Lillian Vlasis "Lily" Carson

Lillian V. Carson NORFOLK - Lillian Vlasis "Lily" Carson passed away Tuesday, July 6, 2009, in a local hospital. Born in Manhattan, New York City, she was the daughter of the late Jefferies Vlasis of Greece and Ida Keller Vlasis of Switzerland. She was the widow of Edward G. Carson, a landscape architect and an artist. She loved life and all that God has put before us and made the most of that in every way that was possible. Lily was educated in music, languages, and early childhood education at Hunter College in New York City and at Old Dominion University. Mrs. Carson was an active member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, the Tidewater Music Teacher Forum, Music Teacher's National Association, National Guild of Music Teachers, Virginia Symphony, Norfolk Society of Arts, Hellenic Women's Club and the Ghent Garden Club. As a teacher for more than 40 years, she taught kindergarten for 15 years and gave private piano lessons for more than 44 years. Left to cherish her memory are her sons, Richard B. Franklin and his wife Kathleen of Midlothian, Va., James Franklin of West Palm Beach, Fla., and Jeffrey J. Franklin and his wife Dorinda of Norfolk; her stepchildren, Becky and Jacques Gagne of Blue Hill, Maine, Tracy and Patty Carson of Portland, Maine, Cindy and Bruce Paxon of Gratis, Ohio, and Kathleen Carson and Susan Long of Belfast, Maine; a brother, John Vlasis and his wife Yolanda of Charlottesville, Va.; 17 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. A Mass of the Resurrection will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 11, in Sacred Heart Catholic Church by Father Daniel Klem. A Christian wake will be conducted Friday at 7 p.m. in the H.D. Oliver Funeral Apts., Norfolk Chapel. Memorial contributions may be made to Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Online condolences may be offered to the family through hdoliver.com.