In Loving Memory
Lillian Firestone
August 18, 1932 – April 25, 2024
Celebration of Life
May 1, 2024
11:00 AM Eastern Time
Riverside Memorial Chapel
New York City
Watch a Video Recording
A video recording is available below.
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- Please consider signing our guest book below to acknowledge your presence in support of the family.
“Accept conditions…Nothing is difficult. Only thoughts make it so.”
– Lillian Firestone
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I first met Lillian in 2017 at Silver Lake. I was shy about simply introducing myself but soon at lunch time I found the only empty seat was the one right next to her. So I sat down, and she smiled at me with a twinkle in her eye that made me feel that moment has always existed. She was a most extraordinary person.
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Thank you for this beautiful memorial, it brought her warmth to us again. We are blessed to have known her.
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Sending you love and light 🙏🏻
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Thank you, Lillian for Your Words, Your Heart and Your Wisdom.
You were/are quite an inspiration. Thanks again. And again.
Miriam Faugno, New York City, Los Angeles
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Thank you Lillian for your life and your Workbooks. And for your friendship with us. It was remarkable,
Jim & Janice Quigno Hill
Carefree, Arizona
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Hi Ms Lillian. I want to thank you for being in my life and inviting me into yours. I Will never forget the first time Ani brought me to your house because you had invited me over to have dinner and you wanted to meet me.. Even though you didn’t know me from Adam when I met you, you gave me a big hug and made me feel more welcome than I ever have anyway.. I remember you and I laughing because Ani annoyingly had made chicken and watermelon for dinner. And I also remember that one thing that you told me that I’m powerful without even opening my mouth and you told me not to talk too much because my energy was strong Enough that I did not have to waste energy with Plethora of unnecessary words. Thank you for that. I really appreciate that. I appreciate you coming to see the play i was in. It was a joy to see you there supporting me. Then I remember the day that you told me “You’re family Rob. You are like a son to me.” Those words touched me deeply. Thank you Ms. Lillian. For always keeping it “real”. You never “sugar coated “ anything. You were always very straight forward with me no matter what. Thank you Ms. Lillian. Yes I do and will continue to miss you and I will always have a special love and place in my heart for you. Love you much Ms. Lillian.
Love always,
Rob
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Beautiful service. Her last words, “I Love You” reflects on her entire life. May her family be comforted by this time together and beautiful memories.
Rosalind
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It was 2001 at the Silver Lake summer work period. My mother was dying and my sister was behaving badly.
I asked Lillian how to cope with my sister.
She replied simply and sincerely, “tell her she IS (already) the qualities you wish, and she will transform to become them”.
It was a moment of presence and shock, for which I am ever grateful to Lillian, now on high
om om om
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Lillian and Adam and I went to China together visiting her grandparents graves! She was instrumental in encouraging us to go to Rumania and the Ukraine and Russia to locate the graves of our grandparents! Which we did ! I was fortunate to be able to and lie on my grandmother Perla’s grave!
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Your book is a true reflection of your practice – Thank you,.
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Thank you for your gift.
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A most befitting ceremony for an extraordinary human being.. Our heartfelt sympathy to the family, friends and pupils.
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Lilian you change my life in a glimpse
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God speed, Lillian.
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Lillian shows us how to live life without fear. She lived a long and ferocious life, and I am honored to have spent so much time with her. She inspired me and so importantly encouraged me. I will forever cherish the time we spent together. And I will remember her by living life to the fullest with courage, compassion, and grit… like she did.
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My thoughts on Lillian
Lillian was a living ledgend.
Why was she a legend? She was a legend through her sheer consistency and devotion to family, always praying for, and investing in continued prosperity for all of us.
I felt that she promoted these values throughout the time i knew her, and passed them on to me in very tangible ways. It was like she had a way of sending out secret Blessings all around her and across distance. She embodied her own personal mythology with humility and a fierce power that reached out to the past and the future. Amazing human. Will miss her greatly.
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That was absolutely beautiful. Your mother would have ( is ) smiling hearing all that was said and shared
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Lillian connected the circle, in Armenia, by bringing the group work to Armenia, a very important thing that she had the courage and will to do, her efforts and work will be continued.
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What a beautiful tribute to an extraordinary woman. It was a privilege to know Lillian. I remember having her at my house for break-the-fast with my parents and thinking how strong and brilliant she was. My parents adored her. May her memory be a blessing.
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The beauty. Of a remarkable life …..
….Thank you Lillian for inspiring so much love NOW🌱
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In one of the frequent meetings here in Santo Domingo when we would refer to those who had died she told us ‘never refer to them in the past, mention it in the present’ I hope to always refer to her in those terms.
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Beautiful service for an incredible and beautiful person
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A truly remarkable woman and family. Thank you, Lillian, for your role in bringing the far flung family together, where it needs to be. You know what I mean, and for that I am truly grateful, for Stacey and Miles, Mark, Jessica, Stetson, Solomon, Chris, Nancy, Gigi. Bon voyage! and thank you again.
