June Lilley lived in Washington County for most of her life -- except for one brief period.

During World War II, Ms. Lilley and a friend moved to New York City and worked for the Office of Dependent Benefits, which helped families of veterans. At that time and throughout Ms. Lilley's life, patriotism and civic duty were two of her driving forces.

Ms. Lilley, who died Wednesday at the Asbury Heights retirement community in Mt. Lebanon, served as a district justice for Chartiers, Mt. Pleasant and Cross Creek townships from 1974 through 1994. She also chaired the Canonsburg Fourth of July Committee, which puts together Pennsylvania's second-largest Independence Day celebration, and helped to found the Canonsburg Senior Center, her daughter Lori Alderman said.

"She was a true community servant," Ms. Alderman said.

Ms. Lilley's senses of service and patriotism came from her family, Ms. Alderman said. Her father lied about his age to fight in World War I at age 16, and her husband and brother both fought in World War II.

Ms. Lilley graduated from Chartiers High School in 1943. Before becoming a district justice, she worked for the Daily Notes newspaper in Canonsburg, where she eventually became the managing editor. She was recognized for her work reporting on veterans affairs by the American Legion Department of Pennsylvania in 1969 and the Greater Canonsburg-Houston Veterans Council in 1973.

The time spent in New York had a major impact on Ms. Lilley, leading her to devote much of her life to veterans affairs, Ms. Alderman said.

"That experience in New York, that was her kind of war effort," she said.

Ms. Lilley's interest in politics led to her becoming a district justice. Ms. Alderman said she had spoken to several police officers who spoke glowingly of her mother.

Outside of her civic service, Ms. Lilley was an avid reader, an interest she passed on to the rest of her family. She also served on her local library board.

"Her private life and her public life were pretty together," Ms. Alderman said.

Anthony Colaizzo first met Ms. Lilley through the Fourth of July committee, and later worked with her when she was a justice and he was representing the 48th District in the Pennsylvania Legislature.

Ms. Lilley's patriotism struck Mr. Colaizzo, and so did her directness.

"Her word was her bond," he said. "She was a straight person, and I really had a lot of admiration [for her]."

Mr. Colaizzo said Ms. Lilley was instrumental in getting a better pension for district justices, and her daughter said she was driven by the simple idea of equality for women.

In addition to Ms. Alderman, of Meadow Lands, Ms. Lilley is survived by her son, Grant A. Lilley of West Palm Beach, Fla., and her sister, Jeannine McMillen of Houston.

A service will be held at the funeral home at 10 a.m. today at McIlvaine-Speakman Funeral Home, 27 Cherry Ave., Houston, Pa., with the burial at Forest Lawn Gardens in McMurray. Donations may be made to Meadow Lands United Methodist Church, 535 W. Pike St., Meadow Lands, PA or the Family Hospice and Palliative Care, 50 Moffett St., Pittsburgh, PA.

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