Lillian Morris

Lillian Francis Gitlen Morris, age 92, passed away on April 22, 2016 at 4:28 in the morning after battling cancer. That is how she passed. Here is how she lived... She was born in 1923 in Vernon, Connecticut in the family’s farm house. Her childhood was spent with her grandparents, parents (Sam and Sophie Gitlen), and her two sisters, Shirley Schachter and Ruth Kessler. The escapades they had on the farm are the stuff of family legend and lore -- hiding in the apple trees from their Hebrew teacher is a particular favorite. She went to work right out of high school as a bookkeeper working directly for Franklin Roosevelt (which is how she told it, even if that isn't historically accurate). Her family moved to South Florida in 1947 to open a series of convalescent homes. Sam ran them, Sophie did the cooking, Lillian the bookkeeping, and Ruthie & Shirley were the nurses. These were among the first integrated nursing homes in South Florida. In 1955, she married Frank Morris with whom she raised two boys, David and Wayne. Family was the essence of Lillian's life. Her apartment is filled with hundreds of photographs commemorating the fun they had. Even in the months before her passing, she was playing Canasta and Mah Jong, playing the slots at the casino, and spending time with family and friends. A broken arm years ago meant that bowling had to stop much to her sadness. But luckily, there was Wii bowling for special times. Jewish life was central to her world. She was sisterhood president and an active member of synagogues and Rebekahs her whole life. Her family loved and adored her. She had six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Their accomplishments and joys were hers. She often knew their secrets first -- whispered to her loving ear. She will be missed. Endlessly.

She is survived by her sister, Ruth Kessler; her two sons & their wives, David & Eleanor Morris of South Florida and Wayne & Naomi Morris of Winter Springs; and her grandchildren: Pam Morris & David Bach of Houston, Texas, Cindy Morris of Stony Brook, New York, Erik & Tiffany Morris of Haines City, Jonathan & Sara Morris of New York City, Dionne & Justin Foley of Winter Springs, and Liz Morris of Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Her great-grandchildren include: Benjamin & Jackson, Sophie & Alexander, Alice & Wes, and Una. She also leaves behind her niece and husband, Lisa Schachter and Dennis Gilman.

Services will be held at Menorah Gardens at 10:00am, 21100 Griffin Road, Southwest Ranches, FL 33332. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to V Foundation for Cancer Research, 14600 Weston Parkway, Cary, NC 27513 or B'Nai Aviv 1410 Indian Trace, Weston, FL 33326