Lillian May Wilde, age 85 of Milford, devoted wife to the late Frank Wilde, Sr., passed away peacefully on Monday, September 11, 2017, surrounded by family. Born May 17, 1932 in Old Town, Maine, she was one of eleven siblings born to the late Leroy and Nina Feero.

Lillian, also known as “Lil” or “Diamond” was a fun-loving, generous, and caring person, always ready to lend a helping hand. Despite her diminutive stature, she was an independent person and a force to be reckoned with. She worked many years as a cashier, greeting every customer with genuine friendliness and a playful comment, most notably at Farace’s Market in Orange for over 20 years, but also in Milford businesses such as Harrison’s, Jennefer’s and others. Lil was also active in politics; a long-time member of the Milford Republican Town Committee, a polling place moderator, and an elected official on the Planning & Zoning Board for eight years.

A devoted mother and grandmother, Lil served as PTA President for many years and was always the Room Mother, continuing that tradition into her grandchildren’s school years, when she would provide dozens of her famous sugar cookies and gingerbread men for parties and special events. She attended as many of her children’s and grandchildren’s activities and events as humanly possible, and was especially involved with La Leche League and Girl Scouts. She was utterly delighted to help her granddaughter during cookie season, when Lil could always be found with a box or two in her bag, helping to sell approximately 100 boxes of cookies each year. Her family was of the utmost importance to her, filling her with so much happiness and pride.

Over the years her hobbies included growing roses and indoor plants, cooking large holiday dinners and baking decorative cakes and cookies. She was an absolutely prolific and speedy knitter, creating hundreds of sweaters, scarves, mittens, hats, blankets, and Christmas stockings. She loved watching Jeopardy with her daughter, and funny movies such as Home Alone with her grandchildren. In recent years, she also enjoyed watching and recounting the antics of her beloved pets Snickers and Toby. She was active at the Milford Senior Center, stopping in almost daily to play cards and bingo, and always had a great time assisting with the 50/50 raffle for Club C.

Lillian is survived by her loving family members, Helen (Clint) LaPlant, Frank (Kathleen) Wilde, Jr., Pat Willette, and Terri (Ron) Brothers; grandchildren Alexandra (Nick), Jacob, Amandra, Arwen, Julia, Jillian, Jenna, Frank III, Maurice, Missy (Bill), Jenny (Greg), Julie (Matt), Steven (Annie), and Bryan (Erin); step-granddaughters Avery and Maeve; great-grandchildren Christopher, Jade, Hannah, Matthew, Anthony, Rachel, Luke, Brooke, Bradley, and Brandee; as well as many others in the extended family.

A Funeral Service will take place on Friday, September 15, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. at Wildermere Beach Congregational Church, 133 Broadway, Milford, CT. Burial will follow at Kings Highway Cemetery, 271 Cherry St., Milford, CT. Friends and family are invited to call on Thursday, September 14, 2017 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the CODY-WHITE FUNERAL HOME, 107 Broad St., Milford, CT.

Donations to La Leche League of Connecticut can be made in memory of Diamond Lil at paypal.me/LLLCT or checks may be sent to La Leche League of Connecticut c/o 275 Hill Road, Harwinton, CT 06791.