Obituary of Jeanette Lilienthal

Dr. Jeanette Roberta Lilienthal, age 73, peacefully passed away on May 18, 2023, from natural causes at her home in Longmont, Colorado.  She crossed over to be with her beloved daughter, Doenika Lilienthal, her parents, Seferino and Geneva Trujillo, and her younger brother, Ronald Trujillo.  Jeanette was born on March 21, 1950, in Espanola, NM.  She grew up in Los Alamos with her loving parents, two sisters, Joyce and Lois, and her brother, Ron.  She is survived by her children, Jason Lilienthal and Katy and Kevin (son-in-law) Clopper, her grandchildren Benjamin, Aubrey, Theodore, Emily, and Christopher, her sisters Lois Davis and Joyce and Doug (brother-in-law) Langston.  

Jeanette earned her Master’s in Speech Pathology and passionately served children all over New Mexico for more than 35 years.  While raising her three children, she earned her doctorate in Family and Child Studies from the University of New Mexico.  Jeanette was a long-time resident of Santa Fe, NM, then moved to Longmont, CO, in August 2020 to be closer to her daughter, Katy, Kevin, and her five grandchildren (Benjamin, Aubrey, Theodore, Emily, and Christopher).  She suffered a heart attack on May 1, 2023.  Although she received great care, her body was frail from the heart attack.  Jeanette always had her wits about her and a sense of humor. She was very intelligent, gifted in working with special needs children, and a devoted mother and grandmother.  She was always her grandchildren’s biggest cheerleader.  She encouraged them to be their best and loved watching them grow.  She enjoyed many meals, stories, and games with them.  She loved her grandchildren unconditionally and created a special bond with each of them.  

The passing of her eldest daughter, Doenika, over 12 years ago devastated her.  She devoted her remaining years to bringing Doenika’s music to life and to be shared with the world.  Her steadfast dedication to bringing Doenika’s music to be heard will never be forgotten.  She worked diligently with a dear friend and succeeded in creating a YouTube video and songs on CD Baby to share Doenika’s music.  It is fitting that the two of them will be laid to rest together.

Her family would like her to be remembered as a beloved mother who sacrificed many things for her children, who worked tirelessly to bring every opportunity to her family, and who loved them as best she could.  

We will greatly miss her spirited energy, her unconditional love, her wisdom, and the special ways she showed her love to others.   

We will celebrate her life on August 11, 2023, at 9:00 am at Rosario Cemetery (499 N. Guadalupe Street Santa Fe, NM).  Her children and grandchildren would gladly welcome notes, stories, and letters from friends and family to remember her by.  

Please mail to: 

Clopper Family

1717 Wales Drive

Berthoud, CO  80513