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Lillian Helen Stern

Lillian Helen (Trewin) Stern, 91, of Peconic Landing in Greenport and formerly of East Marion, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Flushing, died Sunday, May 23, 2010, at Eastern Long Island Hospital in Greenport after a brief illness.

She was born in New York City on May 11, 1919, the daughter of William and Helen (Gyves) Trewin. She graduated from Jamaica High School in Jamaica, N.Y., and went on to business/secretarial school.

Lillian was originally a bank teller. She married Leopold Stern on Dec. 6, 1941, and after having her first child, she no longer worked at the bank. Then her life was devoted to taking care of her children and husband.

She loved to travel and did so as often as she could. She and her husband traveled extensively throughout the United States and the world. She also loved to dance, paint, play golf, snow ski, ice skate, sail, go motorboating and play cards; attend cooking classes, concerts, dance performances and the theater; and be a Brownie and Girl Scout leader and a Cub Scout den leader. In addition, she volunteered at Booth Memorial Hospital in Flushing.

Once her husband retired in 1978, they sold their home in New York City and bought a condo in Fort Lauderdale. From that time on, they spent summers in East Marion at their lovely bayfront home and winters in Fort Lauderdale. They enjoyed 30 wonderful years of retirement living, enjoying traveling and being with family and friends, until her husband of 63 years passed away in 2004. And of course she loved to be with friends. She and her husband had a very full social life. She loved life!

Lillian was a fun-loving, kind, gentle, easygoing woman. Everyone loved being with her. She used to be very vibrant and bubbly but in the last few years had become very quiet. Most people enjoyed her quietness since it allowed them to talk more! She loved being a “nana” and was loved dearly by her children, her grandchildren and her friends. She will be terribly missed.

She is survived by a son, Lowell D. Stern of Bedford, Mass.; a daughter, Lynnell E. Stern of Lexington, Mass.; a sister-in-law, Angeline E. Schwartz of Waltham, Mass.; six grandchildren; and one great-grandson.

Viewing was held at Horton-Mathie Funeral Home in Greenport on May 26. A funeral service was held at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Greenport on May 27. Burial and graveside prayer followed at East Marion Cemetery.

For those who wish, contributions in Ms. Stern’s name may be made to Holy Trinity Episcopal Church or Eastern Long Island Hospital.