Interview on youtube.com. Enter Memories of Pearl Hamel Soderlund.
Lillian Hamel LaBelle Biography (1901-1979)
Lillian Marie Hamel was born May 30, 1901, at home on the farm of her parents Fred and Emilie Hamel. She was the second of five children and the first girl in her family. The farm was located about a mile outside of the village of Hamel, Minnesota. She attended grade school at the village school in Hamel. Many of the other students at the school were cousins of Lillian. She walked the distance from her home to school every day. She was very proud of her birthday because it was observed as a national holiday, Decoration Day.
Life on the farm was enjoyable for her as a child, but it also involved doing chores for her family. As more children were born to the family, it fell to Lillian to help her mother by looking after her younger siblings. She had a natural ability to relate to others and was able to bond easily with her brothers and sisters. The friendships that Lillian began with her brothers and sisters as a youth remained intact throughout her entire life. Her youngest sister, Pearl, was a sickly child and Lillian was often her guardian.
The family moved to Washington state in 1913 and again, it was Lillian who was the "mother" to the other younger children. The family returned from the west coast in the fall of 1914 because they had lost the farm in Washington. After returning to Minnesota, they settled in northeast Minneapolis, near to the home of Emilie's parents. The family joined the French church, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. It was at that church that Lillian made her First Communion the May 1915.
The neighborhood in northeast Minneapolis was made up of many immigrants form Canada, Poland and Eastern Europe. Because of her friendly good nature, Lillian once again made many friends. Her girl friends would introduce her to their brothers and their friends so Lillian had a quite broad circle of friends, both male and female. She began to date a young man who was a Catholic boy. The relationship grew serious and the boy asked Lillian to marry him. It was the custom to obtain the approval of one's parents when contemplating marriage. Because the young man's sister had been divorced, Emilie forbad the marriage, stating that there would be no hint of divorce in the Hamel family!
The family finances were in a shambles and the older children were called upon to find work to help out with expenses at home. Lillian sold cosmetics and perfumes for the Thomas Leeming Company for a while to help out. Lillian learned to sew from her mother, who had been a seamstress prior to her marriage. Lillian found work in the garment industry at that time, having left school after the eighth grade.
Lillian had endometriosis in the mid-1920's and was forced to undergo a hysterectomy. After the operation, she developed a massive infection of the peritoneum and nearly died. Lillian, who loved children so much, was never able to have her own children.
Through one of her friends, Lillian met Roy LaBelle and married him August 19, 1924 at Our Lady of Lourdes Church. Roy worked for the Northern Pacific Railroad. The couple bought a house on Queen Avenue North in Minneapolis. The house was tiny, having only one bedroom, because they did not want to have any outsiders living with them. It was only a short time until Roy's parents, Joe and Lizzie LaBelle, moved in with the young couple. Roy and Lil gave their bedroom to the older couple and slept on a rollaway bed in the dining room for the next 20 years. In 1949 they purchased a house on 26th and Humboldt in Minneapolis. This house had 3 bedrooms and so Roy and Lil had their own room. It was at that time that Lil's father, Fred Hamel, moved in with them. Both sets of parents continued to live with Roy and Lil until their deaths.
When the Great Depression struck Minneapolis in the early 1930's, Roy was forced to accept a demotion and go back to working in the railroad yards. The conditions were not good and the work was very cold or very hot and dangerous. It was not unusual for someone to be injured or even killed in switching accidents in the railroad yard.
Roy and Lil bought a used car in the middle 1930's. It was a better auto than they already owned. The problem with it was that it was a stolen vehicle. When the police found their car's owner, they were forced to return it to him, having lost the money they had paid the seller. They then bought another auto, which had a leaky roof. Roy parents often rode in the back seat with Lil and Roy. When it rained, Joe LaBelle would bring an umbrella to cover their heads in the back seat.
When Lil's brother Clarence was sent to prison, Lil and Roy bought Clarence's lake cabin at Lake Sylvia in Annandale, Minnesota. They both loved to fish and they often had their friends or relatives as guests.
