Elizabeth Linnea Ekberg

Elizabeth Lisa Ekberg, 101, who died on Monday, December 4, 2006, at Pilgrim Manor Care Center in Cromwell, Connecticut. Born in Orange, Massachusetts, to Simon E. and Anna Johnson Tilden, Lisa grew up and lived most of her life in Springfield, Massachusetts. She had two sisters, Ruth and Martha. Lisa graduated from Agawam High School, and on May 10, 1929, she married a bricklayer, Karl-Eric Ekberg, in Mamaroneck, New York. She remained very close to her mother, who died when Lisa was 26. Eric and Lisa had no children, but were very close to Martha's son, John Moline. Martha and her husband appreciated their involvement and agreed that John should be thought of as "partially theirs". The couple joined the Evangelical Covenant Church of Springfield, and the church became the center of their lives. They were very active, working especially to support church missions, and later became part of the Over Sixty group. Lisa was a lifelong member of the Evangelical Covenant Church. Lisa worked as a bank teller at Shawmut First Bank in Springfield for 21 years. She and Eric built a home in Springfield during The Great Depression, doing much of the work themselves, beginning with clearing the land. Lisa remained close to the land and loved to garden. Eric died in 1971, and Lisa remained in Springfield. She was an active member of the Springfield church for 64 years. In 1984 she moved to an apartment in the Morningside building of Covenant Village of Cromwell where she had many friends, and quickly found many new ones. She joined the Hilltop Covenant Church in December of 1990. Lisa took great pride in the accomplishments of her nephew, Dr. John Moline, and enjoyed frequent visits from him and his wife, Sandy and dear niece, Deb Erwin. She is remembered by family and friends as a warm and wonderful person, whose generosity touched their lives in many ways. Lisa was able to accept whatever came her way with faith and humor, and often quoted a Swedish saying that translates roughly to "as it is" or "so it goes". She believed in the hereafter and looked forward to seeing her mother and other loved ones again in heaven. It was reported by those in attendance that Lisa saw her husband, Eric, just before she died. Predeceased by her husband, Karl-Eric, and sister, Ruth T. Convey, Lisa is survived by her sister, Martha Moline, of Lawrenceville, Georgia; her "shared" son, Dr. John Moline, of Dunellon, Florida; and several nieces and nephews. There will be a memorial service for Lisa at 2:00 pm on Friday, December 29, 2006, at the CVOC chapel, 52 Missionary Road, Cromwell, Connecticut, The Reverends Timothy Stohlberg and Susan Knight, officiating. Fellowship will follow the service at a reception in the Hilltop Lounge of Pilgrim Manor Care Center. Burial will be in Hillcrest Park Cemetery, Springfield, Massachusetts, at the convenience of the family. Erickson-Hansen Funeral Home, 411 South Main Street, New Britain, Connecticut, is in charge of the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, donations in Lisa's memory may be made to The CVOC Benevolent Care Fund, 52 Missionary Road, Cromwell, Connecticut 06416.