Maria Amelia Lilly's Obituary
Remembering Maria Amelia Lilly
September 7, 1953 – March 29, 2025
It is with a heavy heart we announce that on March 29, 2025, our beloved Maria Amelia Lilly peacefully entered the Lord’s kingdom, leaving behind a legacy of love, faith, and devotion.
Born Maria Amelia Acosta-Irizarry on September 7, 1953, in Ensenada, Puerto Rico, she was the eldest of four children born to Luz Virginia Irizarry and Antonio Acosta. A devoted Catholic, Maria lived a life of compassion, shaping the lives of all who knew her—family, students, colleagues, and her church community.
With a deep passion for education and the arts, she earned her B.A. in Plásticas from Recinto Universitario de Mayagüez and pursued a Master’s in Graphic Arts in Mexico City, where she met and married the love of her life, Jimmy Lee Lilly. Together, they raised seven children.
For over 50 years, Maria was a beloved educator in Puerto Rico, California, and Miami-Dade County, Florida, touching countless young lives. Her kindness, patience, and creativity made her an unforgettable teacher. A gifted artist, she was also commissioned with Christ the King Catholic Church to create art for special occasions in Miami for over 30 years.
Maria was the heart of her family and a beacon of selflessness and strength. She was predeceased by her loving husband Jimmy Lilly and is survived by her siblings Antonio, Maria Lucia, and Maria Ines; her children Albert, Jimmy Jr, Shenara, Jessica, Lee-Henry, Michael, and Robert Lilly; and her eleven cherished beloved grandchildren Kana, Jesiah, Xiwan, Jahzrah, Valentina, Sapphira, Noemi, Jimmy III., Lillianna, Lucas, and Kalel and many other children she considered her own.
Maria’s love and legacy will continue to shine through the many lives she touched.
Join us in honoring the life of Maria A. Lilly
Viewing:
Tuesday April 8, 2025 4-9pm
Van Orsdel Funeral Home, Kendall Chapel
11220 N. Kendall Drive Miami, FL 33176
Mass:
Wednesday April 9, 2025 10 AM
Christ The King
16000 SW 112th Ave,
Miami, FL 33157-2804
Thank you to those who have reached out to offer their condolences and support. If you would like to honor and support our family in memorializing our beloved mother, Maria A. Lilly, we kindly ask that instead of sending flowers, you consider donating to our GoFundMe. Your generosity will help fulfill her final wish—to be laid to rest with her ancestors in her homeland of Puerto Rico.
Your love and support mean the world to us during this difficult time. Thank you for helping us grant her this sacred journey home.
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