Doris L. (Merchant) Lyra, 78, formerly of Princeton Street in the Jefferson section of Holden, died Tuesday, November 21, 2006 in the Holden Nursing Home, after an illness.

Her husband of 24 years, Eino Lyra, died in 1975. She leaves two brothers, Henry Merchant of Caribou, Maine and Elmer Merchant of Jefferson; many nieces and nephews. Two brothers, Alfred and Leo Merchant, and three sisters, Melvina Rossbach, Evelyn Peterson and Dorothy Abell, predeceased her. She was born in Ashburnham, daughter of Joseph N. and Regina (Brough) Merchant, and lived in Holden all of her life. She worked for Rutland State Sanitarium and Handy Pad in Worcester. She was a member of St. Mary's Church in Jefferson and enjoyed playing the piano and accordion.

The funeral Mass for Mrs. Lyra will be held on Saturday, Nov. 25, from the Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main St., Holden with a Mass at 10 a.m. in St. Mary's Church, 114 Princeton St., Jefferson. Burial will follow in Worcester County Memorial Park, Paxton. Calling hours are from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. prior to the service in the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made Arthritis Foundation, Mass. Chapter, 29 Crafts St., Newton, MA 02160.