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Celebrate Jan Lilien Day!

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes, 17 seconds
Celebrate Jan

Sunday, April 24, 2022, at 2 PM

On Sunday, April 24, 2022, at 2 pm in Hanson Park in Cranford, NJ, we held Celebrate Jan Lilien Day. We celebrated her life as we dedicate and break ground on a living memorial for her in the park.

Celebrate Jan Day was a success. One hundred friends joined our family and volunteers from the Hanson Park Conservancy to celebrate her life as we dedicate and break ground on a living memorial for her in the park.

Video clips of all of the speeches from Celebrate Jan Day are not available.

What began as a desire to plant a tree to honor Jan has grown into a living memorial.

  1. Our family donated to plant a Forest Pansy Redbud tree,
  2. One hundred seventy-three friends donated to purchase two memorial benches,
  3. Working with the Hanson Park Conservancy, we will transform the triangular garden at the entrance by adding flower beds and a wind sculpture for meditation, contemplation, and dreams,
  4. The final cost of the benches was less than what was raised. The balance was used to establish the Jan Lilien Education Fund, which will sponsor ongoing sustainability and environmental awareness programs.

Checks should be made payable to the Hanson Park Conservancy with a note that this is a donation for The Jan Lilien Education Fund and mailed to:

The Jan Lilien Education Fund
Hanson Park Conservancy 
PO Box 542
Cranford, NJ  07016 

We are working with Hanson Park and Carolle Huber Landscape Architecture to develop a creative reimagination of the Hanson Park Triangle. Click here for a PDF of the design.

Hanson Park Display Carolle Huber
Jan Lilien Memorial Triangle Garden

In addition, we will be installing Lyman Whitaker Wind Sculptures in the Hanson Park Triangle. The Double Spinner will reflect Jan’s spirit and enthusiasm for life. It will also be a beacon to the Cranford community and encourage more people to visit Hanson Park.

Lyman Whitaker
Double Spinner – Copper

The memorial benches and plaques with the inscriptions have been installed.

Human Rights Ellen
Ellen McHenry, President of the Hanson Park Conservancy.

We have bookmarks designed with love by my sister-in-law Linda Brown.

These will be distributed to those who attend in person or virtually to Celebrate Jan Day.

As we get closer to the date, we will update you on our plans for the triangle.

Jan Lilien Bookmark

Event Details

Sunday, April 24, 2022, 2 pm, at Hanson Park, 38 Springfield Avenue, Cranford, NJ 07106. 

Register to Attend Celebrate Jan Day
Add to Calendar
Parking for Celebrate Jan Day
Parking Options for Celebrate Jan Day
  • Accessible Parking for those who requested it will be available on-site.
  • All other parking will be at St. Michael’s School. 
  • The GPS address for the school is 100 Alden Street, Cranford, NJ, 07016.  
  • If you are on Alden Street, you will need to go past the school. 
  • At the intersection of Holly and Alden, make a right turn. 
  • On Springfield Avenue, you will turn onto Holly Street, away from the park.
  • Event parking direction signs will be placed in critical locations.
  • The parking lot is one-half block from Hanson Park.

If you share on social media with the links on this page, please use these hashtags.

  • #sharingjanslove
  • #janlilien
  • #loverneverdies
Celebrate Jan
Download a Printable Version of the Save the Date
Hanson Park Map

Join us on April 24, 2022, at 2 pm at Hanson Park Conservancy Cranford to Celebrate Jan. We will celebrate her life as…

Posted by Richard W. Brown on Thursday, November 11, 2021
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Eleven-year-old Gopi has been playing squash since she was old enough to hold a racket. When her mother dies, her father enlists her in a quietly brutal training regimen, and the game becomes her world. Slowly, she grows apart from her sisters. Her life is reduced to the sport, guided by its rhythms: the serve, the volley, the drive, the shot, and its echo.

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The Jan Lilien Education Fund sponsors ongoing sustainability and environmental awareness programs. Gifts made this month; I will match dollar-for-dollar. All donations are tax-deductible.

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