Lillian was born on Oct. 20, 1925, in Newark NJ, the daughter of Herman Lowenberg and Fannie Kaiser. From the age of eight she was raised in the Jewish Children’s home. After graduating from Southside High School in Newark, she married Frank Restivo on Feb. 16, 1947. Mr. Restivo died March 22, 1991.
Though working for some time as a bookkeeper, once becoming a mother she dedicated her life to her family. She adored her children, their spouses and each of her grandchildren, always putting family first. Everyone who had an opportunity to meet her will “never” forget her, she touched the lives of strangers and friends alike. She loved sharing her interest in sports, playing cards, watching “I Love Lucy” reruns and taking every opportunity to travel and spend time with family. She loved meeting people and making conversation, talking with her friends, dancing and eating sweets any time of the day. She was an especially avid metro area sports fan, following the NY Mets and Yankees, the NJ Devils, and the NY Giants. Her fondest memories as a youngster were attending “Ladies Day” at Yankee Stadium and riding the Cyclone coaster at Coney Island.
After her husband’s death, she moved to Maine to be closer to her daughter’s family. For the past decade she has been a teacher’s aide at Learning Land Nursery School, Brunswick. It is here that she discovered another life’s passion and was an invaluable support to staff and a nurturing guide for children.
She is survived by a son, Glenn Restivo and his wife Linda of Easton, PA; a daughter, Bonnie Redzinak and her husband Tony of Brunswick; a grandson, Jimmy Young and his wife Colleen of Glen Burnie, MD; five granddaughters, Britney Kempf and her husband Bobby of Hellertown, PA; Celena Redzinak of Portland, ME; Lauren Young of Milford, MA; Amanda Snyder and her husband Steve of Lakewood, WA; and Francesca Redzinak of Brunswick. We will all miss her phone conversations, time together, wisdom and stories shared.
A memorial visitation will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16, 2014, at Brackett Funeral Home, 29 Federal St., Brunswick, with a reception to follow locally. Memorial contributions can be made to the Learning Land Nursery School, a nonprofit organization, at 9 Cleveland St., Brunswick, ME 04011, where a scholarship is being set up in her name. Condolences and memories can be expressed at www.brackettfuneralhome.com.
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