Lucile F. Cain. Died at 100, Teacher + Ambassador to the World

Lucile grew up in Everett Washington, with her grandparents who ran a filling station and
country store. She married William Cain in 1942 and they moved to San Francisco. Lucile lived
in El Cerrito for 72 years where she and Bill raised a family of four kids – Dave, Eliza, Sheila, and
Tom. With her children grown she returned to college, graduated in English from UC Berkeley
(Phi Beta Kappa), and later taught English as a second language and history in a classroom for
those hoping to become citizens.
Starting with the high school program “American Field Service” Lucile and Bill hosted many
foreign students in their home.
Lucile taught songs and singing at Church and ran Saturday night dances. At 50 years of age,
she and Bill volunteered to serve in the Peace Corps in Southeast Asia for two years, then
travelled the world for several more years, working on farms, staying in hostels, meeting
people and making friends everywhere. She lived life to the fullest and quickly became family
to many who knew and loved her.
Her spirit was upbeat and adventurous. She would often exclaim, even in her later years,
“I have been the luckiest person . . .” When Bill came up with his crazy travel ideas, Lucile
would immediately respond, “How soon can we leave”. He loved that. She shared that when
they retired to bed, she and Bill would often say “we go to sleep with smiles on our faces”.
We will miss her willingness, her smile and warmth, her complete lack of guile and sarcasm,
how she loved to sing with a group of friends and welcome everybody into her home. We, her
children, thank all of you for your love for this kind, unique and generous woman who we had
the honor of knowing as friend and Mother.
“A good character is the best tombstone. Those who loved you and were helped by you will
remember you when the forget-me-not’s have withered. So carve your name on hearts and
not on Marble.”
− C.H. Spurgeon
She lived a century and passed away peacefully at her El Cerrito home from natural causes in
her family’s embrace. We siblings, Dave, Eliza, Sheila, Tom, and our families of her eight
grandchildren and eight great grandchildren, have her carved in our hearts.
You may make donations in Lucile Fairley Cain’s name to Citizens’ Climate Education.

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