Zena Laliberte

OXFORD -- Zena Hermoine (Bussell) Laliberte, 89, was born in Calcutta India, formerly from Webster and Oxford. Throughout her life, she was a loving wife and mother, always thoughtful, caring, and concerned for others, putting the needs of other people before herself; she was loved by many friends and relatives. She is survived by 10 children; Elaine Nichols and her husband John of Dracut; Edward of Worcester; Jacqueline Grant of Michigan; Susan Norwood of Illinois; Pamela Kiewit of California; James Laliberte Sr. and his wife Patricia, of Charlton; Christine Winters and her husband Timothy of Worcester; Teresa Brown and her husband Scott of Barre; Lisa Jewell and her husband Bryan, of Oxford, and Jeffrey Laliberte and his wife Tabitha of Marlboro. She also leaves 19 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren, and many beloved nieces and nephews in Worcester and beyond. Zena is preceded in death by her husband Hermes M. H. "Jimmy" Laliberte, a daughter Joanne M. Laliberte, her parents Dr. Edward W. Bussell and Mary (Osborne) Bussell, a sister Grace (Bussell) Rutter, and a brother Basil (Molly) Bussell. As a young woman, Zena was a civilian typist at Hastings Air Base, Calcutta, India where she met her husband, Jimmy who served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. As the Burma-China War escalated, she traveled as a War Bride from Calcutta to Bombay, India to begin a transatlantic journey on the S.S. Gripsholm arriving in New York, New York in August 1945. She lived in Worcester for several years before moving to Oxford where she lived for 57 1/2 years. She moved to Christopher Heights of Webster where she made many friends, enjoyed the activities and received wonderful care from the staff. Zena received her formal education from Loretto House in Calcutta, India. She was a member of St. Ann's Church in Oxford and especially loved singing in the choir. She was a Cafeteria Aide at the Clara Barton School in Oxford. Zena especially enjoyed the Grandparents Program at Oxford Senior Center for many years. She was a member of the Disabled American Veteran, Worcester # 4 Auxiliary. She enjoyed spending time with her family and cherished her grandchildren, great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Zena loved holidays and family activities especially vacations with her family to Cape Cod, California, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Sincere thanks to the entire staff at the Christopher Heights of Webster and Rose Monahan Hospice Center, Worcester for their care of Zena and support of her entire family. A funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 1, 2014, at St. Ann's Church, 652 Main St., North Oxford. Burial will be private at North Cemetery in Oxford in the spring. There are no calling hours. Paradis-Givner Funeral Home, 357 Main St., Oxford is directing the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St Ann's Church, P.O. Box 488, North Oxford, MA 01537, or to the Christopher Heights Residence Fund, 338 Thompson Rd., Webster, MA 01570, or to the American Red Cross, PO Box 4002018, Des Moines, IA 50340-2018.