Lillian B. Lamoureux, 96, of North Dartmouth, died August 1, 2017 at The Oaks in New Bedford after a short illness.

The fourth of eight children of Rita and Hormisdas Tetreault, she was born in Central Falls, RI on February 7, 1921. She spent her early years in Pawtucket, RI but was sent to boarding school in Canada after her father's death when she was just eight.

There she studied classical piano and her lifelong love of music was cultivated. Twice she received awards from the Montreal Musical Conservatory for her skill on the piano. She graduated as class valedictorian from The Presentation of Mary Academy in Hudson, NH.

In 1940 she received her bachelor's degree in secretarial science from Bryant College in Providence, RI. She married Albert J. Lamoureux in 1944 while he was still in the army. Together they operated the Lamoureux Funeral Home in New Bedford from 1949 to 1995.

She served as president of the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra from 1981 – 1999 and is currently recognized as its President Emerita. She was awarded an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in 2000 in recognition of her role in supporting the musical culture of the city. The City of New Bedford and the Massachusetts State Senate recognized her for her efforts as well.

In appreciation of her critical role in shepherding the orchestra through many challenging years, the NBSO continues to award annual music scholarships in her name.

Throughout the years, Lillian volunteered her services, often in a leadership role, to numerous church, social and civic organizations including the New Bedford Public Library and Sacred Heart Nursing Home. In particular, she worked to promote her Franco American heritage. In 2010 she was named Personality of the Year by Catholic Financial Life and in 2011 she was recognized as the Franco American of the Year by La Ligue des Franco-Americains. Lillian, the widow of Albert J. Lamoureux, is survived by her daughter Ann of New Bedford, and son Paul, and his wife Denise, of Assonet; their four children, Monique Kobasa, Michael, Brian and David Lamoureux; and twelve great grandchildren, Nicole, Grace, Anderson, Matthew, Olivia, Eve, Jason, Emily, Thomas, Deacon, Nathan and Lillian.

She will be remembered as a strong, capable, nurturing and loving woman and will be dearly missed by all those who had the privilege of knowing her.

Her funeral will be held on August 4 at 9 a.m. from the Waring-Sullivan Home at Dartmouth, 230 Russells Mills Road in Dartmouth, followed by a 10 a.m. funeral mass in St. Julie Billiart Church, 494 Slocum Road in Dartmouth. Burial is at Sacred Heart Cemetery.

Memorial honorariums in Lillian's honor can be made to the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra at P.O. Box 2053, New Bedford, MA 02741-2053.

For online directions and tributes, visit www.waring-sullivan.com.