Lillian F. Scherban

ScherbanLillianLillian F. Scherban, a retired educator and world traveler, died at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital – Milton, October 18, 2014. Born April  5, 1927 in Boston, she was raised in Dorchester by her beloved parents, the late Dimitri and Mary Scherban. Lillian graduated from Dorchester High School for Girls at 16 years old. After high school she attended MIT for 2 years and was the only woman to work on the power supply for B17 Bombers during the World War II. Lillian left MIT and began her career as a nun in a French order, Daughters of the Holy Spirit in Putnam, CT. She took the name of Sister Marie Omer du Christ. It was in the convent that she earned her BA degree and developed fluency in French. Lillian left the convent after 15 years, but never broke her vows. She became a teacher and later obtained a Master’s degree in French at the University of Hawaii. Lillian then began her study of the Russian language and added Russian to her languages of fluency. She also studied Chinese and Japanese. Lillian taught French and Russian at Newton North High School and at Lincoln-Sudbury High School. Lillian was the chairperson of the language department at Lincoln-Sudbury when she retired. In Lillian’s words: “At heart I am a missionary. My mission is Education.” Lillian received an honorary doctorate from the Kazan State Technological University in Russia in recognition of her leading role in the promotion of International Relations. The only other woman to receive such an honor was Margaret Thatcher. Lillian coordinated exchange programs for Russian and US students. Milton High School was amongst the participants. Lillian spent her retirement years in Long Beach California and then at Fuller Village in Milton. She was a member of the Teacher’s Retirement Association of Massachusetts and was a representative on the Fuller Village Resident Association. She was kind and generous to her family and friends, an avid reader, enjoyed taking pictures and loved to travel. Beloved sister of Anne Thompson of Quincy and the late Nicholas Scherban, Michael Scherban, Helena McNeill, Jennie Guido, Samuel Scherban and Mary Spencer. Lillian is survived by many nieces and nephews, many great nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in Saint Agatha Church, Adams Street at Brook Road, Saturday November 8 at 12 Noon. Relatives and friends invited. Visiting hour at Dolan & Chapman Funeral Home, 5 Canton Avenue, MILTON VILLAGE, Saturday 10:30-11:30 AM. Interment Mount Hope Cemetery, Boston. Donations in Lillian’s memory may be made to Daughters of the Holy Spirit, Office of Development, 72 Church Street, Putnam, CT 06260.