"If you have 2 dollars, spent one dollar on bread -- and the other on flowers!"
Prices have gone up, but I still follow that life-giving advice and think of her!
Lila Lambert Carloni passed away on July 3, 2014. She was a Scarsdale resident for over 50 years until moving to South Salem NY in 2006. She was born on Lovers Lane in Greenfield, Massachusetts and grew up on Maple View Farm on Eden Trail with her parents Albert and Eleanor Lambert and 6 siblings. She graduated at 16 and went on to receive a scholarship from Vesper George School of Art in Boston MA.. There she met and married her former husband Armando R. Carloni (Mando) where they lived in New York City (Manhattan) before moving to Bronxville, then Scarsdale, NY.
During Lila and Mando's early years with their young family, they enjoyed summers in Rockport MA., home to the famous "Motif Number 1". It was an inspiration for them as Artists and a place by the sea, that was loved by them, their children and their friends. She is survived by her sister A. Jean Lambert, her son Vincent A. Carloni, daughters Mona Antilla Carloni and Carol Speirs, sons-in-law Douglas William Speirs and Scott Antilla and grandchildren Alexander Carloni, Kati Carloni, Vincent Carloni, Mara and Rayna Antilla.
Her professional career began in Hartford Connecticut working for G. Fox & Co. department store, then to NYC. She was an accomplished Fashion Illustrator. Her work appeared in Vogue, McCalls, Peck & Peck, Best & Company, Lord & Taylor and others. Her Christmas shadow boxes and painted eggs appeared in the windows of Bergdorf Goodman and Henri Bendel on Fifth Avenue. In the 60's Lila and Mando owned an Art Gallery "Gallery One" on Popham Road in Scarsdale NY for a time. Later she worked as an independent Interior Designer and Floral Designer for weddings and events.
She was an active member of St. James the Less Church in Scarsdale. Her deep faith and unwavering love for the church gave her constant strength during her very full life. She formed many close bonds of friendship there that still exist today. She was truly blessed to have them in her life.
She will be remembered as an elegant, talented woman with an amazing sense of style and vibrant spirit. Keep her in your hearts and prayers until we all meet again.
A memorial service and internment in Greenfield, MA will be planned for September.