OBIT: Liliane Thibodeau was a Campbell Fixture

Liliane Jacqueline Thibodeau, a longtime resident of Campbell, passed away in her home on Monday, August 13 at the age of 70.

Liliane was born in Geneva, Switzerland in December of 1941.

She left Switzerland with her six-year-old son, Serge, in 1967 for Bermuda and a new life adventure. She was an independent, intelligent woman who loved to travel. She stayed working in Bermuda for nine months before she was off to New York to work as a waitress in a crepe restaurant. Her sister, Arlette, later joined her, and they all moved to New Haven. There they both attended Yale University and were certified as x-ray technologists. Liliane also taught French at a private school in Vermont.

She met her beloved husband, Roger, in New Haven through mutual friends at Roger’s birthday party, where she tapped her friend on the shoulder, pointed at Roger and said “I am going to marry that man.” They met again while she was working at the Park Plaza Hotel, the source of often-repeated stories about waiting on Sammy Davis, Jr. and meeting a barely-dressed Tom Jones. While she was in college, she had difficulties with physics class and Roger helped tutor her. They were married in June of 1973.

A few short years later, they moved to Campbell and had two children, Arlette and Linda. Liliane loved children and fostered 76 children over the next several years. Liliane and Roger started a successful rental property business that grew over the years. Liliane was a hard worker and never minded getting her hands dirty. She would be in her rental units plastering walls, painting, putting in new floors and carpeting, alongside her husband and other workers.

She was a giver in every sense of the word. She was extremely generous with her time and money and helped countless hundreds of people over the years. She would do research on other people’s behalf’s to help them get through difficult circumstances. She was a fighter and fearless advocate for those who could not help themselves. When she saw a need among her neighbors or in her community, she was right there taking the lead to help them.

Liliane loved the Country Woman’s Club and her local Mad Hatters ladies. She made and collected Victorian-era costumes, favoring vintage styles and extravagant hats, and she and Roger attended many community fundraising events. She was an avid doll collector and also supported orphan children with Helping Honduras Kids in La Ceiba, Honduras.

Liliane was a community fixture in Campbell and had many longtime friends. She was one of five sisters and is survived by her husband Roger, her son Serge and daughter-in-law Dana, and her two daughters, Arlette and Linda. She will be dearly missed by many, including her sisters, Astrid, Sonya, Anita and Arlette.

A viewing was held at Darling Fischer Campbell Memorial Chapel on Aug. 20 and services were held on Aug. 21. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Helping Honduras Kids, PO Box 111777, Campbell, CA 95011 or you can donate online at www.helpinghonduraskids.org

This obituary first appeared in the , Aug. 15 edition and was republished with permission.