Lieselotte Erika Bumme Means, beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, went to sleep with the Lord on September 24, 2018, after a long period of declining health. Lieselotte “Lilo” was born on September 5, 1934, in Halberstadt, Germany. Shortly after her birth her family relocated to Berlin where they lived throughout the war and through the fall of Berlin to the Russian army. After the war, at the age of 15, she left Germany to journey to America to be with her older sister Christa, who had married and relocated to Milton, Florida. In Milton her brother-in-law’s family, the Childers, lovingly welcomed her and cared for her.

Her life in America took her to Oklahoma where Lilo was introduced to her future husband, John A. Means, by the woman who would be her future mother-in-law, Frances Holland. Mrs. Holland met Lilo at a church bible study group and arranged their first date when she told her son, “This is an outstanding young woman. I wouldn’t wait around son.” Lilo and John were married in Brewton, Alabama, on May 3, 1952. Lilo was a devoted and supportive wife and helpmate who traveled throughout America and France with her husband during his military career with the US Army. After John left the Army and transitioned to civilian life she was equally supportive as they relocated to Texas, Illinois, California, and ultimately North Carolina.

Lilo was a caring mother to her three daughters, Mary Means, Sarah Smith (Craig Smith), and Naomi Tsujimura (Masatoshi Tsujimura). She was a most beloved and treasured grandmother to her three grandchildren, Miyuki Ruth Keller (Frank Keller), Toshiya Lucas Tsujimura, and Norikazu Joshua Tsujimura. She was pre-deceased by her husband John who passed away in 1988. She is also survived by her sister Christa Childers or Prescott Valley, Arizona and her nephews Gunter and Heiner (Corolla) Dittrich of Berlin, Germany.

Lilo’s life was one marked by the traits of care, compassion, and selfless service to others. She was always active in her church and loved her church home Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, in Raleigh. She was a devoted friend who supported and cared for many of her friends as they moved into care facilities. She had a great love of animals (stray dogs the best). She loved the wide open spaces she found in America. She especially loved the plains of Oklahoma and Texas and the deserts of Arizona and New Mexico. She was always grateful for the great compassion and kindness she experienced in this country after leaving Germany. The family would like to thank the staff of Wake Assisted Living for all their care and compassion to Lilo over the past three years. A visitation will be held on Tues. Sept. 24, 2018 from 5-7 pm at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church at 5000 Lead Mine Rd, Raleigh, NC. The funeral will be held at the same location on Wed. Sept. 25 at 11 am with a burial to follow at Montlawn Cemetery in Raleigh, NC.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church Building Fund or to the Wake County SPCA