In Memory of Lillian Habinowski

In Memory of Lillian Habinowski

Lillian Habinowski
Lillian Habinowski at the wedding of Pastor Joanne Engquist and Kari Lipke in May 2011.

We give thanks for the life of Lillian Habinowski, a beloved member of the UniLu community, who died on December 25, 2021 at age 92.

Lillian was a professional artist who studied at Boston’s School of the Museum of Fine Arts for five years, receiving a Certificate in Art in Painting with highest honors. Her portrait of Bishop Krister Stendahl hung in the halls of Harvard Divinity School for many years, and is now in the collection of the Harvard Art Museum.

At University Lutheran, Lillian was instrumental in the creation of our Advent banners; as the 1989 issue of the Inkspot reported, “Our grateful thanks for the banners, and for the process, go to Sharon Bauer, Christina Hepner-Brodie, Missy Daniel, Jean Lokensgard, May Reisz, and Diane Roman—but especially to the ‘magical midwifery’ of Lillian Habinowski who evoked and unified the process.” She also exhibited her own work in our Alumni/ae Room gallery. Most recently, her conversation with photographer Chris Pollari led to the creation of the Reformation 500 banners.

Funeral services will be private. If you would like to share a remembrance of Lillian, please visit the Tribute Wall for Lillian on the Keefe Funeral Home website.

May God comfort Lillian’s family, her many friends, and all who mourn.