Lillian Alice Gage Mathews, age 97, residing in Edinboro, PA since 1946, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 7, 2011 at Edinboro Manor where she resided since March of this year. Born on August 12, 1914 in Cambridge Township, Crawford County, PA, Lillian was a daughter of the late George Reed Gage and Pattie McGill Gage. She grew up on the family farm outside of Cambridge Springs, attended Isherwood Corners School, and graduated from Cambridge Springs High School and Erie Business School. She married Vernon W. Mathews on December 31, 1941 and he preceded her in death on October 29, 1996.
Beginning in 1946, she, together with her husband, owned and operated the former Charles Stanford’s Grocery and Meats located in downtown Edinboro. In 1952, they built the IGA Foodliner and continued to operate the store until their retirement in 1971. She was an active member of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Drakes Mills for over 60 years and was a past member of the Edinboro Order of Eastern Star. Lillian and her husband enjoyed attending their grandson’s extracurricular activities of cross-country meets and basketball games.
Family members surviving Lillian include two daughters – Carol Yankovich and Linda Mathews both of Edinboro; two grandsons – David B. Yankovich and his wife, Tina of Pittsburgh and John T. Yankovich of Erie; two great grandchildren – Josie Kay Yankovich and Chase Wilken Yankovich; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by two brothers – George Gage and Howard Gage.
Friends may call at the Van Matre Family Funeral Home, 306 Erie Street, Edinboro on Friday from 1:00 until 3:30 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 4:00 p.m. at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Drakes Mills with Reverend Dr. David Genzer officiating.
The family would like to acknowledge the excellent care that their mother received from the attendants at Edinboro Manor as well as from the Edinboro Volunteer Fire Department for their help on several occasions throughout the year. Memorials may be made to St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church at 25812 Mt. Pleasant Road, Cambridge Springs, PA 16403.
To Carol Yankovich and all the Gage relations, our sympathy for your great loss! Another amazing person in this amazing family who I had the privilege of getting to know through St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. I’m sorry we weren’t able to be in Edinboro or Drake’s Mills to pay our respects.