Cavendish, formerly of Barnard, Vermont

Lillian (Wark) Wuttke DeGiacomo passed away at her home in Cavendish, VT on April 18, 2019, at the age of 101.

A native of Brooklyn, NY, Lillian grew up and attended schools in Baldwin, Long Island, NY. She graduated in 1935 and was married in 1941 to William C. Wuttke Sr., who was a Japanese P.O.W. during World War II. During the war, Lillian worked at Grumman's airplane plant in Long Island helping produce airplanes for our servicemen. After the war, she lived on Long Island, NY, Dallastown, PA, and in Des Moines, IA, where she worked as an Administrative Assistant at Drake University. Her husband, Bill, died in 1977.

While in Des Moines, Lillian started working with ceramics and China painting. She won several awards at the Iowa State Fair and ceramic shows. She started her own porcelain business and after marrying Wallace DeGiacomo, a long-time friend and widower she moved to Barnard, VT in 1982. Lillian was proud of her Scottish heritage and was active in the Scottish Heritage organizations everywhere she lived. She was overjoyed to have the opportunity to visit Scotland and the Isle of Islay several times and meet distant relatives. Lillian loved to listen to the Scottish bagpipes and drums.

Lil and Wally operated "The Different Drummer", their antique and gift shop in Barnard. Lillian produced porcelain figurines and reproduction China-head dolls, and was fondly known as "The Doll Lady." Her work was on display at the Vermont State Craft Center, Windsor House, Billings Farm and Museum and several commercial establishments. She was a member of the Silver Lake Progressive Club of Barnard, the Vermont Crafts Council, the Vermont Council of the Arts and the Barnard Historical Society.

In recent years Lillian has lived with her son, Christopher, in Cavendish VT where she continued to expand her collection of antique dolls and enjoyed entertaining family and friends who came to visit.

We will always cherish the memories of the gatherings of family and friends in Cavendish celebrating her 90th, 100th and 101st birthdays. She loved her pet cats, Matilda and Fergus, who brought her much joy. Lillian often commented that of all the places she had lived, she loved Vermont the best.

Lillian is survived by her 5 sons, William C. Wuttke Jr. (Mel), Mountain House, CA, Peter M. Wuttke, Silver Springs, MD, Allen W. Wuttke (Cheryl), Overland Park, KS, G. Christopher Wuttke (Kerry), Cavendish, VT, and Keith D. Wuttke (Nancy), S. Royalton, VT and sister-in-law, Adeline (Wuttke) Jahelka. She will be lovingly remembered by her 7 grandchildren, Heather L. Wuttke; Heidi M. Wuttke; Christine Wuttke; Lindsay A. Stephenson; Laura M. Williams; Callie Wuttke and William C. Wuttke. Lillian will be forever missed by her 5 great-grandchildren: Ella Holmes; Kenneth S. Wuttke, Kaya L. Stephenson; Hunter A. Williams and Stella G. Williams.

Lillian was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Bertha Wark, her sisters, Lydia Schoch and Mary Wainwright, her brother John Wark, her niece, Nancy Schoch and her beloved daughter, Heather Christine, and her husbands, William C. Wuttke Sr., and Wallace DeGiacomo. Today Lillian is overjoyed to be joining Heather and Bill in heaven.

Lillian will always live on and be remembered by future generations of her family thanks to the biographies of her life that she wrote and her handmade dolls and Christmas ornaments that will be passed down as family heirlooms.

Memorial donations in memory of Lillian can be made to Visiting Nurse Hospice, White River Junction VT or Springfield Humane Society, Springfield, VT, or to Silver Lake Progressive Club, Scholarship Fund, Barnard VT.

Services are being planned for a later date

Arrangements are under the direction of the Cabot Funeral Home in Woodstock, Vermont. An on line guest book can be found at cabotfh.com