Lillian Passage

PHOENIX – Lillian Mary Passage passed away peacefully on June 9, 2020 in Phoenix, Arizona from a lengthy illness. She was 89. Lil was born in Clifton, New Jersey on November 5, 1930, the oldest child of Peter and Suzie Gula, (Lazorchak). She grew up in Heilwood, Pennsylvania where her father worked in the coal mines while her mother raised eight children. Lil graduated from Pine Township high school in Heilwood in 1948. Her father unexpectedly died from black lung at age 46 a few years later. Lil met and was swept off her feet by Gerard “Jerry” Passage. The two married in 1951 and settled in Phoenix, Arizona. Lil was a loving and wonderful wife for Jerry, who passed in 1994 from lung cancer at age 69. Lil and Jerry had three kids, Diane (1955), Raymond (1958) and Kathleen (1962). Despite working fulltime jobs outside of the home and raising her children, she never complained or rarely asked for help. Lil cherished her family and often put their needs and wants before hers’s. She was an ideal role model, teaching her children respect, kindness and generosity toward all people and having patience, positivity, perseverance, strong work ethic and to be down to earth. With her upbeat, outgoing personality, contagious laugh and signature expression of joy, “Whoo!”, Lil easily made friends throughout her long life. She maintained relationships for many years, including neighbors she first met in the 1950s. Lil never forgot a relative or a friend’s birthday. One would expect a phone call and/or receive a carefully selected Hallmark card and a letter written in her unique penmanship style. Lil worked at GE and Honeywell in Phoenix as a secretary in the 1960s and 1970s. After Jerry passed away, Lil retired and bought a condo in the Moon Valley Phoenix neighborhood in 1995. She had many interests and activities. Lil loved music, often singing and whistling to favorite songs, such as “Some Where My Love”, “Blue Spanish Eyes”, “Rambling Rose”, “Tiny Bubbles” and “Please Release Me”. She also loved dancing, especially the Polka. With her sharp mind and extensive vocabulary, Lil enjoyed challenging her mind working puzzles, like crossword puzzles and jumbo puzzles. She also loved jigsaw puzzles and word games, like scrabble and rummikub. Lil liked to socialize with friends playing cards and bunco. She was also a member of the Red Hat Society and a Bunco group. Lil loved to travel and enjoyed vacationing in Switzerland, Canada, the Northwest and cruises to Mexico and Alaska. In the last 25 years of her life, she spent summers in Edmonds Washington to get relief from the harsh Phoenix heat. Lil absolutely adored her grandchildren and tried to spend time with them as much as possible. Becoming a grandmother and later a great grandmother were joyous occasions in her life.

Lillian is survived by her three children, Diane, Raymond and Kathleen; six grandchildren and six great grandchildren; three siblings, Dotty, Ronald and Barbara and numerous nieces and nephews. A memorial to honor Lillian’s life is planned in early November in Phoenix.