Lillian May Nelson

Lillian May (Rivers) Nelson, formerly of Anawan Street, Rehoboth and more recently the Maples Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Wrentham, died on August 15, 2013 knowing she was loved by her sister, daughters, son-in-laws, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She met her future husband Al, who died in 2007, in 1944 at the Fields Point Shipyard in Providence, RI, while building ships for the war effort. They were indeed part of the greatest generation and they married on April 14, 1945. She was born October 13, 1923 in Providence, RI to Ralph Rivers, Sr. and Mary (Almeida) Rivers. She was the first of ten children. She was preceded in death by Elsie Aquilante, Ralph W., Raymond, Frank, Dorothy Wagner, Helen Lavin, Ann Joan. She is survived by a brother, L. William Rivers and a sister, Rosemarie Kapusta and many nieces and nephews. Mrs. Nelson worked at Engelhard, Industries in Attleboro as the receptionist in the late 1960's and early 1970's. She was the Past Worthy Matron of the Order of Eastern Star of the Martha Washington Chapter #18, Warren, RI in 1957 - 1958. Mrs. Nelson was a member of Second Congregational Church, UCC of Attleboro and a member of the Board of Deacons from 1988-1990, a member and past president of the Martha Circle and a proud member of the church's flower committee. Her other love was the water. She used to love to swim and sail to the Sabin Point Lighthouse on Rose Island, RI before the '38 hurricane changed life for her family when they lost their home. They had two daughters: Joyce who married Ted Moxham of Attleboro and Cheri who married Ernie Dardenne also of Attleboro. Mrs. Nelson loved watching her grandchildren: Jennifer Dardenne Callan, Kristin Moxham Keith, Jeffrey Dardenne and Erika Moxham Murphy grow and enjoy the "wide open spaces of Rehoboth while visiting their grandparents." She was blessed with five great-grandchildren, Ashley, Tyler, Hailey, Jake and Ben who just arrived on August 8. Public visitation has been respectfully omitted. A private funeral service was scheduled for Tuesday, August 20, 2013 in the "Memorial Chapel" of the Dyer-Lake Funeral Home - the nationally historic Colonel Obed Robinson Home, 161 Commonwealth Avenue (exit 5 off I-95 N or S, go right, mile on the left), Village of Attleboro Falls, North Attleboro with the Rev. F. Vernon Wright, Pastor of Second Congregational Church, Attleboro, officiating. Burial was to follow in Oak Knoll Cemetery, Rehoboth. Please omit flowers. Memorial donations in Mrs. Nelson's name may be made to the Second Congregational Church - Deacon's Fund, Park Street, Attleboro, MA 02703. For additional information or to send the family a written expression of sympathy, please visit an online guest book at www.dyer-lakefuneralhome.com . Arrangements are under the direction of the Dyer-Lake Funeral Home - the national historic Colonel Obed Robinson Home, 161 Commonwealth Avenue, Village of Attleboro Falls, North Attleboro. (508) 695-0200