Lillian J. Stratton

Lillian Jeannette Stratton (nee Groppenbecker) passed away Saturday September 25, 2021, at the age of 89. Predeceased in death in 2018 by her beloved husband William Frederick Stratton, her parents, Harold and Elizabeth (nee Sheets) Groppenbecker and sister, Harlene Tobin. Devoted mother of William H. Stratton, Sharon Stratton (Jeffrey Dinnen), and Linda (James) Yellin, loving grandmother of Hannah Dinnen (Nick Fox), William Dinnen, Anne Yellin (Leslie Wiederhold) and Sam (Erin) Yellin. Dear great grandmother of Lillian and Lucas “Freddy” Fox. Sister of Tom Groppenbecker.

Lillian met the love of her life, Bill Stratton, as a teenager, and they were married for 68 years. His military duty took them to Wyoming and then Arizona and they eventually settled to raise their children in Delhi Hills, later moving to Westwood, then Madeira.

Lillian was an outstanding homemaker and home cook who took pride in an immaculate home, down to her clean windows, white laundry, and weeded gardens. She also worked in multiple jobs over the years to help support the family and, later, owned a neighborhood store with Bill for many years in Cheviot. She was one of a kind: high energy, opinionated, proud, feisty, and a great role model of a strong woman. She was beloved by her adult kids who were ‘well-mothered’ to the very end. Even in her last years, Mom would call to remind us of bad weather coming our way, worry if she couldn’t reach us, or insist on standing at the door to see us safely into our cars.

She loved children and was a warm and loving grandma, who always wanted to feed everyone, nurtured and played with all her grandkids over the years, provided after-school care as a ‘second mom’ to her youngest grandson throughout his school years, and insisted on holding her great-grandchildren even when it was physically difficult for her. We were lucky to have her. We will think of her with the deepest love and honor her memory for the rest of our lives.

Thank you, Mom. Breathe easy.

“It’s only a big deal if you make it a big deal.”

The Stratton family would like to extend a special thank you to Ann Ortlepp, for her compassionate care over the last year of Lillian's life. 

Visitation and service on Friday, October 1 at 1:00 p.m. at the Gilligan Funeral Home, 8225 Montgomery Road. Private interment in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Cincinnati.

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