Obituary of Lillian Blaikner

Lillian F. Blaikner, 79, of Goshen and a long-time Warwick resident, died Tuesday, Aug. 11, after a year-long battle with cancer. But the music of "Banjo Lil" lives on in the memory and hearts of her devoted fans. She performed at the Caffe ala Mode in Warwick almost every Friday night for a dozen years until she became ill last fall. Talented area musicians would join her onstage for her lively rendition of country, western and classic pop tunes. Among those who have accompanied Banjo Lil are Jim Elwell, Gene Focarelli, Steve Vecchiotti, Jon Rupolo, Al Muller, Jim Lord, Marty Kuppersmith, Elissa Jones Maynard, Mike T. Lewis, Paul Block, Barry Adelman, Mike and Annie Baglione, Lou Balascio, David Schiff, Vinnie Huevos and Ralph Housman. A cosmetologist for more than 55 years, Lillian began her career in Manhattan. She moved to Warwick in 1955 and owned Lilly's Beauty Shoppe on Little York Road for 30 years. She volunteered her hair styling talents to numerous organizations for their fashion show fundraisers. Former Congressman Benjamin Gilman honored Lillian for her decades of musical entertaining for veterans at the VA Hospital at Castle Point and at the Polish Legion of American Veterans Post 16 in Pine Island. She was born Jan. 12, 1936, in Brooklyn to Giuseppe and Giovanna Abruzzo Guardino. Lillian is survived by her partner of 25 years, Stan Martin; two sons, Thomas Blaikner of Phenix City, Alabama, and Timothy Blaikner of Fishkill, and many grandchildren including Brittney Marie Blaikner of Warwick, Bianca Rae Blaikner of New Paltz, Jeremy Bierstine and Brock Blaikner of Phenix City, Alabama, a sister, Anna Marsan of Lake Worth, Florida.; three stepdaughters, Danamarie Welch of Warwick, Torilyn Martin Lynch of Hawaii and Dr. Maryk Martin Geyer of Phoenix, Ariz.; two stepsons, Thayne Martin of Chandler, Ariz., and Grant Kilbourne of Monticello, and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, Robert Blaikner, two brothers, Giuseppe (Joe) Guardino, Alfonso Guardino; and three sisters, Mary Blaikner, Caterina Reynolds and Angela Torregrossa. Visitation will be held on Sunday Aug. 16 from 2-4 and 7-9 PM at T.S. Purta Funeral Home 22 Glenmere Ave. Florida, NY. A graveside service will be held at the convenience of the family. Donations can be made to the Warwick Valley Rotary Club, P.O. Box 121, Warwick, NY, 10990 or Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties, 800 Stony Brook Court, Newburgh, NY, 12550.