Obituary of Lillian Larson

Lillian E. Larson, a lifelong resident of Burlington passed away at her home surrounded by her family on Friday afternoon, March 11, 2016. She was 87 years old. Lillian was born in the family farmhouse in Burlington in 1928. She was the daughter of the late James and Nellie Kelly. At the time Burlington was just a small farming community. The family owned Kelly’s Farm which was a small gentleman’s farm located on the Lexington line that grew produce. The farm also had livestock which the family used for their own personal usage. Lillian was a member of Burlington High School’s first women’s basketball team. In high school she was a bright shining light with a sense of adventure and quick wit. Because of World War II and some of the boys leaving school early to fight in the war, her 1946 graduating class consisted of only 18 students and the Burlington High Students were called “Bees” rather than “Red Devils”. Lillian always kept in touch with her classmates and helped organize Class Reunions and later Generational Class Reunions. Burlington was so rural when Lillian was a child, that she met her future husband, Frank Larson, at the age of 13 when he and his friend were searching for his pigs who had escaped their pen. How many people can say they met their husband because of lost farm animals? They quickly became a couple. Lillian and Frank married in 1947 and started their family. Lillian’s energy and spirit radiated throughout her life. She was a vibrant, appreciative, and welcoming individual. Lillian simply made everything a little more special. She was a wonderful cook and baker. In today’s generation you could learn new recipes from internet searches but Lillian would listen to the Gus Saunder’s Radio Show and learn new recipes from fellow housewives calling the program. Her apple pies and apple crisps were a family favorite. She would make crème puffs in the shape of swans. Lillian had a deep fryer in her kitchen cooking for her family and friends. She hosted neighborhood and family cook-outs almost every weekend. No one ever left her home hungry and she entertained with the “old time Yankee hospitality” with a splash of humor and wit. She adored her family and gave them her simple parenting advice: “You can’t love them enough”. Holidays were spent at Lillian’s home and were always festive and fun. She was a talented painter and would paint her rear picture window in her home with a Santa Claus theme for her children and later grandchildren and great grandchildren Lillian had a number of activities outside her home. She was an avid walker and regularly walked from her home to Lexington Center and back. She often traveled those four miles pushing her children in a baby carriage. She worked the polls for the town elections for decades. She had a number of summer cottages throughout the years at locations like Winthrop, Casco Maine and Belmont New Hampshire. Then she enjoyed renting cabins in York, Rockport, and Camden Maine where she enjoyed vacationing with family and meeting new friends from all around the country and world. She was blessed to have been able to travel with her family to England, Wales, and Ireland and to visit the villages and homes of her ancestors. Lillian had a number of jobs over the years. She did piece work ironing and painted eagles made at neighboring Marvin Foundry. She took a job in the cafeteria at Wang in Burlington and with her charm and work ethic managed to climb her way to become a receptionist and then a secretary. It was Lillian’s final wish to pass at home and her family made that possible with a constant flow of visitors, caregivers, and well wishes. When her family shared with her it was okay to let go and be with her “Frank” and thanked her for the love she shared with them, Lillian in her special way managed the strength to say “it was a privilege”. She loved deeply and was deeply loved. Lillian was the beloved wife of the late Frank Richard Larson. She was the loving mother of Beverly Strachan & her husband Howie of Burlington, Karen Morgan & her husband Terry of Burlington, Frank, Jr. & his partner Diane Dickson of Atkinson, NH, Kelly & his wife Mary of Burlington and Jim & his wife Carol of Merrimack, NH. She was predeceased by her siblings; Catherine V. Kelly & Thomas E. Kelly. She was the proud grandmother of Heidi Brosnan & her husband Thomas of Burlington, , Meredith Ford & her husband Rich of Burlington, Alicyn Morgan of Burlington, Michael Morgan & his wife Erin of Reading, Kelly Larson, Jr & his fiancée Michaela Means of Stoneham and the late Colleen Larson. She was the great grandmother of T.J., Jack, Michael & Katelynn Brosnan. Funeral from the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (Exit 34 off Rt. 128, Woburn side) on Tuesday, March 15 at 9 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Margaret’s Church, 111 Winn St., Burlington at 10 a.m. Visiting hours Monday 4-8 p.m. Interment in Chestnut Hill Cemetery, BURLINGTON. Memorials in Lillian’s name may be made to the Colleen Larson Memorial Fund, 96 Muller Road, Burlington, MA 01803.