Lillian Daniels

Lillian Daniels died on October 22, 2020, a month after her 93rd birthday, and after a year-long struggle with congestive heart failure. Lillian was born in Buffalo, New York on September 22, 1927, the seventh child of John W. Baugh and Mary Alice Baugh. She grew up during the Great Depression, and lived through WW II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights Movement, the Women's Liberation Movement, several infectious disease pandemics, and numerous United States presidents. Her life experiences during many tumultuous times gave her strength to persevere during difficult times; she had faith better days were ahead. Lillian graduated from Hutch Tech High School and attended Erie Community College. She worked as a teacher's aide, nurse's aide, and was employed at the Erie County Medical Center until retirement. She also volunteered for a literacy program. Lillian was a devoted mother, grandmother, and devout Roman Catholic. She was the mother of eight children, raising many of them by herself after separating from her husband Nineveh. She was the matriarch of a multi-generational family. She is survived by six sons and one daughter: Joseph, Katharine, David, Steven, Michael, Timothy, and Nicholas; eighteen grandchildren: Cherita, Malika, Tunisia, Hafiz, Sadika, Daleylah, Shaheedah, Voncile, Eboni, Varece, Marcus, Michael, David, Bonnie, Hassan, Yusuf, and Aisha; eighteen great grandchildren: Karima, Kevin, Shalik, Ashley, Rasul, Shaheed, Kayla, Nuria, Reuben, Courtney, Adrian, Armand, Jermaine, Jackson, Marcus, Deonte, Isaiah, and Shiloh: and six great-great grandchildren: Anakin, Fernanda, Malik, James, Semaj, and Cliona. One son, Kenneth and one grandson, Malik, predeceased Lillian. The academic and professional success of her children and subsequent generations was one of her primary gifts to the world, and one that she cherished. Lillian often put the success of her family ahead of her own pursuits. She had a selfless and caring personality. Lillian's interests and hobbies included reading, cooking, gardening, and playing bingo in the United States and Canada. She was a wonderful cook and her butterscotch brownies were legendary, a delicious treat her family always enjoyed. Bags of brownies were frequent parting gifts. She enjoyed traveling to Canada, New York City, Washington D.C., Chicago, Atlanta, Seattle, San Francisco, San Diego, and Hawaii. Although several of her children and grandchildren moved away from Buffalo to seek professional careers, Lillian remained loyal to Buffalo; she was proud to be from Buffalo, and never wanted to live anyplace else. She was an avid reader and a teacher to her children and grandchildren. A woman with a very diverse family, Lillian was a spiritual woman, actively involved in church activities at St. Brigid's, Sacred Heart, St. Columba, and Blessed Trinity. The outpouring of condolences across many generations of family and community members speaks volumes to her loving spirit, readily recognized in her company. Lillian treated everyone with sincere respect, dignity, and with humanity. She will be deeply missed by her family, friends, and all who knew her everlasting spirit. Funeral services were held on October 27, 2020 at the Amigone Funeral Home at 1132 Delaware Avenue in Buffalo, New York. Her internment was at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery at 3063 Harlem Road in Cheektowaga, New York.