Mrs. Lawlor served for 28 years in the Fall River public school system, most recently for 13 years as principal of the William Connell School. She started her career in 1953 at the William S. Greene Elementary School and later taught at both the Brayton Avenue and James Tansey Elementary Schools. She retired in 1981.
A lifelong resident of Fall River, Mrs. Lawlor attended St. Mary’s School and graduated from Sacred Hearts Academy in 1939. She earned her teaching certificate from the Perry Normal School in Boston (now part of Curry College) and received her bachelor’s degree from the Rhode Island College of Education in 1957.
A communicant of Holy Name Church and a member of its Women’s Guild, Mrs. Lawlor was formerly president of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society and also a member of the Fall River Woman’s Club, Catholic Woman's Club, St. Mary's Cathedral Seniors, Sacred Heart Seniors, Bristol County and National Retired Teachers Associations, Charlton Hospital Auxiliary, Friends of St. Ann’s Hospital, Fall River Garden Club, Fall River Historical Society, and Friends of the Fall River Public Library. She was a kind wife, mother, Nana, friend, neighbor, and cat lover.
Mrs. Lawlor is survived by her sister-in-law, Claire B. McMahon, and niece, Ann Marie McMahon, both of Studio City, California; Bernie Roseanna Sullivan and Anne Sullivan, and Kathleen Sylvia of Sarasota, FL, and her son Rev. William Sylvia of Mansfield, MA.
She was wife of the late James E. Lawlor, Sr., and mother of the late James E. Lawlor, Jr., and the late John M. Lawlor. She was also daughter of the late James J. and Evelyn (Lenehan) McMahon, and sister of the late Michael J. McMahon.
Family will receive friends in the WARING-SULLIVAN HOME OF MEMORIAL TRIBUTE at CHERRY PLACE, 178 Winter Street, Fall River, Wednesday, April 20, 2011 from 9:00 to 9:30AM prior to her Funeral Mass at 10:00AM in Holy Name Church, 709 Hanover Street, Fall River. Contributions in her honor may be made to Holy Name Church, 709 Hanover St., Fall River, MA 02720. Burial in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Fall River.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
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