Lillian Ernestine Ekstrom
September 21, 1931 - September 7, 2021

Lillian Ernestine Ekstrom, 89, of Peoria, AZ peacefully went home to the Lord on Tuesday, September 7, 2021 surrounded by her family.

Lillian was born in Chicago, IL on September 21, 1931, to Vincent and Linda Notardonato. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Harry and her infant great-granddaughter Reagan.

She is survived by her six children, Thomas (Carmela), Shirley Reimbold (John), Harry (Catherine), Kenneth (Laura), Elaine, Eric (Julie); loving grandmother of 14, and loving great-grandmother of 24; cherished sister of John (late Delores) Notardonato, (late) Nancy (late Jack) O'Keefe, Marianne Notardonato, and James (Sandy) Notardonato; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Lillian was married to her beloved husband Harry for nearly 61 years. They met and married in Chicago and raised their six beautiful children. In 1976, they relocated to Phoenix, AZ. She was a dearly loved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and trusted friend. She lived to love and serve her family and the Church. She was a great cook and baker and loved spending time in the kitchen preparing food for anyone and everyone. Family was everything to her, and she so much enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was an avid reader, enjoyed crossword puzzles, and dearly loved her dog Pebbles. She enjoyed many family vacations in Minnesota where she wasn't afraid to bait a fishing hook or drive a boat as long as the water wasn't "choppy". In addition to raising her family, she also worked in office administration in Chicago and Phoenix. She was a longtime parishioner of St. Joseph Catholic Parish, where she loved to serve and volunteer.

Visitation will begin at 10 AM followed by the Mass of Christian burial at 11 AM on Tuesday, September 14, 2021, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, located at 11001 North 40th Street, Phoenix, AZ. The Rite of Committal and burial will follow at 1 PM at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, located at 23029 North Cave Creek Road, Phoenix, AZ.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations are made to the RaeRae of Light Foundation (https://raeraeoflight.org), whose mission is to raise awareness, fund research, and support families with babies affected by critical Congenital Heart Defects (CHD).

Tributes