Pauline B. Lu
Formerly of Tewksbury
ANDOVER: Pauline B. (Keene) Lu, age 90, a resident of Andover, and a former longtime member of the Tewksbury community, passed away at the Lawrence General Hospital on Saturday, November 3, 2018. She was the beloved wife of local surgeon, John Lu, MD, who passed away on October 17, 2006.
Born in Amesbury MA on March 6, 1928, she was the daughter of the late Gerald M. Keene and the late Margaret S. (Gordon) Keene, and graduated from the Lawrence General Nursing School. While a nurse at Lawrence General Hospital she met her future husband Dr. Lu.
She was a voracious reader of nonfiction, including that about scandalous British royalty and general history, continuing her reading right up to a few days before her death. She also treasured new stamp issues.
Pauline spent much of her early life in Maine, but her parents moved to Amesbury because work was hard to come by in depression-era Maine. In the early 1930s Pauline described living in a small house with no heat, and having to share one bed with all three sisters for warmth. She helped raised her siblings, and helped take care of the house when she was very young. She attended Amesbury High school during World War II, and graduated high school at 15 and then worked at Tewksbury Hospital as a waitress. She then attended and graduated from nursing school at Lawrence General Hospital.
At the age of 22 she met her future husband Dr John Lu. They were married in 1951.They had a loving marriage of 55 years until his death.
She helped run her husband’s medical practice, and later her son Stephen Lu’s dental practice for many years.
Surviving Pauline are her children, Gerald Mellen and his wife Jeanne of Mexico City, Florida, Priscilla Lu of Belmont, Stephen S. Lu and his wife Nancy of North Andover, John T. Lu, and David P. Lu both of Andover; and grandchildren, Vanessa Nysten and her husband Patrick, Damon Hunt, Stephen Lu, Caroline, John, and Benjamin Lu; Gerald, Christopher, Gerard, William and Michael Mellen, great grandchildren Marina and Arielle Nysten, and Andrew, Taylor, William, Amber, Hannah, Zack, Jenna, Abbygale, Brody, Tierney, and Brenna Mellen; and her siblings, Kenneth C. Keene of CA and Carol A. DesHain of Smock, PA.
Pauline was the grandmother of the late Patrick Lu and sister of the late Catherine, Phyllis, and Robert Keene.
Friends are invited to attend Graveside services on Thursday, Nov. 8, at 11 a.m. at the Tewksbury Cemetery, 172 East St. Tewksbury. At Pauline’s request there are No Calling Hours. Donations in her memory may be made to the American Heart Association, 300 5th Avenue, Waltham, MA 02451. Arrangements entrusted to Farmer & Dee Funeral Home, Tewksbury.