Lil worked in the garment industry most of her adult life. Virtually ever job Lil held in the garment industry was found by her sister, Pearl. Lil did not like to seek employment herself. She was liked by everyone and eventually became active in the International Ladies Garment Worker's Union as the local's president. Though Lil was a retiring person, her demeanor made her liked and trusted by everyone.
Roy's job at the railroad made him eligible for free travel on the railroad. Roy did not like to travel. After Lil's sister, Doris and family moved to California in 1936, Lil traveled to visit them nearly every year. Lil had the wanderlust and traveled extensively. She maintained ties with her extended family by corresponding and visiting her friends and relatives. She maintained friendships with the childhood "girl's club" throughout her entire life.
In May 1949 Lil took her nephew, Bill Soderlund on a month long trip to Southern California. They visited many sights along the way and the trip was very exciting. She loved to show others a good time. Again in August 1951 they traveled to California for the profession of vows by her niece Pat Rooney. It was during this trip that Lil announced to Bill that she had quit smoking. Lil had been a heavy smoker for many years but gave it up for Lent after having a conversation with her brother Clarence about the danger of smoking. Clarence also was a heavy smoker and also quit after suffering a major heart attack in 1956.
Lil's faith was very important to her. It was not always so, however. As a young person, she had gone through the motions, but it was when she was about 46 or 47 years old that she again became a very faith filled Catholic. Reading the book "Seven Story Mountain" by Thomas Merton was a life-changing event for Lil. Lil together with Cliff and Tress Anderson, friends of Roy's, decided to take instruction in the Catholic faith at that time. Cliff had been a convert to the faith when he married Tress, but never practiced the faith. Together they all became very strong in their Catholic faith and that strength remained for the rest of their lives.
She had been the godmother for several of her nieces and nephews and also for children of her friends. In her later life, many of the gifts she gave to those godchildren were of the religious nature. Lil together with Billy visited many churches on Holy Thursday, as was the custom in those days. She also made it a point to visit shrines or churches on her many trips. She was the Chairwoman for the Bishops Clothes Appeal at Ascension Parish.
Lil's main hobbies were gardening and reading. On many occasions Lil would take a book and drive over to Victory Memorial Drive and sit under a tree and read. She and Mrs. LaBelle often did not get along and Lil left the house to gather her thoughts. She also had a very large iris bed in her garden and maintained many houseplants inside the house. She was very proud of her gardening skills. She also liked to crochet and knit, often making baby clothes for gifts or the poor.
Lil retired from the garment industry when she was 65 years old. It was then that she was able to take the trips that she was unable to take while she was employed. In 1971 she and Roy together with Pearl and Mel Soderlund drove to Isle Verte, Quebec to view the area where the Hamel family lived for 200 years before coming to Minnesota. She and Pearl took several trips together after Mel's death in December 1971.
Lil suffered a mild stroke in the early spring of 1979. She lived for several months after her stroke, but passed away during the night of June 9, 1979. At her funeral Mass, the priest gave a homily in which he said it was unusual to glorify the deceased during the funeral Mass, but that Lillian had been such a fine example of a Christian life, he felt it would only be right to pay her such an honor.
Lillian Hamel LaBelle Biography (1901-1979)
Lillian Marie Hamel was born May 30, 1901, at home on the farm of her parents Fred and Emilie Hamel. She was the second of five children and the first girl in her family. The farm was located about a mile outside of the village of Hamel, Minnesota. She attended grade school at the village school in Hamel. Many of the other students at the school were cousins of Lillian. She walked the distance from her home to school every day. She was very proud of her birthday because it was observed as a national holiday, Decoration Day.
Life on the farm was enjoyable for her as a child, but it also involved doing chores for her family. As more children were born to the family, it fell to Lillian to help her mother by looking after her younger siblings. She had a natural ability to relate to others and was able to bond easily with her brothers and sisters. The friendships that Lillian began with her brothers and sisters as a youth remained intact throughout her entire life. Her youngest sister, Pearl, was a sickly child and Lillian was often her guardian.
