Ilana (Lani) Krop Wilensik

Ilana ("Lani") Krop Wilensik, 66, beloved wife and sister, passed away on December 6, 2024, at her home in Gold Canyon, Arizona. Lani was born in Buffalo, NY, on June 8, 1958, to her loving parents Lou and Mimi Krop. She was a loving daughter and sister, friend to many, tireless volunteer, successful DJ, talented musician, accomplished artist, writer, editor, and lover of animals, especially her beloved pets.

In addition to her husband Robert Wilensik, Lani is survived by her three sisters, Lisa Pantel (Mendham, NJ), Lori Stein (Cheviot Hills, CA), and Marci Cook (Vienna, VA); her three brothers-in-law, Glenn, Ted and Mark; and her niece and nephews, Libby, Adam and Eli. She was preceded in death by her parents.

Lani's early life was centered around classical music. An accomplished pianist and violinist, she attended the Juilliard School of Music in New York city, as well as Indiana University's School of Music in Bloomington, IN. She expanded her musical horizons at Ithaca College in Ithaca, NY, where, armed with a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications, she launched a successful career in radio.

Using the radio personality name Lani Daniels, she became a popular DJ, first at WWSW Oldies Radio in Pittsburgh, and then later at WXTU Country Radio in Philadelphia, PA. She also undertook freelance work during this time, creating and co-hosting nationally syndicated radio shows and appearing in various radio and television commercials. It was while working in radio that Lani met her husband Bob, a native of New York, NY.

After leaving radio, Lani served as Executive Director of the Philadelphia office of the American Jewish Committee, an organization dedicated to the protection and education of Jews worldwide. She then became Executive Director of the Barn at Spring Brook Farm in Westchester, PA, an organization providing animal-assisted activities for disabled children. It was here at Spring Brook that Lani, with her big heart, was able to combine her lifelong love of animals with her passion for caring for others.

After retiring, Lani and her husband Bob moved to Gold Canyon in the Phoenix, AZ, area, where together they undertook numerous road trips and enjoyed the desert landscape. Lani continued her long history of volunteering, with special emphasis on caring for and raising at their home rescued cats and dogs. She also launched several small businesses, including a candy company known as Blabbys and a creative arts business called Artworks on Easy Street. She was extremely creative in many media, including resin, sublimation, and needlework. Her talents extended to the written word, where she wrote poetry and spent many years as an editor.

Lani succumbed to cancer following a brief illness. She was brilliant and wise, passionate and strong, creative and funny, and an eternal optimist. She had boundless compassion for others, especially her beloved parents, her three sisters, and her husband. Every person whose life she touched has been enriched by having known her. She is deeply missed by her family and friends; their memories of her will never fade.