Lillian Adami
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"Well done, my good and faithful servant." Those were the words she heard on September 26, 2019, when Lillian Doris Shimek Adami departed this earth and entered into eternity.
Lillian Doris ("Lil") was born to Julia and Junius Studeny on February 29, 1928. At the tender age of three, Lil lost her mother; a few years later, her father passed away. Her aunt and uncle, Edward and Agnes Shimek, adopted the leapling orphan and raised her in Weimar, Texas, until she left for the University of Texas in Austin. There, she became a registered nurse, and headed to McKinney Texas to start her career in nursing at the Veterans Administration Hospital. One day, when assisting in the Operating Room, Lil observed a handsome young surgeon, Gilbert ("Gil") Adami. A few days later, her roommate arranged a blind date for her, where she was surprised and delighted to encounter the handsome surgeon a second time. Sparks flew, and Gil proposed. Thus commenced Lil and Gil's marriage and indomitable partnership of 64 years. Their first order of business was to move to the small town of Denton, where Gil would open his practice, and their next order of business--to order a set of Encyclopedia Britannica.
Lil had three priorities in life: faith, family, and friends. As for the first, she served the Lord through her work at and on behalf of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, in the Altar Society, on various boards and commissions, and helping to build not one, but three churches. She lived out her faith through her service as a volunteer for other causes. She helped organize the first hospice in Denton, Ann's Haven, named after her dear friend Ann Lockwood. She was a founding member of Ann's Haven Hospice and Hospice Auxiliary, and served as a board member for many years. Her service came full circle when the Ann's Haven VNA Hospice team, led by RN Barb Nolan, guided Lil in caring hands to the end.
A dedicated volunteer, Lil was a charter member of Denton Benefit League and was a member of the Creative Crafts Department of the Ariel Club. She was a long-time board member of Denton City County Day School, and of the Denton County Medical Society Auxiliary, and helped to organize the PTA at Selwyn School and volunteered at almost every school her children and grandchildren attended. She excelled at fundraising for any good cause. When asked to stand and be publicly recognized for her contributions, she always humbly declined.
Lil understood Gil's devotion to his profession, she retired from her nursing career, enabling him to fulfill his calling by tirelessly supporting him, running the household, and taken care of her children, her pride and joy.
Lil was a life-long learner, a voracious reader who eschewed fiction in favor of mostly all non-fiction, like biographies, National Geographic, and books regarding psychology and religion. She was a gourmet cook -- most famous for her cornbread dressing, shrimp dip, sweets of all sorts, and frozen "pink things." While she had no God-given sisters, Lil, her children and grandchildren were blessed with love, support, and wisdom freely dispensed by Lil's close friends who served as surrogate sisters and aunts.
Lil is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Dr. Gil Adami, and her brother, Henry Studeny. She is survived by her three children: Debra Drayovitch & husband Ron, David Adami, and John Adami & wife Missi. She also leaves behind eight of the most beloved grandchildren there ever were: Kristi Drayovitch, Nic Drayovitch & wife Kellie, Stephen, Anna Adami, Michael Adami, Charles Adami, Daniel Adami, and Thomas Adami; as well as one great-granddaughter: Eleanor Drayovitch; her nephews, Steve Studeny and wife Judi, and Dean Studeny. The family wishes to thank the nurses, caregivers, and friends who helped our precious mother and grandmother live a full life during her last years - we are grateful for you all.
Visitation with the family will be at DeBerry Funeral Home, 2025 University Drive, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m., Monday, September 30, 2019. A Funeral Mass will be held Tuesday, October 1, 2019, at 3:00 p.m. at Immaculate Conception Church, 2255 North Bonnie Brae, Denton, Texas. Honorary pallbearers are the members of the Denton County Women's Medical Alliance and their families. Interment will be at a later time.
If desired, memorials may be made to the Denton City County Day School, a nonprofit preschool, KERA Public Television at www.kera.org/donate/, Ann's Haven/VN Hospice, the Southwestern Diabetes Foundation, or to any church or charitable organization you desire.