Lydia Frances Millett

Lydia Frances Millett

March 9th, 2007 – November 28th, 2023

In the early morning hours of November 28th, a beautiful moon provided the spotlight for Lydia Frances Millett to make her exit and dance into the next phase of her journey. Allison (mama) lay beside her, Russell (dada) held one hand, and Stella (Siba) the other. It was a beautiful end to a four-week battle that has forever changed the lives of those that knew and loved her. We will not dwell on the Lydia that was lying still in the hospital for those weeks. We will celebrate the Lydia that was in constant motion and touched our hearts for 16 years.

Born on March 9th, 2007, at Valley Regional Hospital, Lydia spent her life surrounded by the love and support of a large circle of family and friends.  Starting at a young age, she cherished her Friday night sleepovers with Nana and Papa at the Carey homestead in Avonport. Nana would bake with her and always had lots of treats that mama didn’t need to know about (but probably did). Papa would take her to Penny Beach in the old truck that he eventually taught her to drive down on the dykes. Visits with Nanny Millett were filled with games, learning to knit and sew, and exploring the farm on Millett Lane that would eventually become her family home. The fish net on the river was a special place for her that provided memories throughout her life, including a "polar bear dip" one New Years Day!

Lydia danced in her mom’s footsteps, and then created her own. Along with Stella, she would perform for the family after supper on special occasions - pretty much every time we got together! When her cousins Lexi, Tigger, and Sara were visiting from Ontario they would choreograph numbers together and even involved Drew and Kyle in one Christmas performance. Her formal dance training was with Rhythm and Sole School of Dance and CaDance, where she made numerous life-long friends and studied all styles of dance. But we will always think of her as a ballerina. Lydia, Stella, and Allison performed together in CaDance’s annual staging of The Nutcracker for many years. In her final performance, Lydia was on pointe – an advanced style of ballet that requires years of practice. Her height made for beautiful lines, as they say in the ballet, and she danced with a grace and poise that we will never forget.

School and work provided other venues for her creativity and resulted in yet another group of people who cared deeply about her. Lydia was a good student who was on the honour roll at Horton District High School. In the community, she worked as a conscientious and caring babysitter for several families and assisted in teaching dance at Rhythm and Sole. Lydia also thoroughly enjoyed interacting with customers and staff while working at Stirling’s in Wolfville.

Annual vacations with family and friends were always something Lydia looked forward to. In the winter it was ski trips to Stoneham, where she became an avid downhill skier. In the summer, various cottages at Aylesford Lake or the beach at Wasaga allowed her to be in or on the water, which she also enjoyed. Always surrounded by friends and family, and always filled with love. She packed a lot into her 16 years, and she has left us with beautiful memories.

Lydia’s presence will be dearly missed by all of the people who helped create those memories, but the biggest hole will be the one left in the house on Millett Lane. The lives of Allison, Russell, Stella, and Lydia were completely intertwined. They were busy individually but lived, laughed, loved, and functioned as one unit. Add Shep to the mix, and it would be hard to find a closer family. A recent message from a family friend said it best… "what a lucky girl she was to have had you all".

Lydia is survived by her parents, Russell Millett and Allison Carey-Millett and sister Stella; grandparents Joan Millett (Gerrard); Francis and Linda Carey (Merriam); Aunt Sandi Millett-Campbell and husband Derrick, along with cousins Cole, Courtney Taylor, husband Ben and baby Terry Douglas (he brought a sparkle to Lydia’s eyes, even on the worst of days); Uncle Darren Carey and wife Susan Wong, along with cousins Drew, Kyle, Lexi, Tigger, and Sara. And, of course, Shep. Lydia was predeceased by Grampy Terry Millett.

Cremation has taken place and there will not be a visitation. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, December 9th at 11:00 a.m. in the White Family Funeral Home, Kentville. For those unable to attend, a video webcast will be available on-line. Family flowers only by request. Donations can be made to the QEII Hospital Foundation, Intensive Care Unit. Allison and Russ are eternally grateful for the care that Lydia received at both the QEII and the Valley Regional Hospital. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Kentville. To view the video webcast and for on-line condolences or inquiries please visit: www.whitefamilyfuneralhome.com.