Monica Royston

OXFORD - Monica R. Royston, 38, died suddenly on Friday, November 1, 2013. She is survived by her wife, Marion "Mimi" Royston and her son, Morgan Royston of Oxford; her mother, Carol Harlow of St. Louis, MO, her father, Ralph Perkins; her brother, Michael Harlow of West Paducah, KY, her sister Kimberly Miller; her in-laws, Peter and Eleanor Royston of Fairfield, CT, Amy Bennett and her very large Royston family. She was predeceased by her brother Keith Harlow. She was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and lived in Oahu, Hawaii and Worcester before moving to Oxford in 2003. She graduated from St. Francis High School in Hawaii in 1994, received her BA in English and Philosophy from Assumption College in 1998, and her M.Ed from Worcester State College in 2009. Monica was a Program Manager at Interise in Boston. Previously, she was a stay at home mom and substitute school teacher. She taught at West Boylston High School and Hopkinton High School, and worked for many other youth organizations after graduating college. Monica was a member of Grace Episcopal Church in Oxford and recently began teaching Sunday School there. She was a board member of S.C.N.E.C.A. and was an avid pet lover and adopter. A funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 9, 2013, at Grace Episcopal Church, 270 Main St., Oxford. Burial will follow at the Grace Churchyard. There are no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Grace Episcopal Church, 270 Main St., Oxford, MA 01540, or the animal adoption agency of your choice. Paradis Funeral Home in Oxford is directing the arrangements.