Obituary of Dr. Isabelle Mills

To watch the recording of the Service, please click this link:
https://video.ibm.com/embed/recorded/130826918

Dr. Isabelle Margaret Mills,

Professor Emerita
September 03, 1923 – August 10, 2021

It is with great sadness that the family of Dr. Isabelle Mills announces her passing on August 10 2021 in Saskatoon.  Dr. Mills was the Professor of Music at the University of Saskatchewan, where her teaching responsibilities included courses in Canadian music, church music, music methods at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, and the supervision of Masters theses. Prior to serving as Assistant Dean of Student Affairs in the College of Arts and Science, Dr. Mills directed the University of Saskatchewan Quance Chorus, which she developed from the College of Education Chorus. An exponent of the value of Canadian music, Dr. Mills published articles on various aspects of the subject in the Encyclopedia of Music in Canada and the Canadian Encyclopedia. She used her research on the topic for the basis of her doctoral dissertation titled “Canadian Music: A Listening Program for Intermediate Grades With Teaching Guide”. There are also articles published in many journals. She traveled widely in Canada, Britain and the Ukraine, sharing her knowledge of Canada’s music.

Dr. Mills also produced a recording and accompanying booklet, The Hymn Heritage of the United Church of Canada, for the Saskatchewan Conference United Church of Canada on the occasion of the United Church’s 50th anniversary. In 1986 she lectured on the topic of Canadian music in Ukraine, U.S.S.R. research in music education, both on a historical and comparative basis was done in Canada, the U.S.A., the U.S.S.R., and Britain, where the British council was her sponsor.  Dr. Mills Co-Chaired, with Walter Kreyszig, The International Buxtehude/Scheidt Festival and Conference and subsequently published the proceedings. While studying in New York City she attended opera, ballet, and symphony concerts in Lincoln Centre, returning regularly to continue the practice. In addition, European opera tours added new dimension to her life. After retirement she attended the Hymn Society Conferences in the United States and Canada as well as the International Conference in Belgium. Requests came from Saskatchewan congregations for her unique church services using the hymnody they chose as the focus of her theme…

Dr. Mills held the A.R.C.T. (Toronto), B.A. (Manitoba), the M.A., Professional Diploma, And Ed. D. degrees from Columbia University, New York, where she was the recipient of the Frank Ross Chambers Fellowship.  Dr. Mills was a member of the music and education faculties at Brandon College, (now University) before returning to her native Province for her appointment with the University of Saskatchewan. She was well known in Manitoba as a music educator, choral director, adjudicator, and clinician, work she maintained in Saskatchewan and Alberta long into her retirement. She was also known for her work with the Christian Youth Caravans of the Manitoba Conference of the United Church of Canada.  Dr. Mills was the recipient of a number of awards including: The Honorary Life Membership of The Saskatchewan Music Educators Association; The Saskatoon Composers Performance Society Inc. Amacissima Award for being a “great friend” of Canadian music; The Saskatoon Preschool Foundation, and Educator of Distinction. Upon her retirement in 1991, she was awarded the title of Professor Emerita, The University Retirees Association Prime of Life Award; the naming of the Brandon University School of Music ensemble, the Isabelle Mills Ensemble; the 2012 Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal; The Knox United Church 2017 Stewardship award, The Brandon University 2017 Member of The Order of The Sheaf, the 2018 Kids of Note, and the Notations Honorary Patron Award.

Dr. Mills was born Isabelle Margaret Mills on September 03 1923, the third of four children to Samuel John and Isabelle (Scobie) Mills. She was born south of Fleming SK in the lovely “Sunnybank” farmhouse in the beautiful Pipestone Valley. She always believed the beauty and peace of that valley was the key to her love of Canada and its music. On Isabelle’s second birthday she was stricken with a severe case of paralytic polio leaving her with the typical polio mobility disability. This gave her an understanding of people with disabilities. Thus, when she served as Assistant Dean of Student Affairs in the College of Arts and Science, she pioneered the work on campus for students with disabilities. When she completed her term as Assistant Dean the University created a permanent full-time position and a new department to continue and build on her work. She continued this interest throughout her retirement serving on the Saskatchewan Abilities Council Board and its various committees, (Camp Easter Seal being her favorite), the Saskatchewan Prevention Institute, the Canadian National Institute of The Blind, the Post-Polio Awareness Society, and the City of Saskatoon Access Transit Advisory Committee. She established a bursary at the University for students with mobility disabilities. She also continued serving on the Council of the Canadian Music Centre, Prairie Region, and she served her church, Knox United, in various capacities.

