. In 2011, Eileen sold the farm and was faced with living alone for the first time.  Eventually, she thrived in her new independent life, first living in a Seniors cohousing group in Nanaimo, then in a condominium in North Nanaimo, and finally at Lakeside Gardens at Long Lake in Nanaimo. Although some felt that her move to senior living at Lakeside was premature, Eileen was adamant that she wanted to move to a community of her choice rather than having others make the decision for her. Eileen enjoyed making new friends at Lakeside Gardens and remained fiercely independent until her final year.

As mentioned, World War II played a significant role in Eileen’s life. Both Eileen and Ernie were amongst a number of Veterans who were part of the “Memory Project” sponsored by Veteran’s Affairs Canada. The Veterans were honoured as guests at school assemblies throughout Canada, where they talked about their war-time experiences. Ernie was among the Canadian soldiers who were instrumental in liberating the Netherlands during WW II.  After some coaxing, Eileen managed to convince Ernie that visiting the Netherlands for the 50th anniversary of the liberation would be a good thing. This first trip to the Netherlands in 1995, to participate in the “Welcome Again Veterans “celebration, was followed by many similar celebrations and trips. The people of the Netherlands opened their homes and hearts to Canadian servicemen and their wives. The original host family in Almelo then became family in their own right. Both Ernie and Eileen held the people of Netherlands dear and deep in their hearts.

Eileen spent her last years at home in a lovely suite at Lakeside Gardens in Nanaimo, with a sweeping 180o view of Mount Benson to Long Lake. In the end, Eileen spent only 10 days in the Hospice Centre in Parksville before passing away, peacefully and without any pain, on April 17, 2025. Eileen would have been 99 years of age in July. She was predeceased by her parents, her husband Ernie, and her son, Bernard. She leaves behind her brothers Phillip and Michael in Yorkshire England, her remaining children, and many grandchildren and great grandchildren. Eileen was well loved and enjoyed an adventurous and remarkable life of almost 99 years across two nations. She had an indomitable spirit, an open mind, marvelous practicality, an intense sense of duty and social justice, a delightful sense of humour, and artistic flair. She was a wonderful mother to all those who chose her as their mother.

A celebration of life will be held on July 19th in Cedar.