Lena (Strenieri) Laurin, 97, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 8, 2017 with her loving daughter, Deborah by her side at Sterling Village in Sterling. Born and raised in Worcester, Lena was the daughter of Italian immigrants, Alfred and Emily (Lavacca) Strenieri and lived over 60 years in West Boylston.

Lena graduated from Commerce High School and Worcester State College both in Worcester. On August 18, 1945, Lena married a handsome young man from Worcester by the name of John Laurin, who had migrated with his family from Italy at the age of 3. They moved to West Boylston where they raised their two daughters and resided for the next 63 years until John’s passing in 2014. She taught for over 15 at Major Edwards Elementary School in West Boylston teaching both second and third grade. After her retirement, she was a substitute teacher in both West Boylston and Leominster school systems.

Her life was centered on family and faith. Lena was a longtime member and Sunday School teacher at the First Congregational Church of West Boylston. She was a also a volunteer at the Beaman Memorial Public Library and a former vice president of the West Boylston Women’s Club. She was a devoted wife mother and friend and will be remembered for her kind heart, good nature and friendly smile.

Lena’s family would like to express their sincerest gratitude to all those caregivers who compassionately touched her life at Sterling Village particularly her immediate care team: Jackie, James, “Pal John,” and Emmanuel.

She will be dearly missed and remembered by her two daughters, J. Deborah Hengen of Juno Beach, Florida and Della Lee Sullivan of Troy, Michigan; nephews, nieces and cousins. Besides her husband John, Lena is predeceased by three brothers, Joseph, Leonard and Alfred Strenieri

Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Lena’s family from 10 to 11:30 am on Wednesday, February 15, at the Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main St., Holden, followed a by a funeral service honoring her life at 11:30 am. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in her name to the First Congregational Church, 26 Central St., West Boylston, MA 01583.