Lillian Iela Lum, 89, of Jonestown, peacefully stepped from this life into Heaven on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022, at her daughter’s home in Penn Run. She was the wife of the late Rev. Leonard J. Lum.
Born on Aug. 8, 1932, in Georges Run, OH, she was the daughter of the late Kelly D. and Lillian Cummings Leach.
She met her future husband at Allentown Bible College. They were married in 1954, and they faithfully served with the Pilgrim Holiness Church of New York, Inc., at a church in Montrose, PA, and at the Brushton, Canandaigua, Rockwood, and Middleburgh churches in New York. She proved through the years to be a true anchor and helpmate to her husband’s life calling. She delighted in supporting him, her children, and the grandchildren in all their endeavors, and she took great pleasure in watching them all blossom and succeed.
She had a calm grace, a peaceful spirit, and a quiet confidence that one would know they were in the presence of someone who spent time with Jesus. She will be remembered for her hospitality, incredible love in attending church and camp meetings, her support of missionaries, and her desire to see the church grow. She attended the Lebanon Gospel Center and loved the people there.
She was an avid reader and took excellent care of the birds. She enjoyed traveling, especially her trips to the Holy Land, Brazil, Alaska, and her son’s cabin in New York. She loved spending winters in Hobe Sound, FL, and loved the people at the church and college.
She also loved her family so well. She always enjoyed hearing of their adventures and lived through the stories they told. Her dying word was the desire to see all her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren in heaven. She lived well and left a legacy for all to follow.
Those left to cherish her memories are her children, Sharon M., wife of Daniel Heckman, of Penn Run, Larry D., husband of Kathy Lum, of Sunset, SC, John W., husband of Gloria Lum, of Taylorsville, KY, and Stephen P., husband of Vickie Lum, of Jonestown; 17 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; a sister, Delores, wife of Ralph Baynum, of Spring Lake, MI; a daughter-in-law, Rebecca Lum, of Hobe Sound, FL; and her nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her son, Rev. L. Duane Lum, great-grandsons, Marshall and Michael Lum, a brother, Dale Leach, and sisters, Juanita Hesser and Marian Hughes.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, Feb. 21, at 11 a.m. at the Kreamer & Lum Funeral Home & Crematory, Jonestown. A viewing will begin at 9:30 a.m. until the start of the service. Interment will follow later in the week at the Lum family cemetery in Decatur, NY.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Indiana Wesleyan Methodist Church Building Fund, 31 S. 12th St., Indiana, PA 15701, or to the Gospel Center, 27 N. 10th St., Lebanon, PA 17046.