Lorna E. Bryant was born May 20, 1935 in Port Union, Newfoundland, a daughter of the late Charles and Lillian (Peach) Bryant. Raised and educated in Port Union, at age 16 she attended boarding school at Bishop Spencer in Newfoundland.
Lorna went onto nurse’s training school and earned her nursing degree from St. John’s General Hospital. While at St. John’s, she met Ireland native (Co. Mayo) Francis J. “Frank” Waters who was serving his residency in medicine. Lorna worked at the Neilburg Hospital in Canada. They married Nov. 21, 1956 in St. Joseph’s Church in Newfoundland and moved to the United States in 1959, settling in Shrewsbury.
In addition to raising and educating their children, Lorna earned her Bachelor’s degree in History in 1980 and Master’s degree from Worcester State College. She worked as office manager for her husband’s private medical practice in Worcester for many years before retiring.
Her faith guided her throughout her life and she was a daily communicant of Saint Mary’s Church.
Lorna loved being a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She and Frank took an active role in helping to raise two of their granddaughters, Colleen and Sasha.
Lorna was a loving and generous woman who had an adventurous spirit. She and Frank traveled extensively throughout the country and Europe. She kept active by playing golf and tennis regularly. She was an avid reader. Her love for the ocean and being near the beach was fulfilled each summer at their home in Dennisport and during the winter in Fort Meyers, Fla. She was full of life and cherished her many friendships.
In addition to her husband of 60 years, Frank, she leaves their children, Christopher F. Waters of Worcester, Brian H. Waters and his wife Annie of Shrewsbury, Catherine E. Burgoyne and her husband Jim of Tewksbury, and Francis J. “Frankie” Waters and his wife Diane of Chelmsford; her grandchildren, Colleen Altif and her husband John, Sasha, Emily and Sean Waters, Lilly, Madeline and Bridget Burgoyne, Carly Waters, and Francis Waters III; her great-granddaughter, Kennedy Altif; and nieces and nephews. She is predeceased be her only sibling, Charles Bryant.
Family and friends will honor and remember Lorna’s life by gathering for calling hours Tuesay, Aug. 2, from 4-7 p.m., at Heald & Chiampa Funeral Directors ~ The Sumner House, 5 Church Road, On the Common, Shrewsbury Center, and again Wednesday, Aug. 3 before leaving in procession to Saint Mary’s Church, 640 Main St., Shrewsbury where her funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Mountain View Cemetery.
Memorials in her name may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011 or to Saint Mary’s Church, Capital Campaign, 18 Summer St., Shrewsbury, MA 01545.
