Lillian was born in Brooklyn, New York on December 31, 1930, to Savino and Josephine Beni. Lillian was raised in Poughkeepsie and Hyde Park, New York, graduating from Roosevelt High School in Hyde Park, New York. Lillian married Ralph Tortorella Jr. from Highland, New York in 1952, he predeceased her in June of 2013. The couple were married for sixty-one (61) years.
Lillian began her career as a volunteer and then as an employee of St. Francis Hospital for more than 30 years. Lillian participated in numerous fundraising activities for her children, church and other philanthropic organizations for most of her life. Lillian was an avid cook and her recipes were published in the Poughkeepsie Journal at various times of her life.
When Lilian retired, she moved to San Jose, California with her husband and resided at the Villages Golf & Country Club, where she served in various capacities, ultimately receiving the honor of being selected as the Grand Marshal of club’s annual 4th of July parade in 1998. Following her husband’s death, Lillian moved to the Los Angeles area to be closer to her daughter.
Lillian is survived by her daughter Donna Jo Kahl and her husband Paul Northey of El Segundo, California; Ralph and Sandy Tortorella III of Wellesley, Massachusetts; and her four grandchildren Phillip Kahl, Hailey Eileen Tortorella, Sophie Rose Tortorella and Allison Beni Tortorella. Lillian is also survived by her youngest sister Josephine Beni McEntee of San Jose, California and many nieces and nephews.
Burial services will be private at St. Peters Cemetery in Poughkeepsie, New York.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The Huntington Retirement Facility, 20920 Earl Street, Torrance, California 90503.

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