A Lamed-Vavnik has fallen

My mother, Lillian A Fisher was born in Brooklyn to Polish immigrants on the first day of Spring, March 21, 1922. Much later she lived in Culver City for 61 years. Lillian lived by the same advice she gave others "Everyday accomplish three things: learn something new, have humor, and do a Mitzvah (good deed). And do you know which of these is the most important?", she'd point out "The second one, have humor!", and then she'd tell you a great joke. My mother lived a rich and full life because she was a rich and full being who made good and more out of just about everything. My mother received the outstanding teacher award many times over.Her students, now with families of their own, exclaim she was one of their all-time favorites and that her lessons were so much fun. My mother was creative, artsy, smart, sharp-witted and funny. After her children were grown she learned to ride a bike, became a Bat Mitzvah, enrolled in many courses, created art projects, traveled, attended clown camp, and was an enthusiastic folk dancer for four decades. She loved music and dance and was an outstanding dancer, a gene she inherited from her father and passed to her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was generous and thoughtful of others. She respected life and counted her blessings. She taught us to do the same. The "big family" she always wanted, for whom she lived, and of whom she was so proud began with the birth of Arlene Joan (Kramer) in 1945, followed by Sherrie Ann (Bobrosky) in 1952, Peggy Sue (Fisher) in 1957 and Debra Lynn (Lichstein) in 1960. Her sons in law, seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren also richly blessed her life.

My mom's life was not easy, nor simple. She took nothing for granted, she earned everything she had, and she did it with the wind in her face. She asked for very little, except for one thing, respect. She taught us, her four daughters, to respect all of life, nature, animals, humans, especially our elders, and to give selflessly. When asked, she recited Stephen Grellet's quote as her view of life: "I shall pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again."As she was born in 1922, shortly after women could first exercise their right to vote, my mother talked about the upcoming election for months, wondering if she would live long enough to see a woman become president. Upon hearing the election results, with her New York inflection she said "For this I stayed alive?"The following day at the age of 94 1/2, in the wee hours of November 10, 2016, Lillian passed away in her sleep, while holding hands with me at her home of 61 years in Culver City. "My Love," her one-of-a-kind canine companion, walking partner, and the key to her longevity, survived Lillian by one week. Two peas in a pod, they left together, and those of us who knew them are better for the time we shared. *Lamed-VavnikIn every generation there are 36 just, righteous, yet hidden human beings who hold up the world. The Lamed-Vavnik perform small acts of kindness and righteousness that may seem insignificant in the eyes of passers by. But God watches and knows the sum of these small acts serve to uphold the world. Please join us on Saturday, March 25 for a tribute to honor her life at the Culver City Senior Center. Come wiggle your tush, clap and cheer for any part or the whole schmear! Info: (310) 463-0098