Obituary for Nila Cahill

Nila Jean Cahill, age 75 of Maple Grove, passed away on February 22, 2019 in the loving company of her family. Awaiting her in heaven is her beloved husband, Bernie, her parents, Florence and Wendell Carland, and countless friends and family. Nila was born in Olympia, Washington and was raised in Osseo, MN. She was a lover of life and especially adored traveling with friends and family, attending the theater, visiting the Arboretum, and could never say no to a great concert. She was especially fond of dahlias and limes, whose very presence on earth spoke to her of the presence of God. Her love extended far: to Romania where Bernie and Nila paired their love of travel with service to care for orphans, to friends that had become family in England, Hawaii, and Paraguay, and to her immediate community at home, where she performed countless quiet acts of service.

Fortunate to have an enduring love with their Nila are her children, Tracy (Michael) Kiefer, Emily (Jim) Ruiz, Molly (Erik) Schefers, Eun Jung (Colin) Decker, her grandchildren, Ian, Ezra, Zachary, Kyle, Lilia, and Austin, and her brother Bob and his children Justin and Matthew. Nila’s family would like to thank her community of caregivers, from bringing her to treatment to bringing soup or communion, your love and loyalty were evident in your actions and words. In lieu of flowers, please consider giving to the Special Olympics or the Wounded Warrior Project.

Mass of Christian burial will be held on March 4th at 11 am at St. Vincent de Paul in Brooklyn Park with visitation beginning at 10am. Lunch will be held immediately afterward followed by a private interment at Fort Snelling Cemetery.