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Lilies in Memory of Lily

By
Real Estate Agent with eXp Realty of California, Inc. CA DRE #01490977

Lilies in Honor of Our Cat Lily

 

We lost Lily about 2 years ago, our female Maine Coon Cat that we had had since her kittenhood, about 19 years. She was a delightful, playful and friendly lap cat and we were devastated when she became quite ill. It was such a sad time and our home became cat-less, something we had not experienced for many years.

 

Lilies for our cat Lily

 

My wife planted a bunch of lily bulbs after Lily died in her memory, and we have been waiting for them to bloom...it's taken quite a while but they are beautiful and greet us from the front patio when we come home.

 

It took a few months but we acquired another rescue cat, also part Maine Coon Cat, about 6 months later. Fiona is a delight but different from Lily...and that's purrfectly OK. It was hard to not have a fur friend in the house for those months and we have fond memories of Lily, as we have of all the cats who have shared our lives.

Posted by

Jeff Dowler, CRS
Certified Residential Specialist / Realtor®


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Comments(12)

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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hello Jeff - nearly two decades seems like a long time but I can also understand where it can appear as not quite enough.   Living things can be similar but different. Enough of each to be unique.  Simple to explain in some ways but complicated in many more.  

Jun 13, 2025 03:37 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS

Hi Michael Jacobs 

Yes, it felt long in some ways and yet the time passed quickly. True of many things in life, no?!

Jeff

Jun 17, 2025 11:42 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Real Estate Broker

Good morning, Jeff... what a lovely way to remember your Lily. Then again, you did have 19 wonderful years with her and she had a good life.

Jun 13, 2025 04:20 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS

Thank you Nina Hollander, Broker 

The lilies make us smile, and many are still blooming - it's been several weeks now. And, yes, we had fond memories of Lily and her time with us.

Jeff

Jun 17, 2025 11:44 AM
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Oswego, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Good morning. A lily tribute to Lily! After 19 years with you it seems appropriate. Lily had a long life in your home. view the lily and bask in the memories. Fiona is one lucky cat!

Jun 13, 2025 04:35 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS

Thank you Wayne Martin  Fiona has some big shoes to fill, so to speak, but has done so admirably. We have wonderful memories of all of our pets.

Jeff

Jun 17, 2025 11:45 AM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

That's a fantastic way (and appropriate too) to honor and remember Lily. And Fiona is a lucky cat to have been brought into your household!

Jun 13, 2025 05:04 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS

Thank you Kat Palmiotti  We both thought the lilies were a fitting memorial and hopefully will reappear again in the future.

We waited about 6 months after Lily passed before rescuing Fiona - she is a very different cat from Lily as one would expect, but very special to us.

Jeff

Jun 17, 2025 11:47 AM
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

I am sure that Lily appreciates the beauty that has been dedicated to her memory and all of the love that was given to her throughout her lifetime!

Jun 13, 2025 06:24 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS

Thank you for the kind words Brian England  We have some special memories of Lily's time on earth.

Jeff

Jun 17, 2025 11:48 AM
Gwen Fowler SC Lakes & Mountains 864-710-4518
Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc - Walhalla, SC
Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc.

Lily was blessed to have you for such a long time.  I am glad you now have Fiona to fill the gap, but also to challenge you to new adventures.  Have a great weekend.

Jun 13, 2025 06:36 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS

Thank you Gwen Fowler SC Lakes & Mountains 864-710-4518  We actually had another cat for almost 22 years. Our time with each cat we have had is very special. We enjoy Fiona and her antics and are building wonderful memories with her, too.

Jeff

Jun 17, 2025 11:50 AM
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

How sweet, Jeff.
Lily lives on in plant form. I do love lilies, and yours are beautiful. 
I'm glad you found Fiona to fill some of the void. 
Did you know that "Fiona" is used as a cultivar name for several different plan species, including climatic roses, and coleus? Perhaps you could plant something to keep Lily company.   😊

Jun 13, 2025 09:34 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS

I did not know that Carol Williams  - thank you for the education, and a great idea.

We did NOT name Fiona after the singer, Fiona Apple!

Jeff

Jun 17, 2025 11:52 AM
Lew Corcoran
Better Living Real Estate, LLC - East Bridgewater, MA
Expert guidance. Exceptional results.

Thank you so much for sharing this heartfelt story, Jeff Dowler, CRS. I truly appreciate your openness and the way you honor Lily’s memory with such warmth. It’s a beautiful reminder of how pets leave paw prints on our hearts, and I’m grateful for you sharing that with us 😊

Jun 13, 2025 02:11 PM
Jeff Dowler, CRS

Thank you so much for your kind words, Lew Corcoran  "Paw prints on our hearts" is a wonderful sentiment!

Jeff

Jun 17, 2025 11:53 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Retired Home Stager/Redesign

Jeff- what a beautiful flower and very appropriate for your Lily. It must bring a smile to your face, and to your wife's when you see them waiting for you in your front patio. 

Jun 13, 2025 04:27 PM
Jeff Dowler, CRS

Thank you Kathy Streib 

We do indeed smile, and comment, on the lilies every time we come home...including VERY early this morning at 1:30 AM returning from our trip to upstate NY these last 4 days for a family reunion.

Jeff

Jun 17, 2025 11:55 AM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Jeff those are beautiful lilies.  Mine have not started to bloom yet.

Jun 13, 2025 04:43 PM
Jeff Dowler, CRS

Thanks for stopping by George Souto  Hope you can enjoy some lilies in your yard soon!

Jeff

Jun 17, 2025 11:56 AM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
Retired Broker/Owner - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

What a wonderful way to celebrate the loving kitty Lily was to all of you Jeff!  I love it!  We still miss our kitty and our Sweet little Barney too and thankful we have Norman to keep us laughing all day long.  One thing the little guy loves to do is knock all the throw pillows off the sofa in the living room.  We can hear noise coming from there and sometimes we catch him in the 'act'.  Norman.......did you do that!!  He gives us that - it wasn't me look!   We all love our fur babies, don't we!!

Jun 17, 2025 11:13 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS

Hi Anna "Banana" Kruchten  Each fur family member has their own unique qualities and antics, don't they? And we do remember them fondly.

That's a pretty funny story about Norman!

Jeff

Jun 17, 2025 12:17 PM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Planting flowers is a nice way to remember a loved pet.

Enjoy your lilies.

Jun 18, 2025 03:36 AM