Category: memories

from Michele Epstein I had the joy of being Lillian’s “Ed McMahon” sidekick on ZOOM during the pandemic’s shelter in place and beyond. Lillian was the highlight and beacon on light for a dozen lonely housebound women over 60 every Tuesday at 11am. It was the first discussion group on Zoom for Peninsula Family Service…

by Roberta Gonzalez Gregg Lillian Barden, facilitator of Lets Talk Coastsiders,showed leadership that never made us fell as outsiders. She reached out to communities in the San Mateo West,by sharing insights that were always the best. We’d grown in fondness to weekly see her smiling face,Zooming us all in friendship to share a well-being space.We…

from Rev. Wendy Bartel Lillian was part of the intern committee when i was an intern minister at UU San Mateo in 2008-09. She was supportive, funny, and present as I made my way through a challenging year of learning and growing, as did the congregation. I am so grateful our paths were connected for…

from Carol Hughan September 28, 2024

 Dear Alice, Chris, and Dan, I loved and admired your mother for so many reasons. Lillian was a woman who was secure enough in herself to be a leader, a follower, a writer, a number cruncher, and above all, a deeply spiritual creature. Lillian loved deeply and she loved…

from Suzanne DuFore Lillian. An absolute GEM of a human being. We will remember her dry sense of humor, her wicked intellect, her generous spirit, and her forever friendship. As our mom’s BFF, she provided companionship, friendship, and joie du vivre! She led the Aging and Saging group, the memoir group, and participated in endless…

from Kathy I was invited to Lillian’s 70th birthday and I said the same thing that day…her life reminds me of the life of a lotus blossom, a Buddhist symbol. Lillian was raised in not so pleasant circumstances. She spent about half of her earthly years like a seed in the muck. Her life as…

by Lillian Barden Thanks to Rev. Tovis for sharing this, from 2017, something my mom shared with the congregation.

from Valerie Dubois Lillian was a power house of a woman that I am grateful to have gotten the chance to know. She was a steadfast friend for my mom. She fostered connections, and created support systems for those around her. She encouraged and loved unconditionally. Her leadership and friendship through ‘Aging to Saging’ and…

from Celia B. Dearest Alice and Family, please accept my most sincere condolences on the passing of Lillian; may her memory be for a blessing. I met Lillian when I was nineteen, twenty-five years ago, and I struck gold. She was a friend, mentor, teacher, and counselor who enriched my life in countless ways. Her…

by Christopher There has been probably not been a single day in her life that Lillian Barden did not write, unless prevented by outside forces. And even in the last year of her life, our mom signed up for Substack, navigated the dashboard workflow, and published her thoughts on various subjects. Her full archive of…