Thissell, Mary L. “Lillian” Of Needham, March 14. Beloved wife of the late George W. Thissell; loving mother of Elizabeth T. Turenne and her husband, Kevin of Uxbridge; George W. Thissell and his wife, Lorraine of Hopkinton; Patricia A. Henry and her husband, Kent, of Laramie, Wyoming; Mary T. Faulkner and her husband, Kerry of Natick; Joseph A. Thissell and his wife, Courtney of Dedham. Sister of Clare Desjarlais of The Villages, Florida. Predeceased by her siblings Francis Gillis, Anna Lavoie, Barbara Gillis, and Thomas Gillis. Also survived by 15 grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Lillian earned a scholarship to Mt. Saint Joseph Academy (High School); she earned her undergraduate degree from Boston Teacher’s College, and her master’s degree in special education from Bridgewater State College. While at Boston Teacher’s College, she met the love of her life, George Thissell, whom she married in 1960. They settled in Needham, MA where they raised their 5 children, and lived for nearly 60 years. She was devoted to her faith, and she enjoyed spending time with her family, traveling, square dancing, playing rummy with her kids and grandkids, and solving word puzzles.
Visiting hours will be on Thursday, March 23 from 4 – 7 PM at the George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home, 1305 Highland Ave, Needham, MA. Services at the funeral home on Friday, March 24 at 9:30 AM, followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Bartholomew Church, 1180 Greendale Ave, Needham, MA at 10:30 AM. Relatives and friends are kindly invited. Services will conclude with interment at Knollwood Memorial Park, Canton, MA. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in Mary’s memory to St. Bartholomew Church, Needham, MA.