Lillian "Ludja" Carpenter

Our beloved mother slipped away on Christmas Eve to celebrate Christmas Day with her parents and siblings who were eagerly awaiting her arrival in Heaven. We can only imagine the joy filled family reunion that resulted from her departure on earth to her new home with our Lord!

Lillian Carpenter married our father Jean Carpenter shortly after her high school graduation from Belleville High School in Belleville, MI in 1948 when she was eighteen years old and he (dad) twenty one.

Soon after they began their family together with Ron (Ronnie) being their first born followed by Dan (Danny) Renee (Naye Naye) and the youngest Gary.

Together, their deep love of adventure and travel took them to many destinations both abroad and within the United States. They shared a fondness of the outdoors, camping, hiking, bird watching, "wine tasting", square dancing and most of all their children and grandchildren, Every subsequent baby born into our family after that was the proverbial “ Icing on the cake” to my parents. They were simply in love with each and every one of them, but when mom held her infant name sake Lillian in her arms for the first time she lit up with joy!

Our mother loved to celebrate her Polish heritage and did so with utmost Gusto! She was an amazing cook and always enjoyed preparing a beautifully set dinner table with mouthwatering homemade meals for her family. She was a pro at putting together our favorite polish family recipes handed down by her mother and shared within the family. Delicious stuffed cabbages, “ Beet” soup, “Easter” Soup and saurkraught with Polish sausage, mushrooms and potatoes were some of our favorites. We lovingly voted her “ Miss Poland 1977” as a family but don’t ask me why now I couldn’t tell you. I only know that as kids we found it hilarious!

Affectionately dubbed “Mr. & Mrs. Wonderful" by a handful of nieces and nephews our mother always regarded her Michigan family with utmost love and tenderness. Lillian was employed at Sam Barlow High school from 1969-1982 as the head of the sandwich department and often dreamt of running out of supplies and waking up in a panic that she didn’t have enough to feed her hungry high schoolers’!

For many years before and during their retirement they spent countless months enjoying extended trips to Florida and Arizona. They eventually settled in Mesa, Arizona the last 18 years before coming back to Oregon for the last two years of her life. In 2012 Jean and Lillian penned a book together called “Traveling Life’s Road: The story of Grandparents, History, Life and Goals".

Lillian leaves behind her loving and very devoted husband Jean, four children and their spouses, eight grandchildren, thirteen great grandchildren and four great great grandchildren. Lillian was a doting wife, the greatest of mothers and an amazing grandmother. We will miss her every day.

In lieu of flowers the family is requesting that donations be made to Mt. Hood Hospice

www.mthoodhospice.org or Portland Audubon Tribute Gift www.audubonportland.org in Memory of Lillian.