Salem: Lilyan A. (Dion) Atkins, died unexpectedly, Monday, January 24, 2011 at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston. She was the wife of the late George W. Atkins, Jr.
Born and raised in Salem, she was the daughter of the late Frederick J. and Thais (St. Pierre) Dion. Lilyan married George in 1942 and devoted her time to the raising of her family. In the early 1960’s she began working for the Registry of Deeds and remained through the early 1970’s. She was a member of the former St. Joseph Parish for many years as well as well as a member of the Catholic Daughters. Lilyan was currently a member of Ste. Anne Parish, Salem.
She is survived by two sons, George W. Atkins, III, and his wife Abigail of Beverly, Frederick J. Atkins and his wife Patricia Connolly-Atkins of Marblehead, a daughter, Thais Gauthier and her husband Raymond of Salem and her dearly loved nephew, Karl D. Jackson of Washington, DC. She is also survived by 9 grandchildren, Maureen Gauthier, David Gauthier & Suzanne Desmond all of Salem, Gregory Atkins of Brooklyn, NY, Julia Reed of Golden, CO, Jonathan Atkins of Salem, Heather Cahill of London, England, Sydney and Morgan Atkins both of Marblehead, 11 great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a sister, Jeannette Jackson and two brothers, Leo & Richard Dion.
Relatives and friends are to gather at the Levesque Funeral Home, 163 Lafayette St. [Rt. 114 / 1-A] Salem on Saturday, January 29, 2011 at 9:45 a.m. to be followed by her funeral mass in Ste. Anne Church, 290 Jefferson Ave., Salem at 11 a.m. Visiting hours: Friday 4 to 8 p.m. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery Salem. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Autism Speaks, 1060 State Rd., 2nd floor, Princeton, NJ 08540. For guestbook and additional information please visit www.LevesqueFunerals.com