...active in Tewksbury’s Senior Community and St. William’s Church; 86

TEWKSBURY - Aurora G. “Ora” (Dionne) Maxwell, age 86, a well known member of the Tewksbury Senior community, died Thursday evening at the Sawtell Hospice House in Reading following a brief illness. She was the wife of Lloyd Maxwell, who died in 1987.

She was born in New Brunswick, Canada, on July 21, 1920, one of twelve children of the late George and Denise (Guimone) Dionne. She was raised in Somerville, and had lived in Woburn before moving to Tewksbury in 1965.

Mrs. Maxwell was a beautician and hairstylist, and worked in a number of beauty shops in Woburn, Arlington, and Lowell.

In her later years, Mrs. Maxwell was active as a volunteer at Tewksbury Hospital, a volunteer for the American Red Cross, and a frequent visitor and cribbage player at the Tewksbury Senior Drop-In Center. She was also a devote Catholic, as a member of St. William’s Parish where she was entrusted as a church counter. She also served her community as a Poll worker during town elections.

She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Paul W. Maxwell and his wife Barbara (Magee) of Tewksbury, a son-in-law, James Beaupre of Billerica; a brother Fred Dionne of Harrisburg, PA; five grandchildren, Christopher Maxwell of Dracut, Lindsay Maxwell of Chelmsford, Jessica Maxwell of Tewksbury, Alyscia Beaupre of Wakefield, and Danielle Beaupre of Northboro; and many nieces and nephews.

She was also mother of the late Donna Beaupre; and sister of the late John, Charles, Mike, Leonard and Phillippe Dionne, Jeannette Keenan, Priscilla Laveaga, Thelma McQuilken, Lorraine Chaves, and Doreen Flannery.

Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated Wednesday, January 31, at 10:00 a.m. in St. William’s Church, 1351 Main St. (Rte 38) Tewksbury. Burial will be in Fox Hill Cemetery, Billerica. Visiting hours Tuesday 4 to 7 p.m. in the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Sawtell Hospice House, 320 Haverhill St., Reading, MA 01867 OR the Friends of the Elderly, Building Fund, 460 East St. Tewksbury, MA 01876, will be appreciated.