Lillian Helene Unger (Simpson, Jager), our rock and our inspiration has been promoted to

Heaven. She passed away peacefully at her home on Cape Cod on November 6 th , at the age of

90. Whether you called her Lil, mom, nana, sister, aunt, or friend, she inspired us all by her

strength, her positive energy, and her absolute love of life.

She was born to the late John J. Jager and Elsa M. Jager (Ahrens) on February 20, 1931 in

Mineola, New York. After graduating from high school, she worked in New York City until she

was swept off her feet by a handsome country man, Dean W. Simpson and got married on July

21, 1956. Without hesitation, she moved to the Catskill Mountains and started an amazing life

together with our dad. As savvy business owners, Lil and Dean built a very successful paving

business together and provided a wonderful life for our family. After losing Dean to ALS at the

young age of 56, mom took over and the Three Musketeers (Mom, Janet & Gail) became

resilient independent and self-sufficient young women. Five years later, mom was blessed to

meet and marry James Unger, sharing 11 wonderful years together until his passing.

Mom taught us all, through her thoughts, her words, her feelings, her love, her guidance, her

openness, her advice, and above all, her everyday actions that life is precious. Each day, each

experience, each challenge or obstacle, each friendship, and every memory should be

cherished. Mom taught us that family is the foundation of our lives. She touched everyone she

met with her positive energy, huge smile, warm hugs, and gracious manner. She reminded us to

literally stop to smell the roses, watch a sunset, take a walk on the beach, and find a special

moment in every day.

She was gifted in so many ways. Mom had a green thumb and loved her vegetable garden and

her flowers. An avid bird lover, mom captured amazing photos of nature in flight. A snowbird

for life, Mom was fortunate to spend her winters in Tampa, Florida and her summers on her

beloved Cape Cod. A beach lover and boater, Mom loved the sound of the ocean and the sand

in her toes. She was a fisherwoman at heart, growing up with a fishing rod in hand, and having

a talent for catching "keepers". Whether digging for clams, finding shells and sea creatures,

trolling for bass, or slurping an oyster and eating a lobster, Mom loved the ocean.

Music filled her life with joy. From dancing, to playing the piano and hosting family music jam

sessions, she made sure that everyone in the family could play an instrument, sing, and dance

to the beat of any song. Frank Sinatra's New York, New York was a favorite. She nurtured a love

for music throughout her life.

Because of her absolute love for life and family, we celebrated every year with a family trip, a

Florida getaway, and a Cape Cod summer adventure. She loved spending every possible

moment with her five grandchildren, each of whom cherished their time with Nana.

She was also blessed to have so many wonderful and dear friends who filled her life with joy.

She cherished their relationships and knew that people and personal connections are what

makes life worth living.

For every hardship or loss, mom found the silver lining or a lesson or increased strength to carry

on. She had a quote hanging in her home that said," Tough times don't last but tough people

do!!!" Her resilience for life touched everyone. She was, without doubt, the wisest, kindest, and

most giving person we have ever known. What a full life! What a blessed life. She will always be

our rock and our inspiration. She set the standard that we all wish to follow, as we live our lives,

and we will forever be strong because of her. We are all so fortunate to have been touched so

specially by such an amazing woman! We love you Mom!

She is survived by her daughters and son-in-laws, Janet & David Kumpu of Tampa, Florida and

Gail & Stephen O'Connell of Marshfield, Massachusetts. She is also survived by her five

grandchildren that she loved with all her heart, Brendan, Kayla, Aili, Sean and Heidi. She also

leaves behind her beloved younger sister, Viola A. Wieser and her niece Lori Wieser and

nephew Ken Wieser.

Our mother's wish was to have a celebration of life rather than a funeral. We will be planning this

on Cape Cod in the spring/early summer 2022 and also in New York where she will be buried with

our Dad. We will also have a celebration of life in Tampa in early 2022. Details to follow at a later date.

Dana Farber kept Mom alive for an additional 13 years after her breast cancer returned. She

was very passionate about giving back to their research. In lieu of flowers, donations can be

made online to: donate.pmc.org/GO0015 or mail to PMC 77 4 th Ave. Needham Ma 02494 (Put

ID: GO0015 on the check)

Obituary lovingly written by her daughters, Janet and Gail