Born August 18, 1939, Gillian (Jill) Elizabeth Neily passed away peacefully on September 21, 2024, at Melville Lodge nursing home in Halifax after several years with Alzheimer's Disease. She was 85. She is survived by her three children, Scott (Nancy), Lisa and Philip (Lesley); six grandchildren, Holly McLellan, and Cameron, Grace, Gabriel, Jude and Luke Neily; two step-grandsons, Scott and Ben Martin; nieces and nephews, Katie, Lorraine, Dauvery, Deidre, Lee and Lindsay. She was predeceased by her husband, David Neily; parents William and Norah (Kay) McConachy; sister Lynda McConachy; infant daughter, Elizabeth; and nephew, Clifford.

Jill was born in London, England, two weeks before the start of WWII. She was curious about her grandfather's interest in the newspaper, so he taught her to read from the London Times when she was three. Her sister Lynda was adopted after the war and Jill lovingly took on the role of protective older sister. Jill started school at age four and was placed at the prestigious Grey Coat Hospital school in her teens. Their parents ran a pub in London's West End, and the family lived above it. A favourite story from that time involved Lynda climbing along the second storey ledge above the street into Jill's bedroom to steal her clothes. Jill waitressed in London in her younger years and was fortunate enough to see Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald perform, among others. She also worked as a telephone operator, receptionist and secretary. She commuted on a Vespa, for which she paid £10. Growing up in the hustle and bustle of London made her a lifelong fan of music (especially The Beatles), live theatre, Queen Elizabeth II and the Royal family, and the smell of city air.

Jill met her husband David, a photographer from Nova Scotia, through mutual friends. They married in March 1963, then travelled to Italy and Norway to ski. By 1965, it was time to pull up stakes and head to Canada. Arriving from London to Halifax airport was culture shock for Jill who, upon landing, wondered where everyone was. Their first son, Scott was born in December of that year. They lived in Dartmouth, Salmon River, Kingston and finally settled in Bridgetown by 1979. Jill worked with David running a photography business in Middleton before they moved the studio into their home.

Jill gained her Canadian citizenship in the late 70s but maintained her London accent through friendships with other expats and dedication to British TV shows. In the 80s, Jill took an active role at St. James Anglican church in Bridgetown where she became a certified lay reader and sang in the choir. She was also a proud member of the Choral Society in Middleton. Jill was an avid quiz show fan and an early owner of the first Trivial Pursuit board game which she regularly enjoyed winning. She loved animals and had a very special relationship with her black lab, Bonnie. She worked in membership recruitment for the Middleton Co-op, where she was member #11, then managed a Christian bookstore for a few years. She rarely missed an episode of Jeopardy!, always had a pot of tea on the stove and made a delicious spaghetti sauce from scratch. She passed on her love of Monty Python to all of us, especially Scott who teased her by including "Spam, spam, spam!" on her weekly grocery lists.

Jill sponsored a few children in her lifetime, from foster kids in Central America to friends of her own kids who would just show up and never go home (you know who you are). Jill never turned anyone away, a tradition that has been carried on by her children. She enjoyed listening to classical music on CBC radio and never shared her kids' interest in heavy metal, although she did ferry them to concerts and even lined up for Metallica tickets once.

Jill took her role as a mum seriously and carried that on as a grandmother, affectionately known as G-ma. She naturally developed a close relationship with her first granddaughter, Holly (daughter of Lisa), who often mimicked her exuberance for Wheel of Fortune by shouting out letters alongside her grandma. Jill was delighted to welcome Philip and Lesley's children Cameron, Grace, Gabriel, and twins Jude and Luke.

She was a leader with the early Alpha programs at St. James and an enthusiastic participant in the March for Jesus. She never missed a chance to tell a joke about balls, laugh at the antics of Patsy and Eddie on AbFab or correct someone's grammar.

After selling the family home in Bridgetown about a decade ago, she moved into a cute little apartment in Clayton Park that she was quite proud of. She kept herself busy with a part-time job with Welcome Wagon, was active with Trinity Anglican Church, volunteered at the St. Andrew's soup kitchen, and attended "Ping Fests," a gathering for Coronation Street fans. She never tired of Canadian autumn colours, a good seafood chowder, a tricky logic puzzle or impromptu sing-alongs.

Thank you to everyone who has reached out and offered support and love. It is very much appreciated. She is remembered by so many with fondness. The family would especially like to thank Mum's friends, Father Peter & his wife Elaine Young, for coming to her bedside the day before she passed and offering communion, anointment and prayer. It is what she would have wanted and provided enormous comfort. Thank you as well to the kind staff at the nursing home who watched over her so carefully, especially staff nurses Lisa, Sarah and Emily, as well as the Middleton Funeral Home and Father Benjamin at Trinity Anglican Church in Clayton Park for their personal attention in the days after. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Bide Awhile Animal Shelter, Melville Lodge or the Alzheimer's Society of Canada, or volunteering at the Sunday Suppers at St. Andrews in Halifax. A service will be arranged at a later date.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Middleton Funeral Home, 398 Main Street, toll free 1-855-825-3448. Online condolences or memories you may wish to share with the family may be made by visiting: www.middletonfuneralhome.com