Like most Jewish mothers, Lillian loved preparing a feast for the Jewish Holidays. Whenever we could get to New Jersey, she always made a banquet, and even in her little apartment, she would include her sister and brother-in-law, Helen and Abe. She often also included my father and whichever of my siblings were at home.
You can be sure that she made chopped liver as an appetizer and chicken soup with matzoh balls and toasted matzah farfel as the first course. I had never tasted, or heard of, toasted matzah farfel until she made it and it became a favorite of mine. I could just eat it as a snack. I believe she got the recipe from her mother, Katie Drucker Kirsch, as Kirsch family cousins of Stan’s have the recipe for it, too.
When she moved up to Cheshire, she started the tradition of having us over for dinner on the first night of Rosh HaShannah. She bought a special set of new dishes so her table would look special.
Then she would come to our house for the other holidays.
When we moved into our house, Lillian embroidered two beautiful tablecloths for us. One I used for Rosh HaShanah, and one I used for Passover. She also made challah and matzoh covers, and a pillowcase to cover a pillow for reclining on Passover.
Of course, whenever she came over after moving to Cheshire, she always brought her chopped liver and toasted matzoh farfel with her, among other things.
She enjoyed buying presents for her grandsons for Chanukah, and new underwear and socks for her son. There was always something for me, too.
She passed away on December 24, 1991. However, she waited to celebrate one last Chanukah with us.
That year Chanukah was celebrated from Sunday, December 1st through Monday, December 9th. I probably had our extended family Chanukah party on either the 7th or 8th. Lillian was struggling with her health but really wanted to be with us. Stan picked her up and somehow pushed her wheelchair up the muddy, back hill to get her into the house through the deck door.
A gift she brought with her was a fly swatter she made at the Senior Center for its Holiday Bazaar.
I ended up calling the Senior Center and ordering more of them. I wanted everyone who was there that Chanukah to have one last hand-made item from her.
At right: how it looks in 2023
Although she was weak and could not talk easily, we know she enjoyed the chaos of the day and everyone enjoyed seeing her. It turned out to be very special that she struggled so hard to be with us all one last time.
At right: Lillian and Aunt Lois Blieden
Lillian watching the kids open their presents
Brad bringing Harrison to meet Lillian
Lillian even got to give out one last baby afghan to my nephew, Ben (at right). Sue Blieden is holding the afghan and Marissa is looking on.
