Lori Williams,, age 65, of West Roxbury, passed away on March 19, 2026, surrounded by family. Lori was born and raised in New York City, where she attended her beloved Marymount School, before moving to Washington, D.C. to attend and graduate from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. At Georgetown, she met her future husband, Donald, who was a member of the same service fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega. When Lori and Don moved to Boston, Lori became a successful businesswoman, who remained committed to service, especially to feeding homeless members of the Boston community. No matter how long she was away, Lori remained a New York City girl at her core. The pace and energy of the city matched her tireless spirit and love of the arts. She enjoyed painting, gardening, cooking, and listening to the Beatles.

She found her greatest joy in family, watching Caroline perform in plays and dance recitals, waking up early for Billy’s basketball games or cross-country races, and proofreading Don’s manuscripts and attending his book signings. Before she passed away, she made sure to buy presents for her granddaughter, so that Millie would have plenty of gifts in her basket on Easter morning. Lori excelled in her career, cared deeply for her community, and devoted herself to her family. She loved with all her heart, and she was so profoundly loved. She is survived by her husband, Donald, her daughter, Caroline, her son, Billy, her daughter-in-law, Gisella, her granddaughter, Millie, her sister, Susan, and many in-laws, nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Lori’s life will be held on Saturday, March 28, at 1:00 pm, at The Robert J. Lawler & Crosby Funeral Home, 1803 Centre St., West Roxbury. In lieu of flowers, Lori asked that donations be sent to Shriners Children's Boston. https://www.shrinerschildrens.org/

Advertisement