Henry was born on March 9, 1942 in New Bedford, Massachusetts to Frank Lawrence and Louise Talbot Lawrence. After graduating from New Bedford Vocational High School, Henry served in the United States Army from 1962-1968. Henry then worked at New Bedford Gas and Edison Light Company and worked 28 years at Canal Electric as a maintenance supervisor before transitioning into consultancy and project management for a variety of organizations.
Henry was a passionate New Englander, with a love of seasonal activities ranging from sailing and digging for quahogs in the summer to skiing and hosting family Christmas parties in the winter. He was a proud supporter of Boston sports teams and a great athlete in his own right, excelling at baseball and basketball in his youth and garnering a love of golf that endured throughout his life.
The allure of the opportunity to play golf year-round and live as a member of an active community drew
Henry to The Villages in Florida, where he and his wife Grace lived from 2006 to 2012 before returning to Cape Cod to be closer to the family for whom he was a respected patriarch.
Whether it was during his working career or retirement, Henry was a master of forming strong friendships and sharing his talents and generous personality in a way that made others feel special and valued. Even as he relocated twice during retirement, Henry made sure to keep in contact with all the friends he met along the way, maintaining running golf bets across state lines and traveling up and down the eastern Seaboard to visit comrades regularly.
After his return to the Cape, Henry focused his energy on sharing quality time with his family and making improvements to the home he and Grace purchased upon their return. Up through the final weeks of his life, Henry continued to plan renovations and use every ounce of his energy to think of ways to improve life for those around him.
Henry is survived by his wife Grace, his sister Trudy Lawrence Wood, his three sons Brian H. Lawrence and wife MaryBeth, Bruce T. Lawrence and wife Kerry, and Edward A. Lawrence, as well as his seven grandchildren: Caitlin E. Lawrence, Erica K. Gibb (nee Lawrence) and her husband David, Brian H. Lawrence Jr., Corey T. Lawrence, Patrick J. Lawrence, Jonathan T. Lawrence, and Bennett A. Lawrence, as well as two step-grandchildren, Jessica M. Silva and Brett J. Silva, and numerous nieces and nephews. He is pre-deceased by his brother Frank Lawrence. His devotion to family and friends made him an inspirational and irreplaceable force in many lives.
The Lawrence family want to thank the staff of Cape Cod Hospital and Hospice VNA of Cape Cod for their excellent and compassionate care of Henry in his final weeks.
Visiting hours will be held Friday March 29th from 2-4PM and again from 6-8PM at Nickerson- Bourne Funeral Home 154 RT. 6A Sandwich, MA.
In lieu of flowers please donate in Henry’s name to the Visiting Nurse Association of Cape Cod, 434 RT. 134 S. Dennis, MA 02660
For directions & online condolences please visit www.nickersonbournefuneralhome.com.
