Lillian Claire Samoluk

She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and a friend to all with whom she came into contact during her long and loving life. Family always came first for Lillian and many learned from the example that she set.

Lillian was the daughter of the late Thomas and Margaret Dunn and grew up with her older sister, Virginia, who survives her, and her younger brother, Thomas, Jr., who pre deceased her.

Born in Boston, Mrs. Samoluk was later a resident of Framingham for 43 years, prior to moving to South Dennis with her husband, Walter, in 2005.

Lillian and Walter were married for 59 loving years. Prior to his death in 2008, Mr. Samoluk characterized his wife as “the most wonderful woman in the world.” Together, they achieved the “American Dream;” with a loving family of six children, a warm home, and a successful small business, built from scratch.

Mrs. Samoluk was a proud graduate of Roslindale High School in Boston. She later attended secretarial school before working for John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company from 1942 to 1949, where she met her future husband, Walter.

Lillian was the moral compass and backbone of her family. She was a devout Catholic and a woman of deep faith, who for most of her life said the the rosary every night.

While caring for four young children at home, she provided encouragement and support for Walter’s business venture, when in 1955 he started his own office machinery company, which succeeded and he owned until 1993. In the early 1960’s, when Walter had a serious medical issue, and with six children under 15 years old, Mrs. Samoluk led her young family through this difficult period. With quiet poise and dignity, she never allowed the seriousness of the situation to overwhelm her or her children.

Lillian was a woman of quiet determination. Growing up as a city girl in Boston, she never got her driver's license. However, years later, living in Framingham, at 53 years old, she overcame her lack of a driving history, built up her confidence and proudly passed the driver’s test and received her license.

Mrs. Samoluk is survived by five of her six children; Carol Dennington and her husband Roy, of Clinton; Walter and his wife, Shelley, of South Dennis; George and his wife, Patricia, of Sandwich; Thomas and his wife, Carrie of Andover; and Robert of South Dennis and Boston. She is also survived by her niece, Sonia Shea of Waltham; 11 grandchildren; and 10 great grandchildren. Lillian is predeceased by her husband, Walter and her daughter, Patricia, who was married to Paul Rene.

Lillian’s family would like to thank the staff of Rosewood Manor in Harwich and Liberty Commons in North Chatham for the extraordinary and passionate care provided to Lillian in the last years of her life.

Funeral will be held from Doane, Beal & Ames Funeral Home, 729 Route 134, South Dennis, on Saturday, January 21 at 9am. Funeral Mass is at St. Pious X Church, Station Avenue, South Yarmouth, at 10am. Visiting hours are Friday, January 20, from 4 to 7pm. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to a charity of choice in honor of Lillian.

Arrangements under the direction of Doane Beal & Ames, South Dennis, MA.