Nurse's aide Lillian Bohlmann gave loving care to family, patients
DEATHS
Lillian Bohlmann spent her life taking care of others.
At home, she nurtured her children and grandchildren. At work, she tended patients as a nurse's aide. She poured her energy into her garden and flower arrangements until she became too ill.
"She was my hero for many, many reasons," said Loren Thornton, her oldest grandson. "She was absolutely the most giving person I had ever known. She never asked for anything for herself."
Bohlmann of Orlando died Friday of complications from metastatic cancer. She was 89.
Born in Fort Payne, Ala., Bohlmann moved to Central Florida in the early 1930s. In 1934, she married Emil Bohlmann, and she became a nurse's aide, taking training through the Red Cross, Thornton said. She volunteered with that organization during World War II and also worked as a nurse's aide at what was then Orange General Hospital, now part of Orlando Regional Medical Center.
The Bohlmanns had two children: Helena, who died in 1998, and Frederick, known as Fritz. As a child, Fritz Bohlmann was allergic to cow's milk, so the family bought a goat. When he was about 16, he contracted polio and recovered. To help with his rehabilitation, the family installed a swimming pool.
"Her entire purpose for living was to care for her family," said Thornton, a Jacksonville chiropractor and Helena's son.
But Lillian Bohlmann, who was known as "Nana," was no pushover. She demanded manners and proper attire from her children and grandchildren. Loren Thornton and his brother Glen Thornton, now of Brandon, lived with Lillian Bohlmann for several years when they were in elementary school.
"If we went to the grocery store, if we went to church, we had to absolutely be spiffed. It was creased slacks and a suit, even to go to a grocery store," Loren Thornton recalled. "She was adamant about proper appearance."
Her garden was impeccable, too: no weeds, no bare spots, one particular flowering hibiscus bush, which she loved the most. She was a charter member of the Conway Garden Club and was recognized for her flower arrangements.
Until she became too ill, she mowed her lawn herself. Then, she couldn't find anyone to mow it to her standards, so she turned to Thornton.
"Of course, I couldn't do it right either, but I did it less wrong than anyone else," he said. "Her yard was her passion."
Bohlmann also is survived by brothers Homer Mills and Romie "Brownie" Mills, both of Orlando, and Dozier Mills, of Washington D.C.; another grandson; eight great-grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild.
Carey Hand Colonial Funeral Home, Orlando, handled arrangements.
DEATHS
Lillian Bohlmann spent her life taking care of others.
At home, she nurtured her children and grandchildren. At work, she tended patients as a nurse's aide. She poured her energy into her garden and flower arrangements until she became too ill.
"She was my hero for many, many reasons," said Loren Thornton, her oldest grandson. "She was absolutely the most giving person I had ever known. She never asked for anything for herself."
Bohlmann of Orlando died Friday of complications from metastatic cancer. She was 89.
Born in Fort Payne, Ala., Bohlmann moved to Central Florida in the early 1930s. In 1934, she married Emil Bohlmann, and she became a nurse's aide, taking training through the Red Cross, Thornton said. She volunteered with that organization during World War II and also worked as a nurse's aide at what was then Orange General Hospital, now part of Orlando Regional Medical Center.
The Bohlmanns had two children: Helena, who died in 1998, and Frederick, known as Fritz. As a child, Fritz Bohlmann was allergic to cow's milk, so the family bought a goat. When he was about 16, he contracted polio and recovered. To help with his rehabilitation, the family installed a swimming pool.
"Her entire purpose for living was to care for her family," said Thornton, a Jacksonville chiropractor and Helena's son.
But Lillian Bohlmann, who was known as "Nana," was no pushover. She demanded manners and proper attire from her children and grandchildren. Loren Thornton and his brother Glen Thornton, now of Brandon, lived with Lillian Bohlmann for several years when they were in elementary school.
"If we went to the grocery store, if we went to church, we had to absolutely be spiffed. It was creased slacks and a suit, even to go to a grocery store," Loren Thornton recalled. "She was adamant about proper appearance."
Her garden was impeccable, too: no weeds, no bare spots, one particular flowering hibiscus bush, which she loved the most. She was a charter member of the Conway Garden Club and was recognized for her flower arrangements.
Until she became too ill, she mowed her lawn herself. Then, she couldn't find anyone to mow it to her standards, so she turned to Thornton.
"Of course, I couldn't do it right either, but I did it less wrong than anyone else," he said. "Her yard was her passion."
Bohlmann also is survived by brothers Homer Mills and Romie "Brownie" Mills, both of Orlando, and Dozier Mills, of Washington D.C.; another grandson; eight great-grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild.
Carey Hand Colonial Funeral Home, Orlando, handled arrangements.