The family moved to Washington state in 1913 and again, it was Lillian who was the "mother" to the other younger children. The family returned from the west coast in the fall of 1914 because they had lost the farm in Washington. After returning to Minnesota, they settled in northeast Minneapolis, near to the home of Emilie's parents. The family joined the French church, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. It was at that church that Lillian made her First Communion the May 1915.
The neighborhood in northeast Minneapolis was made up of many immigrants form Canada, Poland and Eastern Europe. Because of her friendly good nature, Lillian once again made many friends. Her girl friends would introduce her to their brothers and their friends so Lillian had a quite broad circle of friends, both male and female. She began to date a young man who was a Catholic boy. The relationship grew serious and the boy asked Lillian to marry him. It was the custom to obtain the approval of one's parents when contemplating marriage. Because the young man's sister had been divorced, Emilie forbad the marriage, stating that there would be no hint of divorce in the Hamel family!
The family finances were in a shambles and the older children were called upon to find work to help out with expenses at home. Lillian sold cosmetics and perfumes for the Thomas Leeming Company for a while to help out. Lillian learned to sew from her mother, who had been a seamstress prior to her marriage. Lillian found work in the garment industry at that time, having left school after the eighth grade.
Lillian had endometriosis in the mid-1920's and was forced to undergo a hysterectomy. After the operation, she developed a massive infection of the peritoneum and nearly died. Lillian, who loved children so much, was never able to have her own children.
Through one of her friends, Lillian met Roy LaBelle and married him August 19, 1924 at Our Lady of Lourdes Church. Roy worked for the Northern Pacific Railroad. The couple bought a house on Queen Avenue North in Minneapolis. The house was tiny, having only one bedroom, because they did not want to have any outsiders living with them. It was only a short time until Roy's parents, Joe and Lizzie LaBelle, moved in with the young couple. Roy and Lil gave their bedroom to the older couple and slept on a rollaway bed in the dining room for the next 20 years. In 1949 they purchased a house on 26th and Humboldt in Minneapolis. This house had 3 bedrooms and so Roy and Lil had their own room. It was at that time that Lil's father, Fred Hamel, moved in with them. Both sets of parents continued to live with Roy and Lil until their deaths.
When the Great Depression struck Minneapolis in the early 1930's, Roy was forced to accept a demotion and go back to working in the railroad yards. The conditions were not good and the work was very cold or very hot and dangerous. It was not unusual for someone to be injured or even killed in switching accidents in the railroad yard.
Roy and Lil bought a used car in the middle 1930's. It was a better auto than they already owned. The problem with it was that it was a stolen vehicle. When the police found their car's owner, they were forced to return it to him, having lost the money they had paid the seller. They then bought another auto, which had a leaky roof. Roy parents often rode in the back seat with Lil and Roy. When it rained, Joe LaBelle would bring an umbrella to cover their heads in the back seat.
When Lil's brother Clarence was sent to prison, Lil and Roy bought Clarence's lake cabin at Lake Sylvia in Annandale, Minnesota. They both loved to fish and they often had their friends or relatives as guests.
Lil worked in the garment industry most of her adult life. Virtually ever job Lil held in the garment industry was found by her sister, Pearl. Lil did not like to seek employment herself. She was liked by everyone and eventually became active in the International Ladies Garment Worker's Union as the local's president. Though Lil was a retiring person, her demeanor made her liked and trusted by everyone.
Roy's job at the railroad made him eligible for free travel on the railroad. Roy did not like to travel. After Lil's sister, Doris and family moved to California in 1936, Lil traveled to visit them nearly every year. Lil had the wanderlust and traveled extensively. She maintained ties with her extended family by corresponding and visiting her friends and relatives. She maintained friendships with the childhood "girl's club" throughout her entire life.
In May 1949 Lil took her nephew, Bill Soderlund on a month long trip to Southern California. They visited many sights along the way and the trip was very exciting. She loved to show others a good time. Again in August 1951 they traveled to California for the profession of vows by her niece Pat Rooney. It was during this trip that Lil announced to Bill that she had quit smoking. Lil had been a heavy smoker for many years but gave it up for Lent after having a conversation with her brother Clarence about the danger of smoking. Clarence also was a heavy smoker and also quit after suffering a major heart attack in 1956.
