Mom at her 90th first with here great grandson who fell in love with her!

She is with her grate grandson, Jude, for the first time taken @ her 90th birthday

My heart is with Lill’s family. She was a truly magnificent woman and her spirit lives on and thrives in her wonderful children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

There are so many things that I loved and admired about Lill. She never had any pretense and was always straight-forward and genuine. Lill had a quick but sharp wit and great insights into the world. We bonded strongly over shared values and beliefs (and the fact that we liked and disliked many of the same things). Lill was also extremely supportive of me. She gave me strength many times when I was a young newlywed or worried new mother by cutting through the noise surrounding me so I could have a clearer perspective.

Lill’s memory will be a blessing to all of us who knew her. I loved her dearly.

I remember when Lill helped us kids make the famous 'Scene Stealers' movie... ( cameo apperances by Cheryl Tigerman as the manicurist, Curt Janus as Cheryl's pretend husband, me, Dave Ruttenberg, the salesman, and Allen Ruttenberg, Cheryl's movie husband and pie thrower) ...  Lill drove Mark's car down the street replacing Curt and also Lill made a NASTY whipped cream pie with mustard and ketchup which the salesman suffered having thrown in his face by  Allen at the door..! I retched...

Great granddaughter (and grand kitty) Kayla

Grandma Esther, Mom, me and my kids, Josh, Jarett, Melissa

Mom called the grandchildren and great grandchildren "the dividends" 

Many of my most enduring memories of Aunt Lillian are from our summer visits to Chicago when I was a kid. There were barbecues in her yard, 4th of July sparklers, Lake Michigan beach days—interrupted by summer storms (of course), visits to the amazing Museum of Science and Industry, and just simple, summertime stuff like hanging out at her pool.

Aunt Lil made everyone feel at home. We were always greeted with a big smile and a warmth that immediately dissolved the gaps between visits. She seemed to delight in each of us, and her energy was sparkling. I loved visiting her.

At the end of one of our trips, I remember being at the train station about to board the Super Chief back to California. We were saying goodbye to Aunt Lil and Cheryl and everyone was having trouble holding back tears.  Our trips were always punctuated by anticipation, joy, and then that stab as we left. We weren’t a family that talked about our feelings much back in those days, but seeing those tears made me understand the bottom line and what we meant to each other.

I look back on those summers and am grateful. I loved their rhythms and that Midwest feeling of home and place. I can still see Aunt Lil in her kitchen. She’s pouring Kool-Aid from a pitcher, smiling, and offering a cold drink to everyone.






Lots of nice memories of our family get togethers!  My parents Rhea and Harold really enjoyed spending time with Lill and Bill.  I remember they would come over to my parents house and we’d have a great time! 

When I was a kid Grandma had an apartment complex in Des Plaines with Bill Fishman. In order to enter the complex you'd have to drive a car past like a toll security booth then park in a visitor section parking lot then enter a lobby that had mirrors and flowers, plants and it was dark but cozy but an empty lobby for no one to really hang out in and an elevator take the elevator (pretty sure third floor) when you got out the elevator Grandma was to the right of the elevator down at the end of the hall and she'd be the last door on the left waiting for us standing at her door smiling she would always be so excited to see us down at the end of the hall and hug us which was exciting cause you felt welcomed and we'd enter and the joint was a two bedroom two bath and they had a humidifier so if you slept over you'd never get dry throat. I remember sleeping over there when my brother was born back in like 83 and me and my sis were in the guest bedroom waiting out the birth and there was a painting of a bowel of apples and other fruit hanging on the wall in the guest bedroom and the sheets were clean and cool and a pullout couch and the joint smelled good and the air would kick on and the humidifier would kick on and during dinner at Grandma's there'd always be a salad in wooden bowels very artesinal with Western dressing and raw button mushrooms among the lettuce, carrot and cucumber etc and the Des Plaines joint had a pool and we'd go there and swim all afternoon work up an appetite and after a day of swimming Grandma would order from Little Villa a local pizza joint that made excellent tavern style pizza and I'd eat way too much but that's the thing with Jewish Grandma's you never left hungry (her favorite holiday was Thanksgiving) one time she fed me too much and I barfed but I didn't know any better cause I was like four years old also her back scratches were great I loved them thanks for the meals and the  back scratches it was a good run Grandma rest in peace 

Lillian was my grandmother.

I knew her as "Grandma." 
Not even "Grandma Lill" -- just, "Grandma." 

My earliest memories are of her are in her and Bill's apartment and going to her complex's pool.

I remember she had the "Mr. Men" book series. 

I remember she gave good back scratches. 

I remember she always had an assortment of cookies -- my favorite was the fudge stripe shortbread ones.

I remember her piano. It smelled like old wood. 

I remember her metal tic-tac-toe game. The pieces would make a really loud clang when you dropped them. 

I remember her getting annoyed and rolling her eyes at Josh and Uncle Mark at family functions. 

