Elizabeth Lilla

Elizabeth Caroline Lilla, age 100, of Sacramento, CA died August 30, 2012 at Saylor Lane Healthcare in Sacramento. Elizabeth was born September 18, 1911 to Edward and Clara Lilla in Comfrey, MN. Her parents both passed away within days of one another in the 1918 influenza epidemic. She was raised from that point by her grandparents, Peter and Caroline Lilla. At age 5, Elizabeth was afflicted by polio, a condition that resulted in reconstructive surgery at age 8 and a lifelong commitment to wearing a right leg brace. She was educated at St. Paul''s Catholic School and Comfrey High School, graduating in 1929. Elizabeth was undaunted by the challenges of the Depression era that coincided with her passage into adulthood. She took a position at an Indian reservation in South Dakota, where she remained for five years and made many lifelong friends. She then attended Mankato Commercial College and took another position as a bookkeeper at Hubbard Milling in Mankato before moving to Los Angeles, CA in 1938 to live with her aunt, Mae (Bertrand) Breslin. Once in Los Angeles, she worked for I. Magnin and Security Pacific Bank before moving into what would be a 20 year career as a legal secretary at Bodkin, Breslin and Luddy. In 1966 she returned to Security Pacific Bank as executive secretary for Mr. James Sheldon, Mr. Rude, Mr. George Moody until 1984. Even then, she remained active as a secretary for several private clients. Elizabeth attended Cathedral Chapel of Saint Vibiana and was an active volunteer at the Good Shepherd Center for Homeless Women in Los Angeles. Elizabeth was a striking example of someone who became stronger from having faced adversity. She was loyal, honest and professional in all of her work activities while being very warm and generous in her personal life. She was adventuresome, traveling by air to maintain family connections at a time when air travel was rare for the general public. When she couldn''t visit in person, she maintained her relationships through regular exchanges of letters over many years. She could be a woman of few words in a business setting or a long-distance phone call, and yet carry a conversation with her cheerful and engaging personality in a social setting. In recent years, failing health necessitated that Elizabeth move to Sacramento, CA where she resided at Mercy McMahon Terrace, an assisted living facility and then at Saylor Lane Healthcare Center. Her sister, Marie, continued to be her companion and, along with a nephew, to oversee her care until her passing. Elizabeth Lilla is survived by her sister, Marie F. Schaefer of Sacramento, CA, and by her nieces and nephews, the children of her brothers, Arthur Lilla of Comfrey, MN and Edward Lilla of Spokane, WA. Her brothers predeceased her. Visitation 9:00 am - 10:00 am Saturday, September 8, 2012 St. Paul Catholic Church, Comfrey 218 Field St. N Comfrey, Minnesota, United States 56019 Service Information 10:00 am Saturday, September 8, 2012 St. Paul Catholic Church, Comfrey 218 Field St. N Comfrey, Minnesota, United States 56019