Lila E. Keating

Lila Elliott Keating, formally of Scarsdale, NY and Hilton Head Island, SC, passed away peacefully on May 4, 2023, at the age of 91. Lila was born on June 4, 1931 in Leicester, England to Will and Mary Elliott. She is predeceased by her loving husband Edward (Ed) and her niece Emma Thistlethwaite, and is survived by her children, Ted (Linda), Elizabeth Nagle (James), Michael (Susan), Mary (James Clarke), and Matthew. Lila is survived by eleven grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren, with a large extended family who called her “Nannie”. Lila is also survived by her loving sister, Sandra Curtis and Sandra’s son Toby Thistlethwaite (Leanne), and her 14 nieces and nephews.

Lila’s childhood was spent in the years of WWII, and she often shared her memories with family and friends of her life during wartime. In 1952, she met Ed at a tea dance while he was stationed at the RAF Station in Sculthorpe, England. After a brief trans-Atlantic courtship, Ed and Lila were married in July 1953 in Leicester, England. They moved to the US after their wedding to reside in Needham, MA. Over the next 15 years, Ed and Lila raised their five children in both Scarsdale, NY and in Ruxton, MD, following Ed’s career in sales with The American Can Company.

In 1969, Ed’s career took the Keating family to London, England, where Lila was able to connect her American and English families. After 6 wonderful years living in London and travelling across Europe, Scarsdale became the Keating’s home base for many years. With her children in college, Lila went on to a have a successful career working for Olsten Temporary Services where she managed the company’s White Plains and Stamford offices. In 1995, Ed and Lila built their retirement home at the Long Cove Club on Hilton Head Island.

Lila was an avid tennis player, paddle tennis player, golfer, bridge player, animal lover, painter and gardener, and an impactful mentor for young students on Hilton Head. Over the years, she and Ed were very active members of the Fox Meadow Tennis Club and Shenorock Shore Club in Rye, NY. They enjoyed a busy social life over their 46 year of marriage, together with a large group of friends with whom they travelled and shared many wonderful experiences. Lila was very strong in her Catholic faith and a devoted mother and grandmother. She will be immeasurably missed by her children, extended family and friends.

Visitation is on Thursday, May 11th from 4-7 pm at Edwin L. Bennett Funeral Home, 824 Scarsdale Avenue, Scarsdale, NY. A Funeral Mass will take place on Friday, May 12th at 10 am at the Church of Immaculate Heart of Mary in Scarsdale, NY. , with a reception to follow at Shenorock Shore Club in Rye at 12:30 pm.