Lillian C Wallace

Lillian Catherine Wallace, age 98, of Santa Clara, CA peacefully passed away on Wednesday, February 15, 2023 while on an extended visit with her daughter in Texas. Predeceased by her husband, Joseph, she is survived by 4 children, 15 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren.

Lillian Wallace is recalled by immediate and extended family as a woman with the heart of an angel and the spirit of a warrior, a resilience for making the best of every day and situation, a witty sense of humor, smile, and a generous spirit. Her children, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews frequently expressed she was an example of love.

She embraced time for all: at family potlucks hosted or attended, watching classic and old movies with her children and grandchildren, guiding them through crossword puzzles, reading the funny pages together, going to Burger King after school and Toys R Us on birthdays. AND nuts and chews, See's Candies were always a treat, whether birthdays, holidays or whatever.

Holiday dinners, especially Christmas were roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, and for her - canned cranberries; other holidays, mint jelly with Lamb. Regardless of what others chose.

She always welcomed family, whether son-in-law, Jav, while in town on business or grandson, Jared, staying with her attending Westwood Elementary and Wm. A. Wilson Intermediate schools. AND then there were also the Friday night gatherings with daughters, sisters-in-law and nieces after they finished their hospital shifts when everything changed gear to snacks, Tacos, fish n' chips, and other assorted take-out; coffee table full of M & M's and mixed nuts.

Santa Clara became her home in 1953 and she remained in her house on Bohannon Drive for the next 61 years. As the mother of 4 children, Michael, Anne, Patrick, and Jo-Marie she made friends among neighbors as school events occurred, or general kid games sprung up on the block.

As she settled in Santa Clara, she became involved with St. Justin's Church - literally a converted stable at the corner of Homestead Road and Hedding St. She applied her time and talents to God, joining the choir, becoming involved with CCD and continuing with both activities when the new St. Justin’s was built, also on Homestead Road. Over the years she expanded her activities to include teaching CCD to Westwood Elementary School students in her garage, and later taught many of the same students at Saturday CCD when they entered Wm. A. Wilson Intermediate School. She also expanded her parish involvement upon joining the St. Justin’s Ladies Guild, becoming President for 3 terms.

Following the death of her husband, Joseph, in 1990, she became a volunteer at Kaiser. During the next 20 years she provided information desk support, assisted patients to and from vehicles, provided menus and lastly, mentored student interns.

Selling the Bohannon home in 2014 she moved to Brookdale Senior Living Apartments in Blossom Hill, San Jose until moving in with son, Pat and wife, Kathy where she remained for 3 years. In April 2022 Lillian left for an extended visit in TX with daughter, Anne and son-in-law, Frank.

While in Texas Lillian was admitted to in-hospital hospice care and on February 15, 2023 died peacefully.

Little did Lillian likely know that she would leave a rich legacy among her 4 children, 15 grandchildren, and 15 great grandchildren.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.limafamilysantaclara.com for the Wallace family.