Lillian Lawson

Lillian Lawson, beloved wife of the late William K. Lawson, Jr. went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, May 21, 2014 several days after emergency surgery at Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia, WA.

She was born in Providence, RI on October 18, 1927 to Michael and Pauline (Soloduk) Alexuk, first generation immigrants to the United States from Russia shortly before the Bolshevik Revolution. One of eight children, she was raised and educated in Peabody, MA graduating from Peabody High School with the class of 1945. Before marrying her husband in 1950, Lillian was employed by Sylvania Lighting, working in the data processing dept. After Bill’s service in the U.S. Navy, they returned to Peabody, where together they made their home and raised their three children.

Lillian was a wife and mother known for her great cooking, tidy home and beautiful flower gardens. Her favorite times were spent with her children at the beach, in the backyard pool, competing in board games, and attending all their school and sporting events. As a family, all enjoyed vacations on Cape Cod, visits to Fenway Park, long drives along the beautiful north shore of New England, building sandcastles and swimming in the Atlantic especially at Good Harbor Beach in Gloucester, her husband’s hometown.

Over the years, Lillian enjoyed many interest: playing the piano, knitting, gardening, sewing, walking, decorating, reading, Bible study and sacred and classical music. For several years she was a piano instructor giving private lessons in her home. Being the first music teacher of her granddaughters, it gave her special joy that two have become professional musicians and all three use their talents in serving the Lord.

Lillian had a generous heart contributing to various charities and Christian ministries having a special burden that the gospel of Jesus Christ reach His chosen People. She and her husband were thankful to have been able to visit the Holy Land in 1997.

She is survived by daughters Laurie Patten and her husband Lance of Phillips, ME, Debra Funchion and her husband Michael of Olympia, WA; son William K. Lawson III of Olympia, WA; five grandchildren, Gary Patten of Marina Del Rey, CA, Adam Patten of San Diego, CA, Erin Zwart and her husband Mark of Coopersburg, PA, Julie Funchion of Olympia, WA, Nadine Bozeman and her husband Deron of Olympia, WA; two great-grandsons Samuel and Gabriel Zwart of Coopersburg, PA; sister Marion March of Lombard, IL; brother Howard Alexuk of Westerly, RI and several nieces and nephews. She was a sister of the late Michael Alexuk, Alice Ratican, Sylvia Bozek, Helen O’Neil and John Alexuk.

The family wishes to extend special thanks to all her caregivers on floor seven of Providence St. Peter Hospital and will be forever grateful for their dedication and compassionate care.

A funeral service was held at Mills & Mills Funeral Home, 5725 Littlerock Rd. SW, Tumwater, WA 98512. Lillian will be laid to rest during a private family interment service at later date at Mills & Mills Memorial Park.

Memorials may be made in Lillian’s name to The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministries, Inc., P.O. Box 908, Bellmawr, NJ 08099.

Arrangements under the direction of Mills & Mills Funeral Home and Memorial Park, Tumwater, WA.