OLD LYME—Lillian I. Spais died on September 20, 2024, at the age of ninety-two. A daughter of Canada’s western plains, Lillian grew up learning the hard lessons of the Depression. Among those lessons were the values of family, self-reliance, adaptability, and community. Throughout all the many challenges in her life, these were the basics that sustained her.
Having trained and worked as a registered nurse throughout Saskatchewan and in Toronto, including service as a Second Lieutenant Nursing Sister in the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps, Lillian became the staff nurse at the British American Oil Company in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. She left that post to emigrate to the States with her beloved husband, Thanase. They ultimately settled in Pennington, New Jersey, where Lillian stayed at home to raise their family. There, she served as president of the local library board and the Pennington Woman’s Club. She also volunteered with the Fresh Air Fund and HomeFront.
After Thanase’s death in 1980, Lillian returned to the workforce to support her family. She earned an Associate Degree with honors from Mercer County Community College, and later served on an advisory committee for the college. She worked as Tax Collector and Assistant Municipal Clerk for Pennington Borough, and finally retired as an administrative assistant with Princeton University’s Department of Economics.
Following her retirement, she relocated to Old Lyme, Connecticut, to be near family. There she volunteered at the Nearly New Shop, served on the board of the Old Lyme Visiting Nurse Association, kept busy with her circle of friends and activities at the Lymes’ Senior Center, spent many hours at the library, and savored dinners on the beach.
A skilled seamstress, self-taught painter, enthusiastic gardener, avid camper, and powerful swimmer, Lillian could do almost anything. Almost. She couldn’t resist chocolate, tolerate injustice, pass up a Scrabble game, prevaricate, or type sixty words a minute. Despite these shortcomings, she was an exceptional mom, GMa, mentor and friend.
Lillian always maintained that her life’s greatest gift was her family, and she loved them all fiercely. Her children, Rebecca (also of Old Lyme), David, George, and Chrysanthe are so grateful for her journey with them even as they mourn her loss. Her grandchildren, Emily, Chelsea, and Lex, her great grandson, Leo, and her extended family, Briella and Avianna, brought her such joy as they grew. She wholeheartedly embraced the spouses and partners of her brood: John, Dee, Cheryl, Dave, Marcelo, and Jesus. Even the collective fur babies were dear to her. She was never happier than when the whole rambunctious crew was gathered together.
Donations in her memory may be made to Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library of Old Lyme, Connecticut, or to HomeFront in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. Interment will be private.
