Lillian Clarissa (Wellner) Hryshkanych, our matriarch and a gracious, pacific spirit, passed away Thursday, November 17, 2022 at her Summit Square home in Waynesboro, Virginia. She was 97.

Lillian was, as she often said, "a good kid." Born to William and Charlotte Wellner on August 25, 1925, Lillian was one of seven siblings raised in the soft yellow foursquare at 14 Clifford Place in Red Bank, New Jersey. She had several talents: diligence and adroitness - for baking and sewing, in particular - and a warm, selfless ethic stoked by church fellowship.

Lillian joined the workforce after high school, exercising her keen hand as a draftswoman. And after an outing on roller skates with Emil Hryshkanych, she fell in love with him. Across a 65-year marriage, they raised four children - and two grandchildren - in the image of Lillian's childhood, where home and church were centers of gravity, and you were always welcome to Sunday dinner.

We love her and miss her dearly.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Emil T. Hryshkanych; son, Michael Hryshkanych; and daughter, Christine DeFranco.

Surviving are 2 daughters, Susan Wiecke and Joanne Rizzo; 9 grandchildren, Kimberley Wiecke, Lee Montopoli, Robin Wiecke, Jason Hryshkanych, Sarah Hunsberger, Nathan Rizzo, Thomas Rizzo, Angela DeFranco, and Stephen DeFranco; 5 great-grandchildren, Cole Montopoli, Ella Montopoli, Jubilee Hryshkanych, Michael Hryshkanych, and Harvey Hryshkanych; brother, William Wellner; and sister, Patricia Taylor.

A service celebrating Lillian's life will be held Saturday November 26, 2022 at 2:00 PM in the Hignite Chapel of Summit Square Retirement Community.

In lieu of flowers, it is kindly asked that memorial contributions be made in her name to the Summit Square Fellowship Fund, 501 Oak Avenue, Waynesboro, VA 22980, or to the Alzheimer's Association (https://act.alz.org/).