Lila Eva Bradley RN
October 1, 1932 - July 11, 2010

BRADLEY, Lila Eva (Timmins) RN OCH 53B
October 1, 1932- July 11, 2010

Peacefully at Carleton Place Memorial Hospital Sunday, July 11, 2010. Beloved wife of Dalton E, Bradley for 55 years. Devoted mother and everlasting strength to Brian, Cheryl Lynne and Brent. Adoring grandmother of Jesse, Evangelynne, Chance and Brittany and great grandmother of Alysha and Aaron. Predeceased by her parents,Herbert Timmins and Eva Brown, and her sister Joyce Timmins. Lila will be sadly missed by her brothers Austin (Zita), Bert (Marion) and Ken (Gail) and by her dear friend Joyce Hobbs (Craig). She will be held in high esteem by her many sisters and brothers-in-law. Lila will be fondly remembered by her nursing colleagues at CPMH where she nursed for 38 years (Retired 1997) and her many friends from her graduating class in nursing at OCH. Lila devoted her life to helping the sick and injured in her caring and unselfish way and will be remembered appreciatively by her many patients. A memorial service will be held at St James Anglican Church, Carleton Place on July 20, 2010 at 11 a.m. Followed by refreshment at the Carleton Place Legion.

A tribute to the "Lady" in white.

We shall pass through this world but once, therefore we should not defer nor neglect it for we will not pass this way again.

Just call her Doc.

Well known, respected nurse passes away after battle with brain cancer

EMC News - When Lila Bradley retired in 1997, after many years with the Carleton Place and District Memorial Hospital, the profession lost one of its most respected and dedicated nurses. When she passed away last week, her children, Brian, Cheryl Lynne, Kevin, and her husband Dalton lost a devoted and caring mother and wife.

It was only a few months ago that Lila was diagnosed with brain cancer, and like every other challenge she faced in her life, she chose to fight it in her own way. Given the option of a poor prognosis, or having treatment, which would only prolong her life marginally, her comment to the doctor was "let's get at it." But this was one challenge she could not meet, succumbing to the disease with her characteristic dignity and grace.

Joyce Hobbs, who trained at the Ottawa Civic Hospital with her, and shared an apartment, was with her at the end. "I will always remember how she faced her disease. She never once said, 'poor me', there was never one word of whining, and was always in good spirits," she said.

Hobbs said Lila was a nurse who was completely dedicated to her patients. "She would never take a shortcut in care. And it didn't matter who came in, the rich the poor, the famous, the ordinary person, they were all treated the same."

Lila Bradley will long be remembered as the nurse who refused to give in to the newer dress code of today's nurses. She went to work every day, complete with white uniform, stockings and shoes, and her nurse's cap, which she wore proudly in spite of everyone around her in pants and coloured tops.

"I never once knew her to wear slacks to work. And she always said nurses lost their identity when they gave up their whites and caps," her husband Dalton said.

Dr. Donald Ferguson of Carleton Place had nothing but praise for the work ethic of the nurse he came to rely on so often in Emergency. "She was totally professional. And nothing could cause Lila to lose her cool. She never got flustered, and you could always depend on her to be compassionate and completely efficient. She always knew exactly what had to be done, and that's what is so important to the doctor on call in Emergency," he said.

Lila was born in Pakenham to Herb and Eva Timmins, and besides her children and husband of 55 years, she is survived by three brothers, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

A memorial service was held at St. James Anglican Church on Tuesday, July 20.

Funny You Should Ask
February 2010 issue of Forever Young Newspaper

Q: When did nurses stop wearing their lovely crisp white uniforms and caps, and is there a nurse anywhere in our region who still goes on duty in full regalia?

A: This turned out to be a fun question to research. Nurses who come on duty in full dress are few and far between, but we were able to find a couple throughout Eastern Ontario. First of all though to answer the first part of your question. Switching to coloured and patterned “smocks” and pants of every hue, and leaving their caps at home, took place in the early to mid eighties. Someone told us it was because the all-white uniforms and caps frightened children. We weren’t able to confirm this story. But it would appear it was in the eighties that the changeover took place.

However, there are a few places where the all-white uniform and starched caps are still the order of the day. Lila Bradley, who nursed at the Carleton Place and District Memorial Hospital for years and retired only a decade ago, came on duty wearing her whites and caps until the very last day.

A call to the Ottawa Civic Hospital also has at least two nurses who are clinging to tradition and come to work in their white uniform and caps. Likewise at Hotel Dieu in Kingston, one nurse who has retired but fills in on an occasional basis comes in full nurses’ regalia...white uniform and starched cap.

Although the nurses who have given up the uniform and cap say they are happy with the change, many people with whom Forever Young talked miss the uniform and cap which spoke of efficiency and professional training. As one person said, “I can’t tell the nurses from the cleaning people...I really miss seeing them in their caps and uniforms. When I was sick and had to go to a hospital, I felt I was in good hands when a nurse treated me who was dressed in a spanking white uniform and cap and wore the pin presented to her when she graduated. I don’t like the change one bit.”

Mom wanted me to support this:
Carleton Place High School Reunion
June 2, 2012