Lil's faith was very important to her. It was not always so, however. As a young person, she had gone through the motions, but it was when she was about 46 or 47 years old that she again became a very faith filled Catholic. Reading the book "Seven Story Mountain" by Thomas Merton was a life-changing event for Lil. Lil together with Cliff and Tress Anderson, friends of Roy's, decided to take instruction in the Catholic faith at that time. Cliff had been a convert to the faith when he married Tress, but never practiced the faith. Together they all became very strong in their Catholic faith and that strength remained for the rest of their lives.
She had been the godmother for several of her nieces and nephews and also for children of her friends. In her later life, many of the gifts she gave to those godchildren were of the religious nature. Lil together with Billy visited many churches on Holy Thursday, as was the custom in those days. She also made it a point to visit shrines or churches on her many trips. She was the Chairwoman for the Bishops Clothes Appeal at Ascension Parish.
Lil's main hobbies were gardening and reading. On many occasions Lil would take a book and drive over to Victory Memorial Drive and sit under a tree and read. She and Mrs. LaBelle often did not get along and Lil left the house to gather her thoughts. She also had a very large iris bed in her garden and maintained many houseplants inside the house. She was very proud of her gardening skills. She also liked to crochet and knit, often making baby clothes for gifts or the poor.
Lil retired from the garment industry when she was 65 years old. It was then that she was able to take the trips that she was unable to take while she was employed. In 1971 she and Roy together with Pearl and Mel Soderlund drove to Isle Verte, Quebec to view the area where the Hamel family lived for 200 years before coming to Minnesota. She and Pearl took several trips together after Mel's death in December 1971.
Lil suffered a mild stroke in the early spring of 1979. She lived for several months after her stroke, but passed away during the night of June 9, 1979. At her funeral Mass, the priest gave a homily in which he said it was unusual to glorify the deceased during the funeral Mass, but that Lillian had been such a fine example of a Christian life, he felt it would only be right to pay her such an honor.
Interview on youtube.com. Enter Memories of Pearl Hamel Soderlund.
Lillian Hamel LaBelle Biography (1901-1979)
Lillian Marie Hamel was born May 30, 1901, at home on the farm of her parents Fred and Emilie Hamel. She was the second of five children and the first girl in her family. The farm was located about a mile outside of the village of Hamel, Minnesota. She attended grade school at the village school in Hamel. Many of the other students at the school were cousins of Lillian. She walked the distance from her home to school every day. She was very proud of her birthday because it was observed as a national holiday, Decoration Day.
Life on the farm was enjoyable for her as a child, but it also involved doing chores for her family. As more children were born to the family, it fell to Lillian to help her mother by looking after her younger siblings. She had a natural ability to relate to others and was able to bond easily with her brothers and sisters. The friendships that Lillian began with her brothers and sisters as a youth remained intact throughout her entire life. Her youngest sister, Pearl, was a sickly child and Lillian was often her guardian.
The family moved to Washington state in 1913 and again, it was Lillian who was the "mother" to the other younger children. The family returned from the west coast in the fall of 1914 because they had lost the farm in Washington. After returning to Minnesota, they settled in northeast Minneapolis, near to the home of Emilie's parents. The family joined the French church, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. It was at that church that Lillian made her First Communion the May 1915.
The neighborhood in northeast Minneapolis was made up of many immigrants form Canada, Poland and Eastern Europe. Because of her friendly good nature, Lillian once again made many friends. Her girl friends would introduce her to their brothers and their friends so Lillian had a quite broad circle of friends, both male and female. She began to date a young man who was a Catholic boy. The relationship grew serious and the boy asked Lillian to marry him. It was the custom to obtain the approval of one's parents when contemplating marriage. Because the young man's sister had been divorced, Emilie forbad the marriage, stating that there would be no hint of divorce in the Hamel family!
The family finances were in a shambles and the older children were called upon to find work to help out with expenses at home. Lillian sold cosmetics and perfumes for the Thomas Leeming Company for a while to help out. Lillian learned to sew from her mother, who had been a seamstress prior to her marriage. Lillian found work in the garment industry at that time, having left school after the eighth grade.
