Lillian Krysak, Manager of Robert Krysak's Law Office, Has Passed

Lillian Julia Krysak, mother of Ramona attorney Robert Krysak, passed away peacefully at home in her sleep on Dec. 24, at age 84. She was known to many as the administrator of Krysak's legal office on D Street.

"She ran my office with both determination and compassion, and every client had to first pass through her," Krysak told Patch by email. "It was a wonderful first impression they received of my office. She continued to work until three weeks before she died, despite battling against cancer and emphysema for several years, never slowing down until she finally was forced into the hospital."

Lillian was preceded in death by her husband Edward Krysak. In addition to Robert, she is survived by her daughter Linda Hayes, grandchildren Bill, Jenny, Brian and Rick and her great granddaughters Giana and Eden. A memorial serviced honoring her memory will be held at 1 p.m. Jan. 7, at , 321 12th St., Ramona.

Lillian was born in New York City in 1927 to German immigrants Minna and Gotlieb Kienzle. She married Edward Krysak in 1953 and had two children, Linda in 1954 and Robert in 1956. While living in New York City, she worked for J.C. Penney as an administrative assistant to the Vice President/Catalogue. When J.C. Penney relocated their corporate offices to Plano, Texas, she went with them and lived in Dallas, Texas until 2000, when she moved to Ramona.

"My mom was a simple and caring mother," Krysak told Patch on Thursday. "She was not really involved directly in community affairs, but certainly lived them vicariously through me. She was my best friend and confidante, and assisted me with almost every decision I made and direction I took. She was very interested in politics and had definite and intense opinions.  It led to some interesting discussions within our family."

Krysak said that his mother had "humble beginnings," raising her children in a five-story walk-up apartment in the south Bronx.

"She instilled in us a fierce desire for achievement that led me to a law degree and my sister to a nursing degree," he said.

"Considering that she was independent and had her mental facilities until almost the end, suffered little despite the long illnesses, and died peacefully in her sleep, I say a death well done," Krysak told Patch. "We should all be so lucky."

Krysak has run a private law practice in Ramona since 1990. He served 14 years on the board of Ramona Municipal Water District, including nine years as chairman. He is president of both the Committee For A Better Ramona and the Ramona Bar Association, vice-president of the Ramona Town Hall Board of Trustees, secretary of the Ramona H.E.A.R.T. Mural Project, a member of the Planning Group South Subcommittee and board member of the Light of the Lamb Ministry.