Lillian Younker

YOUNKER
Lillian Theresa Younker

May the Lord only preserve in me a burning love for the world and a great gentleness; and may God help me persevere to the end in the fullness of Humanity
Teilhard de Chardin

Lillian Theresa Younker, 84, died on Wednesday January 5, 2011. Beloved daughter of the late Aloysius and Annie Younker she was born the youngest of nine children on June 6, 1926. Lillian is preceded in death by her siblings Gene, Jack, Sr. Mary Paul, RSM, Anna Mae, Joe, and Jimmy Younker and Grace Niehoff. She is survived by her brother Paul Younker, Paducah, Ky., and many nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her lifelong friends and extended family, Sharon Whitley and Kateri Whitley (Lil's Precious). Others Lillian considered her family include the Sisters of Mercy (Cincinnati Province), Sr. Doris Gerke, OSC, Ben, Eileen, Benjamin & Emily Youngblood, many in the CCVI, Oblate, CDP, Brigidine, Assumption High School, St. Francis of Assisi Communities, and many, many others who would take pages to list but know who they are. Lillian left home at 15 to enter religious life and was professed a Religious Sister of Mercy in 1946 to serve as a teacher in Paducah and Louisville Kentucky. She was a counselor, Director of Novices, and mentor to many who to this day kept in contact with her. She attended the Athenaeum of Ohio, St. Louis University, and Manhattan College where she earned numerous undergrad and graduate degrees. In 1969 Lillian joined the Archdiocese of Louisville Kentucky staff as the Director of Religious Education/Faith Formation. During that time Lillian challenged many issues, but most notably the equal pay for all staff, both men and women alike. In 1975 she began her own consulting and training company, Organization Development Company which led her to conduct nursing management/ leadership workshops, training foreman for Ford Motor Company in Minneapolis/St. Paul, career counseling and skills development with women who were going through career changes, and leadership workshops for parish councils and religious communities. Lillian moved to Texas in 1979 to pursue the same type of career path doing work with McFann-Gray Assoc. In 1982 she began her journey as Academic Dean at the Oblate School of Theology where she remained for 15 years. While at Oblate she mentored a number of women and helped them see themselves as professional ministers in the Church. Some of those women are the great leaders in our Church today. After awhile in retirement she was recruited to become the Executive Director of the Catholic Counseling & Consultation Center setting up a satellite clinic and placing counselors in the Catholic Schools of San Antonio. Her last retirement found her rocking the babies at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church nursery where most of the children called her Tia, Grandma, or just Ms. Lil. Lillian was a woman of great compassion, faith, and most of all LOVE. While Lil's many accomplishments in no way define her, they are indicative of her value as an educator, mentor, confidant, and friend. She had a gift for making each person with her feel special and gave of herself tirelessly. Our family would like to give special thanks to Dr. Melba Beine and the staff of Vitas Hospice for their care and kindness during Lillian's journey to the Father. Rest in God's love and our memories my "Beautiful Rose". Mass of Resurrection will be held on Saturday January 8, 2011 at 10:00 am at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 4201 De Zavala. Burial will take place at St. John's Catholic Church and Cemetery in Paducah Kentucky at 1:00 pm on Saturday January 15, 2011. The family requests that donations be made to: Vitas Hospice Services, 5430 Fredericksburg Road #200, San Antonio, Texas 78229 or to the Monastery of St. Clare, 1505 Miles Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45231.