Victoria "Vicky" Lilly

The Long Goodbye 
by Bernard Howe

Deep within that hollow stare, of our presence they're unaware.
A life that is fading away, in spite of things we try to convey.
Memories locked up in their mind, and there they're kept all confined.
Good times spent long ago, and all their love they did bestow.
For these moments will live forever, and our pride in them will endeavour.
Seeing them lying there we know why, Alzheimer’s is called “The Long Goodbye”.
 
After a heartbreaking period of mental and physical decline inflicted on her by lifelong Bipolar Disorder which later in life, was combined with Alzheimer’s Disease, Victoria Lynn Hardin Lilly passed away on Thursday, August 1, 2024, at the age of 75.

Victoria (Vicky) was born on September 28,1948, in Charleston,WV to the late William Clayton Hardin and Elizabeth Josephine (Poff) Hardin. She grew up in St. Albans, WV, and it was there that she met her high school sweetheart, Robert (Bob), whom she married. Thereafter, Vicky and Bob relocated,following her parents down to NC with Vicky and Bob eventually settling down in Rural Hall, NC. She was employed by Southern Bell where she worked as a Telephone Operator. She retired after 33 years of service. Outside of her career, Vicky’s passion was sewing and she was well known for being an outstanding seamstress. Taught as a young girl by her Mother, Vicky sewed nearly all of her clothing and home decor, she made countless outfits and formal dresses for area young ladies and she was the go-to for repairs, alterations and embroidery designs. Vicky also enjoyed to teach sewing to anyone wanting to learn. After many years of sewing clothes and home decor, Vicky was introduced to and quickly fell in love with the art of Quilt Making. Her love for quilting quickly turned exclusive; her family and friends alike all received a quilt or two each year for their birthdays, Christmas or “just because”. It was a true labor of love for her, and she would proudly sign each quilt with an embroidered tag “Made with love by Vicky”. When not working on a quilt, she would often be found curled up on her couch with a big bowl of popcorn, watching Survivor or writing in one of her journals. She loved to write about her thoughts and about her life. We are incredibly thankful for those journals that she left behind for us to peruse. We will always cherish them. Vicky’s other interests included cake decorating, bow making, various other arts and crafts, exercising or reading a book by one of her favorite authors, Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb.

In addition to her parents, Vicky was preceded in death by her spouse of 57 years, Robert E. Lilly, a brother, William Clayton Hardin II, and a brother, Timothy Glen Hardin. Left to cherish her memory are her only child, her son, Robby Lilly, and his wife, Karen, her grandchildren, Brandon Lilly and Austin Lilly and his wife, Molly. 

Our family would like to express our sincere appreciation to close family friends, Jeff Young for the endless support he gave us along with the shoulder provided to cry upon when needed. Karla Young and Janie Radionov, for their support as well as the outings they took her on. Whether those outings were only a brief shopping trip or a ride “up on the mountain”, your help allowed us to keep her in her home for as long as possible and also provided us with much needed moments of respite. We would like to thank the numerous Physicians that were involved in her care throughout her journey: Dr. Joshua Long at Mountainiew Medical, Dr. William Marshall at Piedmont Psychiatric Associates, and last but not least,the extensive list of Physicians at Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center who cared for her during her lengthy last hospitalization. We would like to express our gratitude to all of the staff at her Memory Care Facility: Shawn,Nerissa,Darian,Shavonne,Paul and everyone else whose name we did not catch. Thank you for all of your tender loving care and for all the hugs that were lavished upon “Little Lillybug/Ms. Vicky” during her time there. Last, we want to thank all of the staff and volunteers at Mountain Valley Hospice for all of their help, care, equipment and guidance during her final days.

A private service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to Mountain Valley Hospice and Palliative Care, PO Box 325
Dobson, NC 27017

“There is one thing Alzheimer's cannot take away, and that is love.
Love is not a memory-it's a feeling that resides in your heart and soul."
www.fadetoblank.org

Slate Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Victoria Lynn Hardin Lilly. Online condolences may be offered at www.slatefh.com.

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