Nurse's aide Lillian Bohlmann gave loving care to family, patients
DEATHS
Lillian Bohlmann spent her life taking care of others.
At home, she nurtured her children and grandchildren. At work, she tended patients as a nurse's aide. She poured her energy into her garden and flower arrangements until she became too ill.
"She was my hero for many, many reasons," said Loren Thornton, her oldest grandson. "She was absolutely the most giving person I had ever known. She never asked for anything for herself."
Bohlmann of Orlando died Friday of complications from metastatic cancer. She was 89.
Born in Fort Payne, Ala., Bohlmann moved to Central Florida in the early 1930s. In 1934, she married Emil Bohlmann, and she became a nurse's aide, taking training through the Red Cross, Thornton said. She volunteered with that organization during World War II and also worked as a nurse's aide at what was then Orange General Hospital, now part of Orlando Regional Medical Center.
The Bohlmanns had two children: Helena, who died in 1998, and Frederick, known as Fritz. As a child, Fritz Bohlmann was allergic to cow's milk, so the family bought a goat. When he was about 16, he contracted polio and recovered. To help with his rehabilitation, the family installed a swimming pool.
"Her entire purpose for living was to care for her family," said Thornton, a Jacksonville chiropractor and Helena's son.
But Lillian Bohlmann, who was known as "Nana," was no pushover. She demanded manners and proper attire from her children and grandchildren. Loren Thornton and his brother Glen Thornton, now of Brandon, lived with Lillian Bohlmann for several years when they were in elementary school.
"If we went to the grocery store, if we went to church, we had to absolutely be spiffed. It was creased slacks and a suit, even to go to a grocery store," Loren Thornton recalled. "She was adamant about proper appearance."
Her garden was impeccable, too: no weeds, no bare spots, one particular flowering hibiscus bush, which she loved the most. She was a charter member of the Conway Garden Club and was recognized for her flower arrangements.
Until she became too ill, she mowed her lawn herself. Then, she couldn't find anyone to mow it to her standards, so she turned to Thornton.
"Of course, I couldn't do it right either, but I did it less wrong than anyone else," he said. "Her yard was her passion."
Bohlmann also is survived by brothers Homer Mills and Romie "Brownie" Mills, both of Orlando, and Dozier Mills, of Washington D.C.; another grandson; eight great-grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild.
Carey Hand Colonial Funeral Home, Orlando, handled arrangements.
DEATHS
Lillian Bohlmann spent her life taking care of others.
At home, she nurtured her children and grandchildren. At work, she tended patients as a nurse's aide. She poured her energy into her garden and flower arrangements until she became too ill.
"She was my hero for many, many reasons," said Loren Thornton, her oldest grandson. "She was absolutely the most giving person I had ever known. She never asked for anything for herself."
Bohlmann of Orlando died Friday of complications from metastatic cancer. She was 89.
Born in Fort Payne, Ala., Bohlmann moved to Central Florida in the early 1930s. In 1934, she married Emil Bohlmann, and she became a nurse's aide, taking training through the Red Cross, Thornton said. She volunteered with that organization during World War II and also worked as a nurse's aide at what was then Orange General Hospital, now part of Orlando Regional Medical Center.
The Bohlmanns had two children: Helena, who died in 1998, and Frederick, known as Fritz. As a child, Fritz Bohlmann was allergic to cow's milk, so the family bought a goat. When he was about 16, he contracted polio and recovered. To help with his rehabilitation, the family installed a swimming pool.
"Her entire purpose for living was to care for her family," said Thornton, a Jacksonville chiropractor and Helena's son.
But Lillian Bohlmann, who was known as "Nana," was no pushover. She demanded manners and proper attire from her children and grandchildren. Loren Thornton and his brother Glen Thornton, now of Brandon, lived with Lillian Bohlmann for several years when they were in elementary school.
"If we went to the grocery store, if we went to church, we had to absolutely be spiffed. It was creased slacks and a suit, even to go to a grocery store," Loren Thornton recalled. "She was adamant about proper appearance."
Her garden was impeccable, too: no weeds, no bare spots, one particular flowering hibiscus bush, which she loved the most. She was a charter member of the Conway Garden Club and was recognized for her flower arrangements.
Until she became too ill, she mowed her lawn herself. Then, she couldn't find anyone to mow it to her standards, so she turned to Thornton.
"Of course, I couldn't do it right either, but I did it less wrong than anyone else," he said. "Her yard was her passion."
Bohlmann also is survived by brothers Homer Mills and Romie "Brownie" Mills, both of Orlando, and Dozier Mills, of Washington D.C.; another grandson; eight great-grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild.
Carey Hand Colonial Funeral Home, Orlando, handled arrangements.
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