Lilian Hawkins Obituary

Lilian Elizabeth Hawkins
November 19, 1934 - October 1, 2023
The Hawkins family mourns the passing of Lilian Hawkins (née Farmer), who died peacefully at Aegis of Corte Madera on October 1, 2023 of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. In her 88 years, Lilian built many strong connections, always leading with curiosity and openness. To her family, she was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and aunt who was an example to us all. To her many friends of all ages, she was a welcoming presence, an engaging storyteller, and a true listener. Her intelligence, caring nature, and sense of humor won her the respect of many admirers and made her highly effective in dispensing constructive advice.
Lilian was born November 19, 1934 and grew up in Edinburgh, Scotland, in the port of Leith. She was the fifth child in a family of seven children born to Margaret (Mackie) Farmer and John Farmer, who worked as a managing director for a shipping agent. Lilian grew up with a tremendous sense of love and security from her parents and siblings, with their Catholic faith and Leith community playing a prominent role.
Upon finishing school, Lilian began her secretarial career in Edinburgh before making the pivotal decision in 1959 to travel to Montreal and later San Francisco for work, ostensibly leaving Scotland only temporarily. In San Francisco, Lilian accepted a dance invitation from the tall, charming Stan Hawkins, a mechanical engineer born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya to British parents, and thus commenced their love story. A wedding in Edinburgh, a honeymoon in Mallorca and Rome and then back to live in San Francisco in Stan's bachelor apartment in North Beach next to Coit Tower.
A year and a half later, with one child and a second child on the way, they made the auspicious decision to purchase a home in Orinda on Francisco Court. This home was surrounded by the best kind of neighbors who became lifelong friends and served as a hospitable gathering place over the next 50 years.
Lilian and Stan found great joy in cultivating friendships. They were prolific entertainers, and guests could count on delicious meals and engaging conversation. Lilian had a wonderful way of making everyone feel accepted. Neighborhood children, numerous sets of friends, and countless overseas family and guests were all made to feel welcome.
Lilian delighted in the beauty of simple daily routines: volunteering at Del Rey Elementary School, coffee mornings with Francisco Court neighbors, driving the backroads of Lamorinda, community service with the Orinda Women's Club, weekly mass at St. Monica Catholic Church, movie nights at the Orinda Theater, walking weekly with friends (over 25 years!) on the Lafayette trails, many trips into the city on BART, always with a newspaper to keep up with current events, and never failing to admire the views of the surrounding golden hills.
In 1976 Lilian returned to work as an administrative assistant at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory where she stayed for 25 years. Lilian loved working with scientists from around the world up in the Berkeley hills. She elected to work 20 hour weeks with a 6:30 am start time, arriving before her colleagues in order to be home by 4pm to greet her children from school. Her three children always knew that they were her first priority.
Scotland and being Scottish were a major part of Lilian's identity, both to herself and to those who knew her. Everyone simply loved her lilting voice. And she had the most amazing laugh that lit up a room. At just 5'2", with a sparkle in her blue eyes, Lilian stood tall, always with poise and elegance. She reveled in introducing her Scottish family to all that she loved in California.
Upon Stan's passing in 2001, Lilian courageously continued to say "yes" to opportunities. Lilian instilled her love of travel and learning in her children and grandchildren. In addition to annual trips to Scotland, she visited six continents and circumnavigated the globe numerous times.
The family would like to thank the loving and caring people at Aegis of Corte Madera, including Sara in Assisted Living; Armonise and her team in Memory Care; and Crystal and Blanca from Continuum Hospice. The quality of Lilian's life was greatly enhanced by the Aegis Activity Team led by Jordana who created true connections amongst the residents in endlessly creative ways. Even in the later stages of Alzheimer's, Lilian still recognized her three children to the very end, an amazing gift.
Lilian is survived by her children, Pamela Casaudoumecq, Gordon Hawkins, and Audrey Yeo; their spouses, John Casaudoumecq and Christopher Yeo; her grandchildren, Laurel, Emma, Annabel and Stanley, and great-granddaughter, Kezzie; her brother Sir Tom Farmer of Edinburgh; and her many nieces and nephews around the globe. Requiem Mass will be held on Thursday, January 11, 2024 at 10 am, St Mary's, Star of the Sea, Leith. Followed by interment of ashes along with those of her beloved husband, Stanley Edward Hawkins, in Mount Vernon Cemetery, Edinburgh, Scotland.