I remember riding in the backseat of her car with my brother and sister and Grandma would take really fast turns and we would all squeeze to one side under the inertia. 

I remember when Grandma would be walking up to see us, she would put her arms out and do this little side-to-side dance as she moved in for the hug. It's something my Mom does now with my kids, and it reminds me of Grandma. 

I remember Grandma was the first person to tell me that old people always make a noise anytime they stand up or sit down. 

I remember visiting her in Arizona and going to the Grand Canyon.

I remember she called me after my divorce to tell me that these things always work out for the best. 

I remember a lot about my Grandma, but I know I've also forgotten a lot, too.  

The memories I have of Grandma are good ones. I'll hang on to them and share them as often as I can. 

Even at 12 my Mom was a looker. Her sister said "all  the fellas liked her, in fact the Prom King, didn't even know Mom, but chose her as his Queen".

Passover many moons ago. My Mom's on the right 2nd from the bottom.

My Mom and my brother Mark. My Mom was very intuitive. One day she was playing bridge with her friends and suddenly stood up and said, "something's wrong with Mark, I have to go." Turns out Mark had fallen off his bike and broke his leg.

Mom with her parents, Esther and Morris Penzak

Lill was married to my father, Bill Fishman,  for a long time. I got to 
know her better after my dad died in 2006. I would drive down to 
Arizona on my way to see my girlfriend, who lived in the desert. I stayed with Lill and we'd share memories. She loved to sing and so 
do I. She and dad came to one of my Yiddish Chorus concerts and 
I know they both enjoyed that a lot. I often quote a saying  Lill would  use  in response to my asking her how she was. She'd say,
"I'm doing the best I can with what I've got."  I will miss her. 

To the family of Lillian Fishman, I extend my sympathies on her recent passing. She was a delight for me to know and a treasured part of my extended family. I was connected to Lillian through my partner Richard Tigerman who himself passed in 2012. Sincerely, Dino Cocalis

We gathered to celebrate Mom's 90th.  A quote from one of the grandchildren, "Grandma dolled up real nice"😄

Aunt Lil was always upbeat and positive… even as she got older.  I remember summers in Chicago at her house, eating Sara Lee Banana Cake or Brownies, swimming in the pool or mixing various flavors of “pop” in the backyard with my cousins.  It was always fun hanging with the family in Morton Grove!

Big Grandma Hug for Rita's little Jude Tigerman

Great Picture of her when she was a little girl!

When we were kids I loved visiting grandma. We would go to her pool, swim all day then order pizza and chat. When we would sleep over she would give us spoon fulls of honey when we had coughs and say “this too shall pass”, a quote I often use now that I  am older.  A few years ago, Grandma and I chatted about the love that can still exist in relationships as you grow older. I will always hold a special place in my heart for grandma and will cherish the memories we shared. 

These are some great pictures from Grandma Lill’s 90th Birthday Party 🥳 She made 90 look good! Such a wonderful time filled with fun and family. 

I decided to share a memory of my wedding day (June 11, 2016). This was the day I officially joined the family. It was so heartwarming that Grandma Lill flew all the way from AZ to IL to celebrate with us 🥰 

Morris and Esther Penzak and their daughters. Lill is on the far right. 

Mom's 90th with her wonderful friends. Huge shout out to Barbara and Kevin who are the Arizona family Mom chose, better friends you'll never find.

Mom was so positive and loving that I had no idea that there were the frictional differences between her and dad.   Also, she didn't separate until Cheryl and I were making them empty nesters.  She maintained a loving family for us throughout and we were greatly blessed!  She is the example of the perfect mom!  G_D bless her!

For Cheryl and Richard,

Rita and I offer our prayers and condolences to you both and your family in this time of  loss.  Although we didn’t know Lillian, we do know that she must have been a really good person because you and Richard are very good people.  Her influence must have been just enough to make a difference in your lives.   Rita Heuel and Stew Cohen

Lill and her sisters always posed like the Andrew’s sisters when photographed together. 

I have happy memories of backyard BBQs at Aunt Lill’s house in the summers when our family visited Chicago. 


This is Mom and her wonderful boyfriend, David. 

So glad Mom made it out for Jarett and the lovely (best daughter in law ever) Amy's wedding in 2016

Dad bamboozled Mom into marrying him, to her credit she stuck it out for 25 years, they were polar opposites. 

Mom had a great positive attitude, not one to complain, even under duress she'd say, "I'm doing the best I can with what I've got ." When I was little she volunteered for the Asthmatic Children's Aid and more recently the Jewish War Veteran's.  Always active, exercised and ate right plus the positive attitude..... Guess that's part of living to 94; as one of her grandchildren would say, "it was a good run". Peace and hugs, her favorite daughter, Cheryl

OBITUARY

Lillian Fishman

13 May, 1928 – 12 June, 2022

Valley of the Sun Mortuary & Cemetery

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