Lillian Anna (Lily) Rood, age 89 of Ypsilanti, passed away Thursday, April 22, 2010 at the Arbor Hospice Facility in  Ann Arbor, from newly diagnosed acute leukemia.  She was born in South Haven on September 27, 1920,  a daughter of Edward A. and Glendora (Enlow) Rood. In childhood she was particularly close to her brother Ted, her double cousin Phyllis, and cousins Shirley and Patty. Lily attended Covert High School and graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a Bachelor's degree in music and early-elementary education. She then received her masters degree in Guidance and Counseling in 1958.



Lily served in the US Army Air Force as a PFC during W.W.II at Hamilton Field, California. She was hostess/piano player in a service club for the servicemen departing for the Pacific Theater. She later worked as an early-el classroom teacher, then a music teacher at Wayne Westland Schools in Wayne, retiring in 1980. Lily was paid nursing assistant, sitting with patients who needed constant supervision at U of M from 1985 until 1991. She also volunteered, providing music for an Adult Day Care and leading the singing services at Glacier Hills Retirement and Convalescent Center in Ann Arbor. Lily was a musician, songwriter, philosopher and poet, and was a reliable source of comfort and Sunday dinners to her extended family over many decades. She traveled to the Chautauqua Institution in NY every summer for many years, sharing the experience with her children and grandchildren when possible.



Surviving Lily are her daughters Susan (Pat) Cook of Ypsilanti, Nancy Enlow of Toronto Canada, and Janis (Rex) Manning of Frankenmuth, brother Frank E. Rood of Frederick, MD, grandchildren Russell Randolph (Heather) of Carleton; David Enlow of New York City,  Katie Enlow and Galen Enlow of Toronto, Rex William Manning, Frankenmuth, Selena Cook, Warren, as well as great-grandchildren and many fine nieces and nephews now living all over the country.  She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Janice Barnes and brothers Alton Rood and Edward A. Rood, Jr.  Lily was cared for from August 2009 -  March 2010 by family friend, Donna Ireland, of Chelsea, MI.  Donna made her last months healthy, safe and comfortable, and her service is deeply appreciated by the family.



Relatives and friends will be received Tuesday from 12-1 p.m. at the Eley Funeral Home in Centreville, where Services will follow at 1:00 p.m.. Dr. Reverend Karin Orr of the Centreville United Methodist Church will officiate. Interment will be at Prairie River Cemetery in Centreville. The family will appreciate memorial contributions made to the church.