Lillian Laverne Toms

Lillian Toms

PEORIA – Lillian L. Toms, 88, of Dixon, died Sunday, Aug. 22, 2010, at her daughter’s house after an extended illness. She was a cook at Dixon State School for many years.

Mrs. Toms was born Oct. 9, 1921, in Woosung, the daughter of Henry E. and Hattie (Kunde) Hackbarth. She married James E. Toms on March 29, 1952, in Dixon.

Survivors include her husband; one daughter, Elaine (Terry) Simmons of Peoria; three sons, Henry (Dianna) Toms and Richard Toms, both of Dixon, and Ronald (Wendy) Allen of Harmon; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by two daughters, three sons, three sisters, four brothers, one granddaughter, and several great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral service will be at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Dixon, with the Rev. Frank Langholf officiating.

Burial will be at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Dixon. Visitation will be from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at the church. Arrangements were completed by Chapel Hill Funeral Home, Dixon.

In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established to Dixon Masonic Lodge; St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tenn.; Immanuel Lutheran Church, Dixon; and Rock River Hospice.

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A Tribute to Aunt Lillian

From: Diane Palmer

August 25, 2010, 3:36 PM

Today I had the opportunity to attend the funeral for Aunt Lillian.

To some of you she was your aunt, to some she was a great-aunt and to some she was your great-great aunt.

To Uncle Jim and Elaine, you provided a wonderful send-off for Aunt Lillian. She would have been pleased by the musical selections, the verses that were shared and the number of people that attended. The sermon message that Pastor Frank prepared was to me right on the money as to what she was like. Rest assured now that she is watching over you and will guide you the rest of the days of your life. Yes, Uncle Jim she will be watching over you and smiling.

To those of us that attended the service today we were able to pay our respects to a grand lady.

For those of you who were unable to attend today I would ask that you spend a couple of minutes and lift up Aunt Lillian in prayer. She at some time in your life gave you a memory that you now can treasure as you move forward with your life.

For those of you who have not had the chance to meet Aunt Lillian, you have missed the opportunity to know a very great person. She was there when you needed her. She would have given you the world. She would have shared stories with you that would make you laugh or cry.

Aunt Lillian will be missed. Her hugs are gone, but memories of her will remain.

The greatest person here on earth

has left us today

She found the hand of Jesus

and he led her on her way

She is walking with the Saviour

He is helping her along

The doors of heaven are opening

And the angels are singing her song

She is leaving us for now

To be with her family up above

But she knows how much we will miss her

and she is sending us her love

She has given us the memories

She told stories of yesteryear

She is now with the saints in heaven

But her memories are always near.

Aunt Lillian has left us today

To go where there is no pain

We will always think about her

until we meet again.

Here's to you Aunt Lilly.

May you be in peace with the Lord.

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I will miss having a cup (or 6) of coffee with her and catching up on all the family news. And hearing the stories of when Mom and all the Hackbarth kids were younger. And hearing stories about all the kids she babysat thru the years.

Anita z.

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I will miss all the quilts she made for our grandkids, we have a new one 8 wks old and will miss one for her. I especially will love and treasure the 2 she made for us.

Karen

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I will miss her cooking. Especially the cinnamon buns!

Kathy Freese

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How do I put into words what Aunt Lily meant to me. She always loved me, and hugged me so tight. The best memory I have was from 2007, when I brought Sue Krug with me to visit Aunt Lily and Uncle Jim, she opened the door and said, "Hello, this is my Shirley and this is my Sue". And with that we sat and reminisced about all about my mom, Tudy, and Aunt Lorraine. She always showed her love in so many ways. When I visited her in 2008, she insisted that I have some of her mememtoes. She finally gave me two little sewing machines, that I treasure.

I cannot forget Uncle Jim, so happy and so full of tales. Every time I visited, he gave me wood carvings that he had made. He finally helped me mow the lawn at Mom and Dad's house on Lincoln Ave, Dixon, after I had sweated my butt off for 2 months. Elaine is an angel on earth. I call her Sis3 because she has been like my third sister on this earth.

I will miss Aunt Lily dearly and hope that Mom and Aunt Lorraine are holding her in their warm and wonderful arms.

All my love,

Shirley

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I sit here thinking, for being one of the youngest grandkids of Marion, I seem to have the best memory. I can remember so many great memories of many great aunts and uncles and how each were special to me. Aunt Lillian, Some of my earlier memories were when her and uncle Jim lived over by the high school in Dixon. My mom (Linda), my stepdad Tony and I used to go there often. Many times Elaine and her family would be there and we would have some of the greatest times. Aunt Lillian was usually working on a quilt for someone and I loved looking at all the neat stuff she made. I remember going there and e could watch the fireworks right from their house (back when they set them off over on that side) She did give the greatest hugs. Then they moved over to 3rd street in Dixon and I was close enough to ride my bike and visit. On a few visits, when Aunt Lillian and Uncle Jim were not home, Dorothy lived there also upstairs and would answer and she would invite me to visit with her. I did not know her much before that. I remember they moved up near where they were currently living, and then soon after moved to the current house. We visited occasionally still but not as often. then when my mom got sick and moved closer to them I would sometimes see them outside and we would chat. Her and Uncle Jim became my Walmart buddies because we would often run into each other there. (He still is my Walmart buddy because still to this day we run into each other there lol) When I had my daughter I remember Aunt Lillian could not make my shower but she did come by another day to bring my baby girl a present and to say congratulations.

I was able to attend the services on Wednesday and it was a very beautiful service. She was loved by so many. I have some pictures I will look for soon and share of her and Uncle Jim's 50th wedding anniversary party and from a reunion that was back some years ago held in Mt. Morris.

Love and miss you Aunt Lillian you were a great lady who touched the lives of many.

From the desk of: Tina Adcock

Mom to Kerstyn 17 & Jayden 5

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