Lillian P. Windolph

Dear Gayle, Barbara,and Beverly,

I am sharing a childhood story about the wonderful Mrs. Windolph. I am certain that many others who knew her in St. Libory could relate similar stories in which she saved the day in her peachy, dandy way.

I will always remember Mrs. Windolph as "the operator." When I was a little girl, initially we had a "ringer phone" that hung on the wall. We would turn the crank handle and "the operator" would immediately speak to us in a lovely voice, "Your number please." We would tell her the number, and she would plug our line into the magical switchboard in her living room to connect us. She was so very cordial and efficient. In fact, she was the first woman professional, other than a nurse or a teacher, that I ever met.

Sittin at her switchboard, Lillian served a much greater role in our little community. I know that she was a great resource to adults and children alike, but I think she was extra special to me.

One hot summer afternoon, our Mother "put us down for a nap." I woke up when I heard my little brother crying. I got up and found him still crying - standing in the playpen where he had been napping. I went through the house calling for my Mother all worried. She was gone - and I didn't know what to do! What did a 6-year old do when they needed help and a parent wasn't available? I went to the phone and called Lillian. At that point I was crying, too. I told Lillian that my little brother was crying and my Mother was gone and I didn't know what to do. Did she know where my mother was? In a very calm voice, Lillian suggested that I see if she might be outside hanging clothes on the line. Hopefully, I ran outside to check and there she was: visiting in the yard with our next-door neighbor. I told my Mother how scared I was and that Mrs. Wiindolph was on the phone because I had called her.... My Mother rushed into the house and picked up the phone. She immediately assured Mrs. Windolph that she had NOT left three little children at home alone; that she was in the backyard when I couldn't find her in the house.

To this little girl, Mrs. Windolph was the most wonderful person who was always there in an emergency.

My deepest sympathy to you,
Sandra (Trentman) Carlsgaard

I first met Lil in 1974 when I started working with her at Northwestern Bell Telephone. She was a great lady, a lot of fun and a hard worker. I remembered when anyone asked her how she was, she would always reply "peachy dandy."
My sympathy to her family.
Mary Hand
Timonium, MD.

Dear Gayle, Barbara and Beverly,

May the comfort of God's love fill you with Hope & Peace. I remember Lillian from her days as a telephone operator in St. Libory when I was a child. My sisters and I would go with our mother, Nora Kanter to her house to pay the phone bill. She was a nice lady.

Karen Slama

We Remember the old times at St. Libory ans then when Lillian and Harold moved to G I. Some St Libory time and also some N W B time. The Good Old Days.

Jack and Sharon Jarecke

Lillian was such a wonderful lady. Thinking of you with our Sympathy.

Lillian was a wonderful friend and volunteer at Saint Francis Medical Center for 20 years, with 1,935 hours of lifetime service. Our sincerest sympathy to her family and friends.
Chris Sullivan
Volunteer Services, SFMC

Expressing deepest sympathy and hoping you will find comfort in knowing others care and are near in thought.

My daughter and I became good friends with Lillian when we lived at Windsor. She was such a nice and classy lady who lived a good life. We were lucky to know her. Our sympathy to you all.