Sad news

I shall really miss her. We "talked" a lot via Facebook, late in the evenings, and talked of anything and everything. Lucille was not the "sweet little old lady" type of Florida retiree by any means. A true New Yorker, she still missed the city, and at times wished she had not moved down here, and had stayed in her beloved NY. A very smart, and intelligent woman. As Cheryl and Linda can attest, she was a formidable opponent at Lexulous (a form of Scrabble), and won a majority of her games. She and I always had a game going online, and I still look at the site, just out of habit.

She did lovely needlework...I saw a lot of it when I visited her last year, and had plans for more projects; not little fun quickies. No, not for Lucille; she wanted something that was a challenge, and from which she would learn.

Puff was a cute little dog, and you could see her face soften when she talked to him. She really loved the little guy; he was the light of her life.

She lived about 3-4 hours away from me, so I booked into a hotel for two nights, and was able to spend much time with her. I am now so glad I made the effort, and wished I had done it again this year.

RIP, dear friend.

Gillian

I will miss her a lot too!

going off to have a quiet cry - I'd call her just to talk sometimes! Got her to laugh last time we talked with DD's latest bit of craziness.

Cheryl

Thank you for posting this.

I so enjoyed talking with Lucille, as she seemed to share a lot of common background with my family, and though younger, reminded me a lot of my DM - that Brooklyn, worked in the city, moved to Florida thing.

Feeling a bit terrible, as we kept talking about what we would do when I next came to FL, and sadly for so many reasons, had cancelled trips in the past couple of years. I know that losing Puff was such a hard thing for her, and so as you say, I can only imagine this being a release for her. Talking on speakerphone, those of us who spoke with her could no doubt feel her drifting away.

I'll really miss her - and know that even if it seems sappy, or naïve, in many ways this group that has communicated for so many years is indeed a family with true feelings. When Olwyn Mary passed on, it really shocked me that one of our group was gone. Lucille will indeed be missed. I shall try to honor her in our common heritage, it's something we shared....

I suspect that there will be some directions about charitable contributions in her name when/if Pat has an obituary published. For those who don't know

- flowers are not sent for Jewish funeral services - just not what we do.

Ah, we'll all have to share some virtual hugs in our own Steel Magnolias kind of way.

Ellice

I hope there is something we can give to. If not, I suggest animal welfare associations or Jewish welfare organizations.

Rest well my friend - you will be missed.

Linda

I'm happy to know that she didn't have to be alone, without Puff for too long. Lucille will be sorely missed by this group. One of the original GOWs has taken the trip to the Rainbow Bridge and will be much happier now, I am sure. Give 'em hell Luciller!!! CiaoMeow>^;;^<

PAX, Tia Mary /\__/]

Thanks for posting this. We will all miss Lucille. She brightened my day anytime she posted.

Nancy

Poor Lucille - I know she has suffered for ages, and I know how she will have missed Puff - as someone else remarked, she had nothing to keep her here. I think we may well feel like that when our Maggie goes (not yet, I hope!) We`ve had a pretty horrendous time since Christmas, and sometimes it does become a burden you want to lay down.

Pat

I think that Lucille would love donations to animal welfare in her name. Also, traditionally for Jewish families, donations go to planting trees (frequently in Israel), Jewish Home for the Aged, and women often give to Hadassah - which is an organization of Jewish women that does charitable works (and has it's own social stuff). As Lucille did not have family to do the official "Shiva" for her, even though she wasn't very religious, many of us feel the cultural, and traditional sense to do this. So, I'm doing the mourning prayers and have asked my rabbi to add Lucille to our congregational family for prayers. We have a pretty non-traditional congregation, and our new rabbi is a woman from Australia - we every week add names in service to the prayers for healing, etc, and for mourning. So I know that Lucille will be remembered in perpetuity thru this connection - and of course through all of us.

I'm guessing that Sheena or Gill might hear from Pat, and I'll keep checking the St Lucie Times obit site to see if any information gets posted.

Ellice

Her niece is out in the Far East and it will be awhile before she gets back and anything much is done I gather.

I will keep you informed.

I'm so sorry to hear this. I always enjoyed her participation in the group!

just me, Cathy from KY in CA

Did you know, Ellice, that in her working years Lucille was the Executive Secretary at Hadassah in NY? She met a lot of interesting people, some of whom I had heard of.

She has it on her Facebook page, so I know that this is no secret.

Gill

OK I have heard from Pat and she tells me ASPCA, that Lucille left a generous amount to them. So I intend to send a donation in memory of Puff, Lucille would have liked that.

There will not be a religious service.

One word PERFECT!!!!!

Gill

Yes, I thought so, true to form :)

We actually had spoken about this. My mother worked for Jewish Family Services in NYC, and some of my earliest memories of trips to the city are visiting her work colleagues. I think their work experiences were pretty similar - though my DM would be a few years older than Lucille. Who knows - they could've run into each other through work - or other connections - all those women from Brooklyn - same high school - but my DM left to finish school in Fla. The other thing was that I suspect in the 50s-60s it was the social thing that Jewish women did - and I remember going with my DM to her Hadassah bowling league - I couldn't have been more than 3 or 4.

Thanks for putting it up, anyhow.

Ellice

Exactly - thanks for finding out, passing it on.

Ellice

So sorry to hear about dear Lucille - she was a lovely lady who contributed a lot to this group. She'll certainly be missed. Hopefully she's at peace now and maybe with her beloved Puff. Bless her heart.

Sharon (N.B.)

My donation goes out tomorrow.

Linda