<div itemprop="description">Lillian Jean Chojnacki ("Lil"), 88, passed away peacefully in her sleep at Teresa Dellar Hospice, Pointe-Claire, on April 28, 2023 from the ravages of advanced Alzheimer's disease. <br> <br>Lillian was born October 17, 1934, in Ottawa, Ontario, to Kazimierz and Mary (Monuk) Drozdowicz. Lillian loved to recount stories of her childhood where she and her siblings spent carefree days at her Grandpa’s farm during the summer, and sleigh rides on icy roads in the winter. <br> <br>An active participant in university life, Lillian graduated from Carleton College in 1956 with a B.A. Honours in English. She pursued a career as a journalist, first with the Chatham Daily News, then when she moved to Toronto, with the Toronto Telegram. It was as a reporter that Lillian learned how to take the photographs that supported the stories she wrote – ever after, Lillian’s hands were never far from a camera. After she married, Lillian became a full-time mother but continued to write, completing a Master’s degree in Literature. She continued to use her writing skills and had articles published in the Montreal Star magazine supplement, and other publications. Returning to full-time work at the age of 50, Lillian found employment at Reader’s Digest and remained with the company until her retirement at 65. A respected and well-liked co-worker, Lillian became senior copy editor, winning awards, finding great satisfaction and excelling at her job. <br> <br>Lillian married Marcel Chojnacki on February 11, 1961, in Ottawa, Ontario, moving to Montreal from Toronto in 1963. They were blessed with three children: Lisa, Morgan and Daniel. They shared their love for family and always welcomed family and friends with kindness and care. Lillian and Marcel provided a secure and loving home, always had an open door and a full table to share. At their 35th wedding anniversary, they sat together and held hands like newly-weds. Despite life’s vicissitudes, through their youngest child’s tragic death at 24 and Lillian’s later diagnosis with Alzheimer’s disease, they remained loyal and devoted to one another. <br> <br>Lillian enjoyed Tai Chi, mystery shows such as Murdoch Mysteries, tennis, cross-country skiing, listening and reading the news, Stewart McLean’s The Vinyl Café, dry humour, non-fiction, line-dancing, walking through old growth forest, growing vegetables, sun flowers, and maintaining the garden. As her dementia progressed, shoveling snow and pulling weeds became her main outside activities. <br> <br>Lillian is survived by her children, Lisa Chojnacki (Dayo Odubayo), and Morgan Chojnacki, her dearly beloved grandchildren Alia and Daniella Odubayo, brother Carl Dow, sister Vivian (Walter) Kotorynski, brother-in-law Israel (Suzanne) Chojnacki, and many dearly loved nieces and nephews. <br> <br>Lillian was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Marcel Chojnacki and her son Daniel Chojnacki, her parents Kazimierz and Mary (Monuk) Drozdowicz, her sister and brother-in-law Linda (Dan) Tardif, her brother-in-law and sister-in-law Jacob and Elizabeth (“Betty”) (Ower) Chojnacki. <br> <br>Loving, hard-working, devoted, kind, patient, supportive, determined are all words that describe Lillian. <br> <br>Visitation and Life-Cycle Service followed by interment will be Saturday, May 6, at 10:00AM at Rideau Funeral Home & Cemetery in Dollard-Des Ormeaux (4275, boul. Des Sources, Dollard-Des Ormeaux, QC). Following burial, the family will receive visitors at 5 Mercier, Dollard-Des Ormeaux.</div>