Lillian had endometriosis in the mid-1920's and was forced to undergo a hysterectomy. After the operation, she developed a massive infection of the peritoneum and nearly died. Lillian, who loved children so much, was never able to have her own children.
Through one of her friends, Lillian met Roy LaBelle and married him August 19, 1924 at Our Lady of Lourdes Church. Roy worked for the Northern Pacific Railroad. The couple bought a house on Queen Avenue North in Minneapolis. The house was tiny, having only one bedroom, because they did not want to have any outsiders living with them. It was only a short time until Roy's parents, Joe and Lizzie LaBelle, moved in with the young couple. Roy and Lil gave their bedroom to the older couple and slept on a rollaway bed in the dining room for the next 20 years. In 1949 they purchased a house on 26th and Humboldt in Minneapolis. This house had 3 bedrooms and so Roy and Lil had their own room. It was at that time that Lil's father, Fred Hamel, moved in with them. Both sets of parents continued to live with Roy and Lil until their deaths.
When the Great Depression struck Minneapolis in the early 1930's, Roy was forced to accept a demotion and go back to working in the railroad yards. The conditions were not good and the work was very cold or very hot and dangerous. It was not unusual for someone to be injured or even killed in switching accidents in the railroad yard.
Roy and Lil bought a used car in the middle 1930's. It was a better auto than they already owned. The problem with it was that it was a stolen vehicle. When the police found their car's owner, they were forced to return it to him, having lost the money they had paid the seller. They then bought another auto, which had a leaky roof. Roy parents often rode in the back seat with Lil and Roy. When it rained, Joe LaBelle would bring an umbrella to cover their heads in the back seat.
When Lil's brother Clarence was sent to prison, Lil and Roy bought Clarence's lake cabin at Lake Sylvia in Annandale, Minnesota. They both loved to fish and they often had their friends or relatives as guests.
Lil worked in the garment industry most of her adult life. Virtually ever job Lil held in the garment industry was found by her sister, Pearl. Lil did not like to seek employment herself. She was liked by everyone and eventually became active in the International Ladies Garment Worker's Union as the local's president. Though Lil was a retiring person, her demeanor made her liked and trusted by everyone.
Roy's job at the railroad made him eligible for free travel on the railroad. Roy did not like to travel. After Lil's sister, Doris and family moved to California in 1936, Lil traveled to visit them nearly every year. Lil had the wanderlust and traveled extensively. She maintained ties with her extended family by corresponding and visiting her friends and relatives. She maintained friendships with the childhood "girl's club" throughout her entire life.
In May 1949 Lil took her nephew, Bill Soderlund on a month long trip to Southern California. They visited many sights along the way and the trip was very exciting. She loved to show others a good time. Again in August 1951 they traveled to California for the profession of vows by her niece Pat Rooney. It was during this trip that Lil announced to Bill that she had quit smoking. Lil had been a heavy smoker for many years but gave it up for Lent after having a conversation with her brother Clarence about the danger of smoking. Clarence also was a heavy smoker and also quit after suffering a major heart attack in 1956.
Lil's faith was very important to her. It was not always so, however. As a young person, she had gone through the motions, but it was when she was about 46 or 47 years old that she again became a very faith filled Catholic. Reading the book "Seven Story Mountain" by Thomas Merton was a life-changing event for Lil. Lil together with Cliff and Tress Anderson, friends of Roy's, decided to take instruction in the Catholic faith at that time. Cliff had been a convert to the faith when he married Tress, but never practiced the faith. Together they all became very strong in their Catholic faith and that strength remained for the rest of their lives.
She had been the godmother for several of her nieces and nephews and also for children of her friends. In her later life, many of the gifts she gave to those godchildren were of the religious nature. Lil together with Billy visited many churches on Holy Thursday, as was the custom in those days. She also made it a point to visit shrines or churches on her many trips. She was the Chairwoman for the Bishops Clothes Appeal at Ascension Parish.
