Lillian "Lilly" Louise Harnitchek

June 22,1928-January 21, 2021. Lillian Louise Harnitchek, née Peuhs age 92, passed away with her family at her side. "Lilly", as she was known to her family and friends, was born in Mobile, Alabama to Mr. and Mrs. John L. A. Peuhs. After high school she attended Judson Baptist College in Marion, Alabama and later transferred to Florida State University. In 1950 she met a young pilot from Philadelphia, USAF Capt. John J. Harnitchek. They married a few months later and were together for nearly 60 years. Her husband's military transfers took them from Washington, D.C. to Biloxi, Mississippi, and later to Chateauroux, France. Lilly and John wanted a large family and each year they were blessed with a new baby. In 1965 they returned to the states with their 10 children, 6 girls and 4 boys. John's last military assignment was Norton AFB in San Bernardino, California and the family settled into an historic home in nearby Highland. Lilly enrolled her children in Catholic school, encouraged them to study, and saved in order to afford college. At church on Sundays the family of 12 filled a pew. In the summertime they packed into a camper and drove across the country to visit cousins in Florida and Pennsylvania. Lilly was a pianist and loved playing Chopin and she also taught her children and grandchildren to play. She had a beautiful whistle and loved singing Nat King Cole songs with her grandson Joe, and her memory for the lyrics of old time songs was remarkable. She loved animals and this characteristic was passed down to her children. She enjoyed feeding the opossums that visited her back porch, quietly watching them from behind her kitchen blind. In her later years she owned and managed a family rental business. Lilly was a long time member of Saint Adelaide Catholic Church. She was preceded in death by her husband John, eldest son John ("Bud") and her brother John Peuhs. She leaves behind 9 children, (Karen, Mary-Ann, Vicky, Christine, Paul, Laura, Doug, Celia and Bryan) 21 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, one brother, Rhody Peuhs and many nieces and nephews.