Usually in this space we offer Friday Fun, a bit of lighter fare heading into the weekend. But yesterday was Lilly Pulitzer’s memorial service.
Robert Sadler Clark/Women’s Wear Daily
We want to share some of the images from that event.
Chris Salata/Palm Beach Daily News
It was a colorful crowd.
Richard Graulich/Palm Beach Post
More from Women’s Wear Daily:
“This isn’t a funeral but a fashion show,” said one member of the packed congregation of local families including the Fanjuls, Lickles, Coniglios, Boardmans, Mercks and Kassatlys.
Robert Sadler Clarke/Women’s Wear Daily
The memorial was at The Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea in Palm Beach.
Robert Sadler Clark/Women’s Wear Daily
A closeup of one of the more vivid color combinations seen on the gentlemen.
Chris Salata/Palm Beach Daily News
Old friends greeted one another.
Richard Graulich/The Palm Beach Post
Attendees were welcomed by Lilly’s step-grandson Adam Boalt, shown lower left, and her grandson Jack McCluskey, lower right.
Palm Beach Daily News
Those gentlemen handed out programs for the service.
Via Palm Beach
Back to WWD.com:
After her grandchildren Lilly Leas and Bobby and Christopher Leidy read, son Peter Pulitzer’s eulogy had everyone laughing — just as his mother, a tireless hostess famous for her democratic open-door policy and love of a good party, would have wanted.
It was an overflow crowd.
Palm Beach Daily News Shiny Sheet
More on Peter Pulitzer’s eulogy from WWD.com:
“There were too many cats, too many dogs, too many people and too many colors, way too many colors,” he said, recalling the exciting cast of characters at breakfast, and her makeovers if guests ever showed up in neutrals. “You couldn’t help but get caught up in her joie de vivre. She taught us how to find that splash of color when we’re low or bored.”
And this portion of the eulogy comes via the Palm Beach Daily News:
She gave and gave and gave, and asked for nothing in return, he said.
“Joyous feelings just oozed out of her.
“She showed us how to enjoy life.”
Pulitzer concluded his remarks by thanking those at the service, “for sharing your lives with our mother.”
Below, we see one of Lilly’s daughters, Liza Pulitzer Calhoun, leaving church after the service. She is escorted by her son, Robert Leidy Jr.
Richard Graulich/The Palm Beach Post
From WPBF-TV:
After a final rousing Easter hymn, Lilly Pulitzer’s family streamed out of the church and embraced in memory of a woman who so transformed Palm Beach society that even her funeral looked more like a holiday celebration than a somber remembrance in black.
Richard Graulich/The Palm Beach Post
And the stories. Oh, the stories, you know they had to be fabulous. This one comes via WPBF:
Her friends remembered her as just so much fun; some of them shared their Lilly memories. “I think my son walking her dogs when he was 10 years old,” Suzanne Briley said. “We had a lot of laughs because she got a pig and he refused to walk the pig and that ended his job.”
Loads of Lilly memories have also been shared on the Lilly Pulitzer website.
LillyPulitzer.com
Below you see one of Lilly’s youngest descendants, Mary Boalt. The young lady is held aloft by Christopher Leidy, Lilly’s grandson.
The Shiny Sheet/Palm Beach Daily News
I am guessing that perhaps even some new friendships were made.
Chris Salata/Palm Beach Daily News Shiny Sheet
These words seem a fitting closure to our post today, they come via the Palm Beach Daily News:
In her homily, the Rev. Kate Kelderman recalled her first meeting with Mrs. Rousseau at her house. She felt a bit stodgy in her “boring priestly black” outfit when she was being introduced to the queen of prints and color.
When Kelderman, who was essentially a stranger, was leaving the house, Mrs. Rousseau said to her, “Stop by anytime, door’s always open.
“Lilly said this to everyone,” Kelderman said. “To Lilly, everyone was someone. We were all drawn to her because of her brightness. Lilly embraced life with all its heartaches and joys. She was not afraid of dying, because she wasn’t afraid of living.”
Chris Salata/The Palm Beach Daily News Shiny Sheet
For those curious about possible charitable donations, following are the two organizations designated by the family.
American Cancer Society
235 S. County Road # 20
Palm Beach, FL 33480
The Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League
3100-3200 N. Military Trail
West Palm Beach, FL 33409
Via
LINKAGE:
- To see the Shiny Sheet’s (Palm Beach Daily News) slide show from the service click here.
- The Palm Beach Post slide show is here
- For WPBF-TV’s video story click here.
- A friend and fellow blogger, Miss Janice, has a delightful (and very informative!) post about a different kind of Pulitzer Prize.
- I think you might enjoy the wonderful column William Norwich did for The Times, “Lilly Pulitzer’s Uniforms for an Entire Class“
- Eleanor Barkhorn’s piece for The Atlantic offers a refreshing perspective
- The column Jennifer Ashley Wright wrote for The Observer was fascinating
The Preppy Princess 