1915 – 2003

CANTON – Margaret C. Lilja, 87, a resident of Victorian Villa Nursing Home since October 2002, formerly of Farmington and Wilton, died Friday afternoon, May 16, 2003.

She was born Sept. 11, 1915, in Kingman, the daughter of Lee T. and Ruth (Morris) Cox. She graduated in 1933 from Wilton Academy and graduated in 1937 from Farmington Normal School with a degree in elementary education.

On Dec. 25, 1937, she married Ensio Lilja. He died on Dec. 26, 1979. Lilja taught school at McCrillis Corner and at the Jewell Street School in Jay. She later was employed at Norwalk Shoe and moved to Connecticut in 1957 where she was first employed as a librarian and later worked at Bendett’s retail clothing store in Mystic, Conn. Upon returning to Maine, she enjoyed the many years she was employed at Emery’s Clothing Store in downtown Farmington.

She is survived by a daughter, Judith Jewett and her husband, Clayton of Jay; a son, Charles Lilja and his wife, Patricia of Wilton; seven grandchildren: Kevin Jewett and his wife Deborah; Noreen Nemi and her husband, Richard; Randal Jewett and his wife Jeanne; Susan Poulin and her husband Thomas; Robin Pellerin and her husband David; Michael Lilja and Erik Lilja; great-grandchildren: Aaron and Amanda Jewett, Christopher Jewett, Ryan and Michael Nemi, Melissa and Tyler Poulin and Shelby Lilja; two nieces: Lee Neilson and Sue Grant; and a sister-in-law, Lempi Knight. In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by a brother, C. Maurice Cox.