Lenore V. Gill

Lenore V. Gill, a beautiful soul who embraced life fully, passed away at home in Pittsburgh on June 6, 2023, with her children by her side. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, April 12, 1927, to parents Jose Vijande of Oviedo, Spain, and Lenore Paden Vijande of Oil City, Pa., she was a caring and affirming light in the world. Her motto was “Bloom where you’re planted.” And she did, sowing seeds of laughter and love. She grew up in Euclid and Garrettsville, Ohio, attended Hiram College, worked at Macy’s and Bell Telephone in New York City; married Lester J. Gill in Palisades Park, NJ; and then focused on family life in Indiana, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania, relocating often for her husband’s career. In mid-life, she helped manage the family business and raised chickens with award-winning eggs on a farm in Bedford, Pa. For a decade, she enjoyed happy hours and sunsets on Lake Erie from her waterfront home in North East, Pa. She later lived in Beaufort, NC, and worked as a bookkeeper at the oceanfront Whaler Inn, continuing to vacation there every New Year until age 91. Her happiest times were in Brick, NJ, where she moved at age 67 to enjoy 16 years with her beloved companion, Fred A. Gernsbeck. She loved music, books, crossword puzzles, travel, voting, playing piano, her faith and, most of all, family and friends. She is survived by three children, Cynthia Gill, John Gill (Deborah Cliburn), and Laurie Elliott Gill, four grandchildren, many great-grandchildren, and nieces. Eternal gratitude to Dr. Adele Towers and her team at Benedum Geriatric Center; to Chrissy, Cait, and Karen at JAA; and to the wonderful Sivitz Hospice. A private celebration of life will be held later this summer.