Love, Peter
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THE FORGOTTEN LANGUAGE OF CHILDREN by LILLIAN FIRESTONE
A rare perspective on children that would enrich the lives of adults who work or live with children and would enrich the lives of children whose teachers or parents have read the book.
Available on Amazon.
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Sending light and love to a dear kindred spirit and her family.. Both of us Barnard College English majors from different years, Lillian and I were writing and editing buddies since the early 1990s when Michel de Salzmann put us together. She is one of the best natural storytellers ever! Generous with material for a new book coming in 2024, and beyond encouraging about it, Lillian always helped me so much with publishing. And this: One of the last emails she sent me includes this line from a conversation she had with Jean-Claude Lubtchansky, who told her, “Death–the outer shell is dissolved–it is natural, the cycle of birth, growth, decay. But the Life continues.” Shine on, Lil!
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A great tiny woman who was Strength, Determination, Wisdom, Wit and Presence.
I am eternally grateful for Her touching my life in ways no words can express.
Her Light shines on.
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Like some others, I knew Lillian mostly through Parabola magazine, where she was an inspiration and pillar of support for decades. She was, and still is, a wonderful human being, who will be missed greatly.
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I recall my last conversation with Lillian, in Manhattan. She was so alive, bright-eyed, and committed to a perspective she shared so generously.
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With all my Love, fly high our dearest Lillian 🛐♥️your Light is eternal,🙏🏼
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With all my Love, fly high our dearest Lillian 🛐♥️your Light is eternal,
Thank you Thank you Thank you🙏🏼
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May Lillian’s memory be ever a blessing.
Sending both condolences and heartfelt celebration of her spirit to all Lillian’s near and dear.
Julie Sandler-Friedman
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Lillian, your beautiful soul will be missed. I wish your family a lifetime of comfort, happiness, and success. We will miss your positivity, inspiration, and kindness.
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Lillian once told me:
“In order for you to move up, you must teach someone to fill in the step below you!”
She was my teacher, my mentor, my friend! With love, Frances Smedberg Larose
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🙏❤️🙏
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I’ve had the pleasure of interacting with Ms. Firestone on a number of occasions.
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So sorry for your loss. Lillian was always larger than life. May her memory be a blessing
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Our heartfelt condolences to the family on their loss. May her memories live on.
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Many memories of Lillian, a really tough lady I have always admired, who could handle a lot of physical problems with amazing Grace, not to mention others of a mental and emotional nature. In our last text exchange, a few days before she moved on, she wrote that she was ready to keep going no matter what the price, if that was the necessary situation.
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I have known Lillian since 2011, and she has been a source of inspiration, energy, profound wisdom, and consistent spiritual support. Lillian, a bright light to so many… eternally loving, eternally loved.
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I’m here to witness, and continue to pray for grandma with the rest of the team is Sierra Leone
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To have known Lillian was one of the most important thins that happened in my life.
She made me see things in a different way, made me see what is really important..
I am very grateful to her.
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Thank you and Godspeed, Lillian.
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Your memories live on! Go and rest Grandma Lillian!
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The first time that I sat down to talk with Lillian, one on one, I had a very definite impression that she was actually listening to me, that she was actually giving me her attention. Was this the first time that I ever experienced this, the real attention of another touching me? I think so. On another occasion she told me something like the following: “Sense your feet, follow your breath, and go. That’s all there is to do really.”
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Good afternoon everyone, We are praying that God grants Grandma LIllian internal rest.! Mom Risa, may your fine courage and the determination to take the touch from where she left it and you are made for this. Peace be upon you all.
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I’m here to watch the live session.
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I hope your memories of her will give you comfort and her love for you all, her unique strength and passions shine in and thru you
She will be greatly missed . Grief is just love with no place to go. She was loved and she loved you fiercely!
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When we first met in Yerevan 2004, Lillian had mentioned, that is always possible to sense the ground under our feet. It’s still working out as a magic formula in every particular moment. A safe passage to the other side.
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The first time I met Lilian was after Mark and Jessica were engaged. She greeted me with open arms, a smile and shouted “machatunium”
This declaration was the beginning of an exciting happy time for the both of us. We were able to hold on to one another watching our two beautiful grandsons being born. She was very special to me and we truly enjoyed each others company. She had a way of awakening parts of your soul you didn’t know you had. Beautiful parts. She will be missed. She loved her children and grandchildren immensely and we shared many conversations that were open fields into the inquiry of the paradoxes of family life and love. Paradoxes that held loss, sorrow and grief in the same quiet temple as joy, love and celebration.
I’m grateful for our time together. Till we meet again Lilian!
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Flew from Dom Rep to Connecticut in 2005 to meet the lady “who sometimes wore a black leather skirt.” Drove down to NYC to meet her. Spent the afternoon at her apartment. After sometime it was inevitable that tears would come out of my eyes. Since then she was our soul mother.