Lillian Gustafson

Lillian graduated from the former Celeron High School, the former WCA Hospital School of Nursing (class of 1946) and from Jamestown Community College. She also attended SUNY Geneseo where she completed her school nursing certification. Lillian was employed at WCA Hospital, the office of Dr. John Voltmann, and Falconer Central School as the school nurse.

With her husband, Ward, they enjoyed their Cessna Aerobat Aeroplane for several years. Lillian became the family historian for her side of the family and her husband’s side of the family, having interviewed elderly members prior to their deaths to add to her biographies. She made 4 memorial quilts for family members and kept her loved ones up to date with family photo albums.

She was the widow of C. Ward Chapman whom she married on Nov. 6, 1946, and who died on Apr. 1, 2000, after 54 years of marriage. Surviving are her beloved family, daughter and caregiver, Linda Hiers (Craig) of Jamestown and a son, Robert Chapman (Susan) of Suttons Bay Michigan, and her grandson, Eric, who lives in New York City. Her sister-in-law Ruby Gustafson lives locally, and she has several nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, stepfather (Carl Peterson) and her precious granddaughter, Hilary Chapman, who died in Nov. of 2013. Her sister, Margaret Carlson, died in 2015 and her brother, Richard, died in 2017.

She will be remembered as a loving and caring wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. People describe her as ” the sweetest person I ever knew, ” she was sunshine always”, ” her glass was always half full”,” she always focused on the good in others”, ” and “she loved life.” She will be missed by so many people who she has befriended along her way.

Lillian was a former member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, the Retired Teachers Association, the Alumni Association of the WCA School of Nursing, The American Scandinavian Heritage Foundation, the Marvin House, The Fenton History Center, the Audubon Nature Center and the Raul Wallenberg Committee. She also was a member of the Chautauqua Reading Society and the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle class of 1993. She was an avid reader of fiction and nonfiction even up to 1 month before her death.

Arrangements are entrusted to Lind Funeral Home. There will be no visitation and there will be a graveside service in Sept. attended by close family members, at Lillian’s request. Burial will be at Bear Lake Cemetery in Bear Lake, PA.

Memorial gifts may be made in her honor to the Chautauqua County Humane Society at 2825 Strunk Rd. Jamestown, NY 14701, (chqhumane.org), or to the National Kidney Foundation, (Donations@kidney.org).

To leave words of condolence, please visit lindfuneralhome.com