NJ Honors 101-Year-Old Legend! The Woman Who Saved Allendale’s Celery Farm Dies—See Her Amazing Legacy
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
ALLENDALE, NJ – The Borough of Allendale and the wider Bergen County conservation community are mourning the loss of a true environmental pioneer. Lillian “Sis” Thomas (née Myer), who partnered with her late husband, Stiles Thomas, to create and preserve the cherished Celery Farm Natural Area, passed away on November 28, 2025, at the age of 101.
Lillian and Stiles, who died in 2023, were renowned as an “Allendale royalty” couple, whose commitment secured the future of the Celery Farm, the country’s first municipally-owned wetlands preserve.
The Fight to Save the Wetlands
Lillian’s most significant legacy is rooted in the preservation of the Celery Farm. Originally a 60-acre celery farm purchased by the borough in 1981, the site needed tireless advocates to ensure it remained a sanctuary and not succumbed to development.
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Instrumental Expansion: Lillian worked alongside Stiles to protect and expand the original preserve. Her efforts were officially honored in 2013 with the dedication of the Lillian Thomas Natural Area, a 20-acre addition to the preserve.
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Volunteer Leadership: She headed the volunteer group that installed a vital butterfly garden within what is now a thriving 107-acre preserve.
“Lillian lived in Allendale for 80 years, and her legacy is rooted in environmental preservation. Lilly played an instrumental role in protecting 20 acres of Allendale’s wetlands surrounding the Celery Farm.” – Mayor Amy Wilczynski
A Deep Commitment to Conservation and Service
Lillian Thomas’s dedication extended far beyond the wetlands. She was recognized nationally for her efforts, including serving as Treasurer of the New Jersey Audubon Society and being honored by the group as their Conservationist of the Year.
In Allendale, Lillian was a tireless community volunteer:
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Served on the Allendale Planning Board.
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Worked as the borough’s welfare director.
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Volunteered with the Salvation Army and the Center for Food Action in Mahwah.
The Fyke Nature Association Legacy Continues
The maintenance and stewardship of the Celery Farm is primarily carried out by volunteers from the Fyke Nature Association, which Stiles helped found and eventually led as President and the borough’s first Marsh Warden for 26 years.
The work championed by the Thomases continues today under the new Marsh Warden and Fyke President, Michael Limatola, who considered Lillian and Stiles “amazing friends and mentors.” Deputy Marsh Warden Jim Wright encapsulated her spirit, saying Lillian “represented the best in Allendale,” dedicated to serving the community both behind the scenes at the Celery Farm and at the regional food bank.
The borough continues to honor the conservation duo: a pollinator garden at the Lee Memorial Library is dedicated to Stiles, and the red-shouldered hawk, one of his favorite preservation efforts, was recently declared the borough’s official honorary bird.
Lillian Thomas leaves behind a living legacy—a thriving freshwater wetland sanctuary for over 248 bird species and countless other wildlife, preserved for generations to come.
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The Celery Farm is a treasure…almost as nice as the Emerson woods.