Lucile Huizinga Billard was born on August 1,1927 in Chicago. She passed away on March 10, 2024 in Austin. (Lucile was infamous for telling anyone – from the merely curious to medical professionals - “Didn’t anyone teach you never ask a lady her age?” )
Lucile graduated in 1944 from Edgewood Park in Briarcliff Manor High School in New York at the head of her class. In 1947, she worked at Bergdorf Goodman in New York City, quickly learning retail was not her calling.
In 1949, she received a Bachelor of Science degree in history from Northwestern University. She loved being a member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority and was proud to be attendant to the Syllabus Queen.
She married classmate Gale Billard on December 29, 1948. Gale predeceased her on April 6, 2009. Survivors include son Edward Billard and wife Alice Riedmiller of San Diego and daughter Mary and husband Barry Cooper of New York City.
Lucile was a wordsmith. She worked and volunteered as a librarian, loved reading novels and was passionate about the daily crossword puzzle and jumble, triumphant when she finished both. Lucile took many, many classes in Shakespeare at the Lifetime Learning Institute. There was always a dictionary within her reach, if not two or three.
The family gives heartfelt thanks to the staff at Brookdale Northwest for their patient and loving care of Lucile. They truly knew her and appreciated her. To honor our mother’s wishes, there will be no funeral service. In lieu of donations, think of Lucile the next time you complete a difficult crossword puzzle.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.9.5