September 6, 2013
Johnsen, Lillian H.
Lillian Helen (Smith) Johnsen, a resident of Dedham since 1957, died Thursday, September 5th in Dedham. She was 97. Lillian was born July 6, 1916 in Boston, Massachusetts, the daughter of Anne Bell and George Smith, immigrants from Scotland. After high school she spent a year in secretarial school and then worked for over 20 years as a secretary for the Norfolk County Commissioners in Dedham, until her retirement in the latter 1980’s. She was a member of the Riverdale Congregational Church in Dedham until it closed. Lillian was the wife of the late Johan Sven Johnsen who predeceased her in 1995; the mother of the late Kenneth Johnsen; and the sister of the late George Smith, Robert Smith, Rita Graves, and Gertrude Aylward. She is survived by her son, Robert Bruce Johnsen of West Roxbury; and her three granddaughters, Nicole King, Amanda King, and Briana King. Services and interment in Knollwood Memorial Park in Canton were private.
Comments(3)
Our sincere sympathies to Bruce.
We remember Lil as one of the kindest, sincerest people that we have ever met. She was also the secretary for the Norfolk County Engineering Dept. for many of the years that she worked for Norfolk County. A tough job as the only girl in an all male department. In her job she performed miracles with her IBM Selectric typewriter and carbon paper copies that she produced. She was always interested in the wellbeing of “the guys”. We also got to know her husband, Johan, as he occasionally would come into the office when he came to pick her up for lunch. They were both wonderful people and I’m sure that had anyone else gotten to know them they’d say the same thing about them.
Most sincerely, Clayton (Tony) Ryan
Dear Bruce,
Bonnie and I extend our deepest sympathy to you upon the loss of your Mother.
George Wilkins
Dear Bruce,
We go way back as our parents were the best of friends for many years. I always enjoyed talking to your mom over the phone. I enjoyed her sense of humor and she always enjoyed talking to me about the past with our families, but more so our parents trips to Florida. She was a special lady.
And you such a good son to her. Your mother always said to me ” I don’t know what I would do without Bruce”. My deepest sympathy to you. You are in my thoughts and prayers at this very difficult time.
Sincerely,
Cheryl Brown and family..