Predeceased by her devoted parents Samuel and Isabelle Mills; all her siblings: Dr. Agnes Groome ( Dr. Leslie), Ivy Smith (Robert, Allan), and Reuben Mills (Iris); and nephew, Byron Mills. Isabelle leaves to mourn her dearly loved family members:  her nieces Jean Cooperberg (Dr. Peter), Dr. Ruth Isabelle Kurtz, Mary Kainer (Michael), goddaughter Gae Benson (Lee), Vivian Palsson (Arnar) and her nephew Alan Mills (Sherrel);  her great nieces  Ruthie Shugarman (Daniel), Leah Kainer (Aaron Hayes), Karla Dawn Wilkins (Jeff), Brenna Pratt (Jason), Kari-Lynn Mills (Darcy Holderness), Janaya Palsson (Ben Cairns); her great nephews Michael Cooperberg (Kim Lorine), Daniel Kurtz, Thiago Kurtz (Dr. Andrea Breen), Anton Kainer (Magdalena Raganowicz), Lindsay Kainer (Emily Russo), Kris Hatlelid (Paula), CA Hatlelid (Joel Frohman), Tyler Mills (Carissa), Jordan Mills (Raelynne), Brady Palsson (Jennifer), Harald McArthur (Barb Cabrera); great great nieces Talia Shugarman, Francesca Kurtz, Catherine Hatlelid, Cherise Lutcher (Jessie), Shanille Eashappie, Aubrey Palsson, Brjnn Palsson, Ivy Cairns, Samea McArthur-Cabrera; great great nephews Cooper Shugarman, Lev Styles Cooperberg, Joaquim Kurtz, Alec Hayes, Luca Kainer, Ethan Hatlelid, Ayden Wilkins, Justice Eashappie, Treyton Ferozedin, Kruz Ferozedin, Laughlin Palsson, Lekai McArthur-Cabrera; great great great nephews Jace and Jaxon Lutcher; and great great great niece Oakley Jones.   

She also honours her special friends among whom are her namesake Isabelle Brunel (Norm), Randy, Karen and Ian Clark, Tyson and Erin Brown, with their little Ellie (Eleanor Isabelle), Allen and Brenden Beck, Doug and Simone McCosh, Brenda Baker, Bonnie Nicholson and Dianne Gryba, whose music brought Isabelle great joy.  Her longtime family physician, Dr. A.J. Harrington, provided her with superior care and valued friendship for over  forty years. Dr. Jason Hosain stepped in to listen and to ease in many ways the last mile of Isabelle’s Journey. Isabelle took great joy in creating delightful homes, with the addition of her plants, in her apartments, condo, or house, where family and friends were always welcome to share her lovingly prepared food.

It was Isabelle’s wish, if friends so desired, that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the University of Saskatchewan directed to the  Dr. Isabelle Mills Bursary, at G15 Thorvaldson Building, 110 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5C9

Visitation for family and friends will take place on Wednesday afternoon between 3:00 and 5:00 pm at Saskatoon Funeral Home (4th Ave. & 25th Street). The Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, August 19, 2021 at 2:00 pm at Knox United Church in Saskatoon with Rev. Dexter Van Dyke officiating. A reception will follow in the lower hall. Following cremation, interment of her urn will take place in the family plot at the Fleming Cemetery at Fleming Sk. The Service will be livestreamed and can be accessed by a link on Isabelle’s full Obituary/Tribute page at www.saskatoonfuneralhome.com where condolences may also be left for the family.  Arrangements have been entrusted to Saskatoon Funeral Home 306-244-5577.