Stephen Lilly
March 6, 1943 - March 9, 2022

Stephen Lilly, Husband, father, grandfather, father-in-law, son, nephew, brother and friend. Stephen was born March 6, 1943, and left this earth on March 9, 2022. He was 79 years old. He was born in Malden, Massachusetts to Saul Lilly and Anne Schwartz Lilly. He moved to Houston with his family when he was 14 years old. He told the story of being in an elevator in the old downtown Foley's with his mother. The two of them were having a conversation and the elevator operator asked them what foreign country they were from. He never fully lost his Boston accent.

He graduated from Bellaire High School and attended the University of Houston. He married his wife Patricia and they had two daughters, Kathleen and Ellen. Steve held a variety of jobs, but the job that gave him the most pleasure was working with his Uncle Mickey selling Paymaster Checkwriters, shredders and other office equipment. In fact, he loved this job so much that he never really retired. He spent his final years visiting customers being pushed in a wheelchair by his devoted caregiver Rosa Diaz.
Steve spent his life taking care of people. His family was his world and he loved taking care of his wife and daughters. He took care of his mother for many years after the death of his father, and after the death of his uncle, he took care of his Aunt Ruth and her handicapped daughter for many years. He bought groceries, he took them to doctor's appointments, and he ran errands.
Steve was an avid sports fan and a fanatic newspaper reader. He was very interested in politics. He was a prolific reader and had a fantastic vocabulary and a sly wit. He loved food and could remember meals he had eaten years ago. Going out to eat was one of his favorite pastimes. He liked live theater and foreign movies. He survived life with 3 opinionated women by having very selective hearing. He was good and kind and loving. He looked for the best in people.

He was plagued with various serious illnesses throughout his life, but he maintained a cheerful disposition and seldom complained. The greatest challenge of his life was the 14 years he spent battling Parkinson's Disease. Parkinson's ravaged his body and his mind, but it did not totally quench his spirit. He truly fought the good fight. He was described as a "trooper" and a "fighter" and he showed us all what being brave really means. All of us who knew him well count ourselves blessed to have had him in our lives.

He is survived by his wife, his two daughters and their husbands and four grandsons, a sister-in-law, a niece, a nephew and several cousins as well as a life-long friend, Ken Rosenzwieg.
He was predeceased by his parents, his brother Ed, Max and Ruth Alperin, and other aunts and uncles and cousins.

"I have fought a good fight. I have finished my course."

The family appreciates all the kind words, thoughts and prayers. If you wish to honor Steve, please donate to the Houston Area Parkinson's Society (HAPS) or the charity of your choice.

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