With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Lillian Marie (Bickers) Skinner, age 94, of Weston, Nova Scotia, who died peacefully on February 21, 2026, at Evergreen Home for Special Care in Kentville.
James William and Hazel May (Holmes) Bickers were the parents of Marie, who was born in Providence, Rhode Island, on February 14, 1932, and relocated to Nova Scotia with her family when she was two years old. She grew up surrounded by the family and community values that influenced her upbringing in Bible Hill after they initially made their home in Truro.
During her young adulthood, Marie studied bookkeeping in night school at Success Business College, a natural aptitude for numbers, and worked for Stanfield’s for 13 years before marrying John Melville Skinner of Weston on October 28, 1961. She was a woman of quiet strength, practical wisdom, and intense devotion to those she loved.
These efforts enabled her to advance from her early factory position at Stanfield’s Ltd in Truro to a more skilled office role, reflecting her determination to build a stable and fulfilling career. She carried that same diligence and care into her personal life, creating a warm and supportive home for her family and maintaining lifelong friendships rooted in kindness and reliability.
Marie lived with grace, humility, and a steadfast appreciation for family and simple joys. She cherished her role as wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, offering steady love, gentle guidance, and a listening ear to generations of loved ones. Her home was a place of welcome and comfort, where stories were shared, meals were enjoyed, and everyone felt valued. Marie’s life reflected a commitment to doing what was right, supporting others quietly, and finding contentment in the everyday moments that matter most.
On Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., East Coast Memorial, located at 34 Coldbrook Village Park Dr., Coldbrook, Nova Scotia, will host a funeral/celebration of life service. The ceremony will be promptly followed by a small reception. Following that, a private family burial will be held at Berwick Cemetery. These gatherings offer family, longtime friends, former colleagues from Stanfield’s, neighbours, and community members an opportunity to come together, share memories of Marie’s warmth and resilience, and support one another in this time of sorrow.
