Lillian Durant

OXFORD - Lillian M. (Thompson) Durant, 94, of Little John Circle, died Friday, October 29, 2010, at Radius Healthcare Center in Southbridge. She was predeceased by her first husband of 49 years, Rocco Merolli of Whitinsville who died in 1979; her second husband of 2 years, Edgar Durant of Rockdale who died in 1986; her son, Francis R. Merolli of Douglas who died in 2001; and several brothers and sisters. She is survived by her granddaughter, Elizabeth A. Gaddis and her husband Mark of Oxford, with whom she lived; four great grandchildren, Rocco Merolli, Rebecca Gaddis, Amy Gaddis, and Margaret Gaddis; a stepdaughter, Virginia Von Allman of Pittsfield; a sister, Phyllis Boisvert of Florida; and many nephews and nieces. She was born in Oldham, England, the daughter of the late Harry and Annie (Hilditch) Thompson, and lived in Upton and Northbridge before moving to Oxford in 2007. She attended Northbridge High School. Mrs. Durant was a welder at General Electric in Ashland for many years, retiring in 1978. She attended St. Ann's Church in North Oxford with her granddaughter and enjoyed traveling. A funeral Mass will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, November 5, 2010 at St. Ann's Church, 652 Main St., North Oxford. Burial will be private at a later date at St. Patrick's Cemetery in Whitinsville. There are no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Clara Barton Camp for Children with Diabetes, P.O. Box 356, North Oxford, MA 01537. Paradis Funeral Home, 357 Main St., Oxford, is directing the arrangements.