Lil's main hobbies were gardening and reading. On many occasions Lil would take a book and drive over to Victory Memorial Drive and sit under a tree and read. She and Mrs. LaBelle often did not get along and Lil left the house to gather her thoughts. She also had a very large iris bed in her garden and maintained many houseplants inside the house. She was very proud of her gardening skills. She also liked to crochet and knit, often making baby clothes for gifts or the poor.
Lil retired from the garment industry when she was 65 years old. It was then that she was able to take the trips that she was unable to take while she was employed. In 1971 she and Roy together with Pearl and Mel Soderlund drove to Isle Verte, Quebec to view the area where the Hamel family lived for 200 years before coming to Minnesota. She and Pearl took several trips together after Mel's death in December 1971.
Lil suffered a mild stroke in the early spring of 1979. She lived for several months after her stroke, but passed away during the night of June 9, 1979. At her funeral Mass, the priest gave a homily in which he said it was unusual to glorify the deceased during the funeral Mass, but that Lillian had been such a fine example of a Christian life, he felt it would only be right to pay her such an honor.
Lillian Hamel LaBelle Biography (1901-1979)
Lillian Marie Hamel was born May 30, 1901, at home on the farm of her parents Fred and Emilie Hamel. She was the second of five children and the first girl in her family. The farm was located about a mile outside of the village of Hamel, Minnesota. She attended grade school at the village school in Hamel. Many of the other students at the school were cousins of Lillian. She walked the distance from her home to school every day. She was very proud of her birthday because it was observed as a national holiday, Decoration Day.
Life on the farm was enjoyable for her as a child, but it also involved doing chores for her family. As more children were born to the family, it fell to Lillian to help her mother by looking after her younger siblings. She had a natural ability to relate to others and was able to bond easily with her brothers and sisters. The friendships that Lillian began with her brothers and sisters as a youth remained intact throughout her entire life. Her youngest sister, Pearl, was a sickly child and Lillian was often her guardian.
The family moved to Washington state in 1913 and again, it was Lillian who was the "mother" to the other younger children. The family returned from the west coast in the fall of 1914 because they had lost the farm in Washington. After returning to Minnesota, they settled in northeast Minneapolis, near to the home of Emilie's parents. The family joined the French church, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. It was at that church that Lillian made her First Communion the May 1915.
The neighborhood in northeast Minneapolis was made up of many immigrants form Canada, Poland and Eastern Europe. Because of her friendly good nature, Lillian once again made many friends. Her girl friends would introduce her to their brothers and their friends so Lillian had a quite broad circle of friends, both male and female. She began to date a young man who was a Catholic boy. The relationship grew serious and the boy asked Lillian to marry him. It was the custom to obtain the approval of one's parents when contemplating marriage. Because the young man's sister had been divorced, Emilie forbad the marriage, stating that there would be no hint of divorce in the Hamel family!
The family finances were in a shambles and the older children were called upon to find work to help out with expenses at home. Lillian sold cosmetics and perfumes for the Thomas Leeming Company for a while to help out. Lillian learned to sew from her mother, who had been a seamstress prior to her marriage. Lillian found work in the garment industry at that time, having left school after the eighth grade.
Lillian had endometriosis in the mid-1920's and was forced to undergo a hysterectomy. After the operation, she developed a massive infection of the peritoneum and nearly died. Lillian, who loved children so much, was never able to have her own children.
Through one of her friends, Lillian met Roy LaBelle and married him August 19, 1924 at Our Lady of Lourdes Church. Roy worked for the Northern Pacific Railroad. The couple bought a house on Queen Avenue North in Minneapolis. The house was tiny, having only one bedroom, because they did not want to have any outsiders living with them. It was only a short time until Roy's parents, Joe and Lizzie LaBelle, moved in with the young couple. Roy and Lil gave their bedroom to the older couple and slept on a rollaway bed in the dining room for the next 20 years. In 1949 they purchased a house on 26th and Humboldt in Minneapolis. This house had 3 bedrooms and so Roy and Lil had their own room. It was at that time that Lil's father, Fred Hamel, moved in with them. Both sets of parents continued to live with Roy and Lil until their deaths.
