SOUTHBOROUGH - Pamela Jane (Paquette) Lapidas, 49, of Southborough, died Wednesday, April 1, 2009 at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston after a long battle with cancer.
Born November 6, 1959 in Worcester, she was the daughter of Betty Paquette of Southborough and the late Richard Paquette. Growing up, Pam spent much of her time with her extended family at her family's summer camp, and was a generous and kind soul, even as a child. She obtained her Special Education teaching degree from Bridgewater State College, and taught emotionally disturbed and special education students for a number of years prior to having her own children. Later, Pam was an active volunteer in the Southborough schools and at other charitable organizations. She enjoyed travel and exploring, and had the opportunity to travel to Canada, Europe and Asia during her lifetime. She spent many happy summers at her vacation home in Nova Scotia, Canada with her family and friends. Her other passions included cooking, piano, volunteerism and her children. She spent much time with her friends in Southborough and elsewhere, and developed strong relationships that lasted a lifetime.
Pam, as everybody called her, was a lovely woman of great courage and grace. She was a wonderful, selfless, caring, kind and generous person, who continuously gave to her friends, family and community, and asked for nothing in return. Pam had an inner calm and generosity of spirit that reached out beyond her own family to everyone involved in her daily life.
Always positive, courageous, gracious and hopeful in the face of a fatal illness, she never once complained about her health and was always interested in everyone else's life. Even when she was sick, she was always reaching out to others. She was a positive source of support to her husband, and a great caregiver to her own mother and children.
Pam was a superb listener, and her friends felt comfortable confiding about their lives to her. One of her friends recently stated that Pam set an example of how to live one's life, and that her friend was a better person for having Pam as part of her life.
Pam is survived by her husband, Jack, and two young daughters, Meredith and Victoria.
A funeral service will be held Saturday, April 11, at 11:00 a.m. at the Chapel of the Cross, 160 Flanders Road, Westborough. Burial will follow in Rural Cemetery, Southborough. A time of visitation will be held prior to the service from 10:00-11:00 a.m. Instead of flowers, the family asks that donations in memory of Pam be made to the Pamela Lapidas Memorial Cancer Research Fund, c/o Middlesex Savings Bank, 162 Cordaville Road, P.O. Box 410, Southborough, MA 01772. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Fitzgerald & Collins Funeral Home (www.SFCFH.com), Marlborough.