Lois M. Lanier

Lanier_LoiswebpageLois Mary (Fitzgerald) Lanier died Friday, August 16th after a valiant battle with a long illness. She was 83 years old.

Lois was born in Boston to the late Elizabeth (O’Connor) Fitzgerald and Joseph P. Fitzgerald and was raised in the Lower Mills neighborhood of Dorchester. She attended St. Gregory’s School and graduated from Dorchester High for Girls in 1947.

After raising her four children, Lois worked as an Executive Assistant for the Grossman Corporation until her retirement at the age of 61. Even during her retirement, Lois took great pride in her part-time work, which included working as a sales associate at Macy’s and her most recent participation in the 2000 Census as a census-taker.

Lois married the late John R. Lanier in February of 1951 in New Hampshire. She was the beloved mother of Ruth Mahoney and her husband James Mahoney of Milton; John Lanier of Walpole; Jane Montaquila and her husband Richard Montaquila of Walpole; and Norman Lanier of Lakeland, Florida. She was the sister of Ruth Hendsbee of Seattle, Washington and the late John F. Fitzgerald and Robert M. Fitzgerald. She was also the cherished “Nana” to Elizabeth Mahoney Cohen, Meaghan Mahoney Fava and Timothy Mahoney, Andrew and Hannah Lull, John Montaquila, Jackie and Jake Lanier, and Morganne Lanier, as well as the late John Lanier. She was also the adored “Lola” to Jackson James Fava and Aiden Matthew Cohen.

A loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend, she will be greatly missed by the many lives she touched so wonderfully.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in St. Gregory’s Church in Dorchester, Wednesday, August 21, at 11 o’clock. Visiting Hours in the Dolan & Chapman Funeral Home at 5 Canton Avenue in Milton Village will be held from 4-7 pm on Tuesday, August 20. Interment Milton Cemetery.

If desired, contributions in Lois’ memory may be sent to: The Jimmy Fund, 10 Brookline Place West, 6th Floor, Brookline, MA 02445-7295.