When the Great Depression struck Minneapolis in the early 1930's, Roy was forced to accept a demotion and go back to working in the railroad yards. The conditions were not good and the work was very cold or very hot and dangerous. It was not unusual for someone to be injured or even killed in switching accidents in the railroad yard.
Roy and Lil bought a used car in the middle 1930's. It was a better auto than they already owned. The problem with it was that it was a stolen vehicle. When the police found their car's owner, they were forced to return it to him, having lost the money they had paid the seller. They then bought another auto, which had a leaky roof. Roy parents often rode in the back seat with Lil and Roy. When it rained, Joe LaBelle would bring an umbrella to cover their heads in the back seat.
When Lil's brother Clarence was sent to prison, Lil and Roy bought Clarence's lake cabin at Lake Sylvia in Annandale, Minnesota. They both loved to fish and they often had their friends or relatives as guests.
Lil worked in the garment industry most of her adult life. Virtually ever job Lil held in the garment industry was found by her sister, Pearl. Lil did not like to seek employment herself. She was liked by everyone and eventually became active in the International Ladies Garment Worker's Union as the local's president. Though Lil was a retiring person, her demeanor made her liked and trusted by everyone.
Roy's job at the railroad made him eligible for free travel on the railroad. Roy did not like to travel. After Lil's sister, Doris and family moved to California in 1936, Lil traveled to visit them nearly every year. Lil had the wanderlust and traveled extensively. She maintained ties with her extended family by corresponding and visiting her friends and relatives. She maintained friendships with the childhood "girl's club" throughout her entire life.
In May 1949 Lil took her nephew, Bill Soderlund on a month long trip to Southern California. They visited many sights along the way and the trip was very exciting. She loved to show others a good time. Again in August 1951 they traveled to California for the profession of vows by her niece Pat Rooney. It was during this trip that Lil announced to Bill that she had quit smoking. Lil had been a heavy smoker for many years but gave it up for Lent after having a conversation with her brother Clarence about the danger of smoking. Clarence also was a heavy smoker and also quit after suffering a major heart attack in 1956.
Lil's faith was very important to her. It was not always so, however. As a young person, she had gone through the motions, but it was when she was about 46 or 47 years old that she again became a very faith filled Catholic. Reading the book "Seven Story Mountain" by Thomas Merton was a life-changing event for Lil. Lil together with Cliff and Tress Anderson, friends of Roy's, decided to take instruction in the Catholic faith at that time. Cliff had been a convert to the faith when he married Tress, but never practiced the faith. Together they all became very strong in their Catholic faith and that strength remained for the rest of their lives.
She had been the godmother for several of her nieces and nephews and also for children of her friends. In her later life, many of the gifts she gave to those godchildren were of the religious nature. Lil together with Billy visited many churches on Holy Thursday, as was the custom in those days. She also made it a point to visit shrines or churches on her many trips. She was the Chairwoman for the Bishops Clothes Appeal at Ascension Parish.
Lil's main hobbies were gardening and reading. On many occasions Lil would take a book and drive over to Victory Memorial Drive and sit under a tree and read. She and Mrs. LaBelle often did not get along and Lil left the house to gather her thoughts. She also had a very large iris bed in her garden and maintained many houseplants inside the house. She was very proud of her gardening skills. She also liked to crochet and knit, often making baby clothes for gifts or the poor.
Lil retired from the garment industry when she was 65 years old. It was then that she was able to take the trips that she was unable to take while she was employed. In 1971 she and Roy together with Pearl and Mel Soderlund drove to Isle Verte, Quebec to view the area where the Hamel family lived for 200 years before coming to Minnesota. She and Pearl took several trips together after Mel's death in December 1971.
Lil suffered a mild stroke in the early spring of 1979. She lived for several months after her stroke, but passed away during the night of June 9, 1979. At her funeral Mass, the priest gave a homily in which he said it was unusual to glorify the deceased during the funeral Mass, but that Lillian had been such a fine example of a Christian life, he felt it would only be right to pay her such an honor.
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