Charlton/Southbridge: Dorothy G. (LaRochelle) DiGregorio, 86, formerly of Southbridge, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Thursday, Oct. 29 ^th , in the Overlook Masonic Healthcare Center, Charlton.

Her husband of 62 years, Dr. Ronald A. DiGregorio, passed away on Jan. 25, 2018.  She leaves her children, Rona Florio and her husband Dominic of New Rochelle, NY; Gary V. DiGregorio of Webster and his fiancé, Pinapath Jangwud of Thailand, DiAnna Spetseris and her husband Angelos of Webster; her sisters, Lorraine Healy of Rutland, VT and Joan Corriveau of Greenwood, SC; her grandchildren, Dominique Florio and Alex Spetseris; her step-grandchildren, Matthew Kelly, Nikki Spetseris, Gary Spetseris, Thanapath Chunnawan, and Achiraya Jangwud; her step-great-granddaughter, Kennedy Kelly; and many nieces and nephews.  She was predeceased by her infant daughter, Lauren in 1959 and her son, Brian A. DiGregorio in 1984.  She was also predeceased by five brothers, Roger LaRochelle, Norman LaRochelle, Vincent LaRochelle, Paul LaRochelle, and recently Roland LaRochelle and four sisters, Eleanor LaRochelle, Gertrude Tobia, Nita Corbitt, and Phyllis Green.  Dorothy was born in Southbridge, the daughter of Aime and Eva (St. Jean) LaRochelle.

Dot had a sunny disposition and derived her greatest happiness and meaning from being a wife, mother, sister, aunt, and friend.  She found fulfillment in caring for her family and home, volunteering at her children's school, sewing, cooking, entertaining, and bowling.  As her children grew older, she enjoyed the friendship, camaraderie, and work at A&M Tool & Die.  After retirement, she most enjoyed her home at the beach in Narragansett when it was filled with family and friends.  When not entertaining, she enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles, and experimenting with new recipes.

Her children and grandchildren hope to carry on her legacy of finding pleasure in life's greatest gifts: family, friends, and home.

Dorothy's funeral service and burial in St. Mary's Cemetery, Southbridge, will be private.  There are no calling hours.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Brian A. DiGregorio Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 530, Sturbridge, MA 01566.

The Daniel T. Morrill Funeral Home, 130 Hamilton St., Southbridge, is directing arrangements.

Tribute to Mom

In a fast-paced, often hectic world, with seemingly endless choices, it has been a gift to have been raised by someone who lived life simply, grounded in and guided by her own choice, values, and priorities.

When Rona was in her mid-twenties, she talked to Mom about life, balance, and life choices.  As she often did, Mom responded with a maxim: "Sometimes it's not good to have too many choices."  Rona was somewhat befuddled: "Isn't having choices a good thing?"

Mom's words stemmed from someone who was guided by a priority that was so clear it left no room for choice.  There was no inner conflict; her priority was her family.  That was her choice.

She took pride, satisfaction, and pleasure in entertaining, keeping a clean and orderly home, experimenting with new recipes for her family, making each of our favorite meals weekly, making our clothes and Halloween costumes, volunteering at our schools, making holidays special, maintaining annual traditions: apple and nut picking in the Fall; Easter egg hunts; vacations in Newport; summer trips to Mountain Park; big Sunday breakfasts; Summer dinners by the pool; and 4th of July, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Eve parties.

Her devotion to us was evident in many ways.  Mom attended every single one of our games and events; waited in the window when we came home from school; laid awake when we were teens until we were all safe at home.  She buried one child on a Friday and went to Boston on Saturday for another child's college graduation—it wouldn't occur to her not to be there.

Mom never lectured us (Dad did the lecturing).  She taught us through her behavior and through simple maxims that we heard throughout our lives that have shaped our lives and beliefs:

• "Nothing is more important than family" ~ family is the highest value and every other decision should be based on that
• "Be careful what you wish for" ~ what you think you want may not be what's best for you
• "Money can't buy happiness, though it sure helps" ~ money is not a bad thing, but it won't guarantee fulfillment, so make sure you seek meaning and happiness elsewhere
• "Be true to yourself" ~ make your choices based on your own desires and not on societal expectations
• "Don't wish your life away" ~ life and happiness are to be lived, experienced, and appreciated right now
• "There are plenty of fish in the pond" ~ we live in an abundant world and there will always be another job, or guy, or opportunity
• "Everything works out for the best" ~ trust that all of your trials are actually leading you to some place good
• "No news is good news" ~ be grateful for the blessing of an ordinary day

Mom wasn't perfect––as none of us are––but she had a standard of behavior and a strong moral compass that she (and Dad) used to help guide us.  She was anchored in her choice to make her family her priority, and in our topsy turvy world, we are grateful to have been tethered to a family and a mom whose guiding light was so strong.

Thank you Mom for all that you have given to us and all that you have enabled us to give to our own families. You have done your work well!

We love you.  Rest in peace.