We met Lillian exactly 30 years ago, in October 1991, just two weeks after our plane from the Soviet Union landed on American soil. Lillian was then working as a volunteer in the Jewish Federation, and there she was given the address of our refuge in Skokiе. Lillian called and asked if she could visit us, and the next day there was a knock on the door. On the threshold of our tiny apartment stood a very elegant woman, slender and with a kind smile on her face. Entering the rooms, she exclaimed: "Why are you all so thin ?!" Lillian spent three hours with us while we told her why we were so thin.
A few days later, at the invitation of Lillian, we went to her house where she lived with her husband Morris, who was a very interesting person with great dignity and strength of a man who gave his life to his profession. Since then, we have become close friends, so close that it often felt like we were one family. When Lillian was admitted to the hospital and I ran into her room, a nurse came in and asked Lillian who I was. Lillian replied, "Dina is my sister."
In such a relationship, Lillian and I spent all these decades, until we were torn apart by the pandemic. Lillian personified the soul of the American land, which we love with hope to this day. Lillian was a true patriot of her homeland.
I can never forget the days and evenings I spent with Lillian. We called each other almost every day, shared the most intimate, told each other our lives filled with female secrets.
Lillian was a very strong person, she never complained or was discouraged, she drove in a car in any weather, and even when no one was driving into the streets, Lillian still got behind the wheel. Once in the winter time she got bored during the day, she called me and said: "Winter promises to be long. I will change the floor in the kitchen." I objected and reminded her that she had already changed the floor two years ago, and then Lillian answered: "But I stopped loving this floor. "
And I loved her very much for that. Lillian always made irrevocable decisions and conquered all doubts.
Neither I nor my family will ever be able to forget Lillian, who has always been with us, in happiness and sorrow.
Our hearts go Lilian's family.
We love you forever, dear Lilian.
Dina (Ramis) and Kate (Terry)
Dina Azrikan
November 18, 2021
