Obituary of Lilian May Fordham

They say that every hundred years the Agave Americana cactus produces a flower, blooming as if it didn’t have to fight the thorns to become the rose. Lilian May Fordham was only two years shy of one hundred, almost a full ninety-eight years living on this planet. For most of her memories, Lilian resided in England where she was born, enjoying English tea, biscuits and the lifestyle of her country. She bid farewell to her native lands in September of 2013, age 88, when she returned to the US, where she was already naturalized as a citizen, to be closer to her family. Lilian moved to the West Coast this time, a change from her prior years spent living in the Northeast. She carried a lifetime of unique history, which includes surviving the Blitz of London, experiences in different parts of the world, her marriage, and raising a successful family. And throughout her life, Lilian was a century tree of her own, finding things to smile about when it seemed as though there were none. Or rather, finding people to smile for. She lived in Lake County California with her son Dennis Fordham, his wife Kimberly Fordham, and their two children, Alex and Emily. Living in California was a beautiful new chapter in Lilian’s life. Lilian enjoyed being part of the family and participated in many family vacations, saw many new places and enjoyed a plethora of fun times. Lilian joined the Lakeport Senior Center and made friends. She also attended the Clearlake Methodist and then Kelseyville Presbyterian Churches. To everyone she met, Lilian was a kind soul with a warm smile, who would always scavenge a chocolate truffle to share with the people around her. It was as if it were her own personal mission to make sure that everyone felt as comfortable as she could make them. Reciprocity was a practice she was dutiful to but humbly never pressurized on others. Her grit kept her true to herself and she would tell life the way it was. In her spare time, Lilian’s interests encompassed a love for the arts and the beautiful world around her. In 2018, Lilian returned to England to see her sister Barbara one last time and enjoyed a wonderful vacation of fond memories, reacquaintances with old friends, and through it all breathing in the native air of the country that raised her. In 2019, Lilian moved into Lakeport Post Acute to spend the remaining years of her life, forming new relations as she went. Lilian died on March 10, 2023, in Sutter Lakeside Hospital 10 days before her 98th birthday. Lilian is survived by her three children -- Joseph Fordham, Suzan Cotter and Dennis Fordham. She is also survived by four grandchildren -- Jennifer Fordham, Katherine Cotter, Alexander Fordham and Emily Fordham; and by two great grandchildren from Jennifer -- Ash and Lorelai. Lilian is deeply missed by all her family who love her very much, and her memory will forever live on in the lives of those who knew her. Graveside Funeral Service will be held at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Lakeport on Friday, March 24, 2023 at 1pm. (Later, in May, a private memorial and celebration of Lilian’s life will be held when all her family can be together.)