Lillian Blanche (Dumas) Denis, a long-time resident of Attleboro, and North Attleboro and for the past eight years a resident at Alliance Health at Maples in Wrentham, passed away on Saturday, March 9, 2024 at the age of 99.
She was born on February 15, 1925 in Attleboro to Artemise Couture and Wilfred Dumas. She was preceded in death by her husband of 79 years, Leo G. Denis, on March 7, 2023.
In her formative years, Lillian was educated by the sisters at St. Joseph School in Attleboro. Lillian's first employment was at Dodgeville Finishing Company in Attleboro where she met the love of her life, Leo. They married October 16, 1943 at St. Joseph Church in Attleboro. During the war Lillian was employed at Metals and Controls. She would later work at Attleboro Printing & Embossing and Texas Instruments.
Lillian was a wonderful homemaker who was gifted as a self- taught baker, bread maker, knitter, quilter and seamstress, making suits for herself as well as dresses and coats for her daughters. Her lovingly made socks, mittens, hats and scarves became the mainstay for her girls each winter. Years later her talent for knitting had not faded as she made sweaters with intricate detail for her great-grandchildren and knitted dish cloths for church bazaars. Her love for her home overflowed into her flower gardens which she cared for meticulously.
Lillian learned the art of tole painting and made gifts of decorative roof slates to her daughters. She relished travels with Leo to Italy, Portugal, Jerusalem, Medjugorje, Canada, Nova Scotia, Hawaii, Bermuda, Arizona and Florida. She was a devoted and loving mother to three daughters, and a loving Grandma to seven and Gigi to eleven.
She was preceded in death by her seven brothers and sisters: Wilfred Dumas (Azilda), Rose Percy (Raymond), Jeannette Sargent (William), Beatrice Lyons (Norman), Ovila Dumas (Lillian), Rita Preston (Fernand), and Doris Burr (Thomas). She was also preceded in death by her son-in-law David Mclnerney.
She is survived by her daughters Susan McInerney, Charlene Harrison (Wayne), and Michelle Kelly (Dennis), her grandchildren Kevin Mclnerney (Nicole), Sara Corcoran (Christopher), Kathleen Leighton (John), Matthew Harrison (Gail), Andrew Harrison (Lauren), Thomas Kelly, and Robert Kelly (Ursola), her great-grandchildren Cameron, Olivia, Mia, Jacob, Amelia, Emma, Benjamin, Madison, Landon, Chace, and Nolan.
Her funeral, to which relatives and friends are most kindly invited to attend, will be held on Friday, March 22, 2024, beginning with a time for visitation from 9:00 to 10:00 AM in the Sperry & McHoul Funeral Home, 15 Grove Street, North Attleboro, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 AM at St. Martha Parish, 227 South Street, Plainville. Interment will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Attleboro Falls at which time Lillian will be laid to rest with her late husband, Leo.
The family requests no flowers due to allergies but those wishing to do so may send a gift to Hope Health Hospice & Palliative Care, 1085 No. Main St. Providence, RI 02904-5719, Activities at Alliance Health at Maples, 90 Taunton St. Wrentham, MA 02093, or a charity of one's choice in honor of Lillian.
The family wishes to thank with so much love and gratitude the hard working, loving and compassionate Nursing Staff, Unit Secretary, Certified Nursing Assistants, and Activities staff of Alliance Health at Maples. The family is also deeply grateful to the Pastoral Ministry Staff from the collaborative Parishes of St. Mary in Wrentham and St. Martha in Plainville. We also send our thanks and gratitude to the Hospice Staff who helped care for Lillian in her final days.