Lillian A. Phillips

Former Jacksonville resident Lillian A. Phillips was born Ludmilla Angeline Ficek on June 16, 1921, in New Hradec, North Dakota. She was the sixth of seven children of Anton A. and Filomena Karsky Ficek and attended the Sts. Peter and Paul Church and grade school right there in the village. Like many in her generation, she quit formal education before graduating from high school, but her ice cream shoppe employer convinced her to return. Subsequently, she graduated in the summer of 1939 from Model High, the lab school at what is now Dickinson State University. From there, Lillian entered a nursing program at St. Alexius in Bismarck, spending some student nursing time at Bushnell Military Hospital in Utah and graduating with an R.N. degree just as World War II ended. The army courted her, but she chose to begin a nursing career at the University of Michigan hospital in Ann Arbor instead, arriving in 1946.

Not long after, Lillian met Richard B. Phillips on a blind date – although originally paired with the other participants. They united in marriage on July 12, 1947 at St. Thomas Church in Ann Arbor. While Richard continued his economics and business studies, Lillian enrolled as a bachelor's student in history with a minor in English. (It might be noted that English was her second language, with Czech being first.) As she finished her B.A. degree, she was carrying her first child, Lawrence. The little family moved to Jackson, MI, and Laura and then Tamara were born thereafter, completing the family of five.

Lillian did not remain in the formal workforce, although she drove her children to many lessons and events, helped with Girl Scouts, and occasionally assisted Richard in his business. The family moved to St. Charles, IL in 1965 and after the children dispersed, she and Richard moved to Jacksonville, IL, where they lived together until he passed away on October 3, 2000, in nearby Springfield. Lillian moved to a smaller house in Jacksonville and ultimately made the big move to Albuquerque, NM to be near Laura. It was there in Albuquerque that Lillian transitioned to the afterlife on July 26, 2022.

Some of the things Lillian loved over the years were playing the pipe organ in her church while still a youngster, participating in village plays (she was the one with the accordion), and dancing, especially polkas. She loved flowers in her backyard, feeding and watching song birds, sewing and crewelwork, crossword puzzles, and poppy seed kolache. She was also a primary caretaker for several pets, including cats, rabbits, and a ground squirrel.

In addition to her husband Richard, Lillian was preceded in death by her parents; her sisters and brothers and their spouses; daughter-in-law, Diane; and several nieces and nephews. She is survived by her children, Lawrence Phillips (partner, Michele Bobb), Laura (David) Carlson, and Tamara (James) Fudge; grandchildren, Tracy Carlson (Jae Marsh), Eric Carlson (Kendal Beer), Lawrence (Diana Schofield) Phillips, Jr., Anna Fudge (Xavier Alvarez), Richard (Stephanie Fillmore) Phillips, and David Fudge. In addition, Lillian is survived by great-grandchildren, Ellen, Dorothy, Joseph, Theo, Theodore, Vivien, Eneko, Lillian, and Marit. She will also be missed by many nieces and nephews.

Private family ceremonies were held.

The family is being served by Butler Funeral Home-Springfield, 900 S. Sixth St., Springfield.