Lillian Early

Lillian was the daughter of Domenico and Teresa Colasante, who came to Ohio from Introdacqua, Italy, in 1915. She remained proud of her Italian roots throughout her life.

Lillian was a hard worker and remained so well into her later years. She worked at Mount Carmel until the age of 72, something that reflected her independence and strong work ethic.

She was also known for her great sense of humor, strong personality, and ability to make people laugh. She loved animals watching the squirrels and birds, waited for the baby owl to come back, and loved sneaking the dogs snacks. She loved to sew, cook, shop, keep up with the news, and was never shy about sharing her opinion. She made all her daughter’s clothes and even beautiful dresses for their Barbie Dolls. She always seemed to find something she thought someone needed, and her family knew that if Amazon or Walmart had it, there was a good chance a package would soon be on its way.

Family was an important part of Lillian's life. She was the mother of three children: Julia Craig, who preceded her in death; beloved Christopher Early; and Deborah Fowlis.

Julia was the mother of Matthew Craig, Andrew Craig, and Laura Stokes. Deborah is the mother of Chad Hare, Brad Hare, and Tennille Hare. Lillian was the proud grandmother of six and great-grandmother of five.

Lillian was also part of a large extended family. Her close sister Arvella Phillips and Arvella's late husband, Harry, have a daughter, Linda Smith.

Her brother, Dominic Colasante, II, preceded her in death. He and his wife, Barbara, have five children Sharon Nichols, Teresa, Anthony, Angela and Michael and four grandchildren.

Her sister, Bena Manriquez, also preceded her in death. Bena had six children—Patty, Louise, Jean, Ron, Roy, and Diane—and a large extended family of children and grandchildren.

During her 99 years, Lillian saw the world change tremendously, but she never lost the qualities that made her unmistakably herself. She worked hard, enjoyed a good meal, loved to shop, kept up with what was happening in the world, had an opinion when something needed saying, and maintained her sense of humor throughout it all.

Lillian will be remembered for the life she lived, the stories she told, the meals she made, the laughter she brought to her family, and the generations that came after her.

Her family will miss her greatly and will have 99 years' worth of stories and memories to keep her close for years to come.

A private graveside will be held at a later date at Sunset Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to Transitions Hospice, 250 E. Wilson Bridge Rd, Suite 110, Worthington, OH 43085.

Visit www.schoedinger.com to extend condolences or share a favorite memory.