Dorothy Frances (O’Rourke) Lyons of Dennis, formerly of Natick, Holliston and Newtonville Massachusetts passed away on Wednesday, August 9, 2018 at the McCarthy Care Center in Sandwich, MA. Dorothy was born in Cambridge, the daughter of the late John and Ellen (Brennan) O’Rourke.
Dot was a graduate of St. Mary of the Annunciation High School, in Cambridge, MA, where she graduated with a perfect attendance record. She continued her education at Bryant & Stratton Business School in Boston.
On June 25, 1949, Dot married George A. Lyons, Jr, .S he and George shared 48 years of married life together before he passed in February of 1997.Dot was also predeceased by her daughters: Patricia O’Kane, Maureen Fredette and Linda (Lyons) Nazarian.
Dot is survived by her daughter Judith, of Dennis MA, her son-in-law Bernard O’Kane and grandsons: Conor O’Kane, and his wife Erin, Andrew O’Kane, Greg O’Kane and his wife Hannah, Michael Fredette, Evan Fredette, Matthew Nazarian and granddaughter Madison Nazarian. She was also blessed with three great grandchildren: Clara O’Kane, Calvin O’Kane and Ronan O'Kane.
Dot is survived by her brother William and his wife Margaret and several nieces and nephews; She was predeceased by her sister Mary O’Rourke, brother John O’Rourke and sisters, Helen O’Rourke, Teresa Boardman, Margaret McBride and Barbara McCarthy.
Dot was the second oldest of eight children and she loved being part of her large Irish Catholic family. She was a devout Catholic whose faith sustained her through the losses of her husband and three daughters.
Prior to her marriage to George, she worked for ten years at New England Telephone Company in Bowden Square in Boston. She was a stay at home Mother until her daughter Linda enrolled in College. Then, she worked at Digital Equipment from 1977 to 1987. Dot enjoyed Cruising on the Charles River on her brothers’ boat. Later, it was several summer seasons of enjoyment on the Cape with family cookouts, West Dennis Beach sunsets and sailing in Nantucket Sound.. She was a great shopper, an outstanding speller, an excellent ballroom dancer and she enjoyed helping her daughters: Patty and Judy with their Latin homework.
She was a member of the St. Patrick’s Woman’s Sodality Club of Natick and the St. Mary’s Couples’ Club of Holliston, MA.
There will be a viewing at the Burke & Blackington Funeral Home at 1479 Washington Street in West Newton, MA from 8:30 to 9:30 am on Tuesday August 14, 2018 followed by a Funeral Mass at St. Ignatius of Loyola Church, Chestnut Hill at 10am. Burial will be at Newton Cemetery 791 Walnut Street, Newton Center, MA.
In lieu of flowers, gifts can be made in Dot’s memory to Hope Hospice and Palliative Care of R.I. 1085 North Main Street, Providence R.I. 02904 or the VNA of Cape Cod, Inc., 255 Independence Drive Hyannis, MA 02601.