Named after her maternal grandmother, Lillian Maria Springer was born on July 24, 1920 in Bridgeton, New Jersey. She fondly recalled a childhood spent with her sister, Dana Fekel, in Ocean City, New Jersey, where her mother ran the Dana Pastry shop. The sisters helped at the bakery which was only open during the summer when tourists flocked to the shore. After graduating from Ocean City High School in 1937, Lillian attended the Pennsylvania Museum School of Industrial Arts, now known as the Philadelphia College of Art, where she studied costume design and graduated in 1941.
Lillian's first job was as an assistant designer for the lingerie manufacturer Laros Textiles in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. She then moved to New York City to design rainwear for Koroseal, a division of B.F. Goodrich. During World War II, Lillian volunteered for the American Red Cross as a Gray Lady at Halloran Hospital on Staten Island. In 1946, she met and married Stanley Joseph, a former Marine. Subsequently, Lillian used "Maria Joseph" as her professional name.
Lillian's first job was as an assistant designer for the lingerie manufacturer Laros Textiles in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. She then moved to New York City to design rainwear for Koroseal, a division of B.F. Goodrich. During World War II, Lillian volunteered for the American Red Cross as a Gray Lady at Halloran Hospital on Staten Island. In 1946, she met and married Stanley Joseph, a former Marine. Subsequently, Lillian used "Maria Joseph" as her professional name.
Lillian maintained a studio and worked as a freelance and contract designer, specializing in lingerie. Her designs were featured in newspaper ads for Saks Fifth Avenue, Lord & Taylor, and B. Altman. They appeared in the New York Times, Vogue, and Women's Wear Daily, the premiere trade paper for the garment industry. Lillian designed for the Schiaparelli label, worked with several celebrities, and herself became a well-known figure in the fashion world.
In December of 1962, after her divorce, Lillian returned to New Jersey with her two sons and taught sewing in Seabrook, New Jersey until 1979. In her retirement, she indulged her lifetime love of antique textiles. She became a dealer of antique lace and linens and had a space at King's Row, a cooperative antiques shop in Mullica Hill, New Jersey. She also volunteered at the Cumberland County Historical Society and the Museum of American Glass, working with non-glass antiques and textiles.
In later years, Lillian lived in Vineland, New Jersey, Downingtown, Pennsylvania, the Hickman Home in West Chester, Pennsylvania, and St. Martha's Manor in Downingtown. She always was near her sister, Dana Fekel, her two sons, Jonathan and Mark Joseph, and her four grandchildren, Benjamin, Abigail, Joshua, and Rachael.
In December of 1962, after her divorce, Lillian returned to New Jersey with her two sons and taught sewing in Seabrook, New Jersey until 1979. In her retirement, she indulged her lifetime love of antique textiles. She became a dealer of antique lace and linens and had a space at King's Row, a cooperative antiques shop in Mullica Hill, New Jersey. She also volunteered at the Cumberland County Historical Society and the Museum of American Glass, working with non-glass antiques and textiles.
In later years, Lillian lived in Vineland, New Jersey, Downingtown, Pennsylvania, the Hickman Home in West Chester, Pennsylvania, and St. Martha's Manor in Downingtown. She always was near her sister, Dana Fekel, her two sons, Jonathan and Mark Joseph, and her four grandchildren, Benjamin, Abigail, Joshua, and Rachael.
-adapted from "A St. Martha's Bio" by Lillian Joseph