Martha R. (Royce) Lacey, a 20 year resident of Stoneham, and a former 27 year resident of Melrose, passed into eternal life on Monday, July 2, 2012 at The Wakefield Care & Rehabilitation Center in Wakefield after a lengthy illness. She was 86 years old.
Martha was born in New York City, New York on June 14, 1926, a daughter of the late Alexander B. Royce and Barbara (Burgess) Royce. Martha grew up in Manhattan where she attended private schools. She began training with the New York City Ballet and American Ballet Theatre. She also spent a year at the University of Arizona learning the distinctive, newly-imported Mary Wigman style of Modern Dance. She completed her studies in the Dance Department of The Boston Conservatory under the aegis of Jan Veen. As a dancer she appeared in Boris Goldovsky productions with The Boston Opera Company and with The Royal Ballet of England during several of its engagements in Boston. As a choreographer she was especially remarkable in being at one with the music, with insight and lyrical passion, and occasionally with a wicked sense of humor.
Upon graduation she married William Lacey whom she had met at the Conservatory, and suspended her career to raise a family, occasionally teaching as a volunteer at one of Boston's settlement houses or at the Needham YMCA. In later years she turned her talent to liturgical dance to enrich the services of her church. She loved classical and liturgical music of all types and had great compassion for animals which underlay her work with the Melrose Humane Society.
Martha is the devoted mother of Mary S. Lacey of Stoneham, William A. Lacey and his wife Linda of Stoneham and Timothy M. Lacey of Malden. She is the beloved sister of Robert Royce of East Orleans. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
A celebration of Martha's life will be held at a later date. A private graveside service will be held at Greenwood Cemetery in St. Albans, Vermont.
In lieu of flowers, kindly make a memorial donation in Martha's name to MSPCA, Angel Animal Medical Center, 350 South Huntington Avenue, Boston, Mass. 02130.