Lila Wilde Berle, a passionate conservationist, dedicated community leader, beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, died at home on Easter morning, April 5. She was 89 years old. Lila was born on March 5, 1937, the daughter of Col. H. George Wilde and renowned Jersey cow breeder Marjorie Lila Field Wilde. She grew up on High Lawn Farm in the Berkshires,

Lila, I will miss you.
I remember you standing at Town Meetings telling us which trees made shingles and explaining how this issue connected to that one. How we should vote because this one would lead us home and that one would lead us astray.  You were adamant about not paving too many roads.
I remember you sitting at Mary’s tea table, back to the open window. All at once you interrupted the conversation to comment on Mary’s tea roses. Mary said her mother planted them years ago. You said only tea roses smelled like, and you lamented roses today don’t smell at all.
At the post office, in your bib overalls, in Minnesota we called them corn cobbers, looking like the farmer you were, you always stopped to chat.

I loved your lamb.
I remember when you told me about your Mom being gone; missing her and missing the sound of her voice. I told you I had Marjorie on tape in an interview I did for Berkshire Cottages. I offered to give you the tape. You stared a minute and thanked me. You said you had to think about it.
With your passing so passes a generation. Rest in peace Lila. Your memory is s blessing and you will be missed