Cecilia Thurlow

1927 - 2021

Cecilia (Davitt) Thurlow

Lancaster - Cecilia E. (Davitt) Thurlow, 93, died on January 14, 2021, at her Asheboro, NC home with family by her side. Mrs. Thurlow had been a longtime resident of Lancaster, MA, and was predeceased by her husband, Franklin R. Thurlow, who died in 1979.

She leaves her children, a son, Michael E. Thurlow, along with her daughter-in-law, Catherine T. Thurlow, with whom she resided in Asheboro, NC. Also, she leaves a son, James D. Thurlow, of Thomasville, NC. Mrs. Thurlow was the grandmother of Jeremy M. Thurlow (Julie Faro), of North Andover, MA; and David J. Thurlow and Andrew M. Thurlow of Greensboro, NC. She was the great-grandmother of Isla Shea Thurlow, Charlie Cecilia, and Luca and Kaia of North Andover, MA.

Cecilia was born on July 8, 1927, in Clinton, MA, where she was raised; there she was baptized and married at Saint John the Evangelist Catholic Church. She was the daughter of the late John J. and Mary Jane (O'Malley) Davitt. Mrs. Thurlow was also predeceased by her sister, Mary E. St. John-Smith and her brother, James J. Davitt.

Mrs. Thurlow was a high honor graduate of Clinton High School, where she was co-editor of the classbook and received the Daughters of the American Revolution award at graduation. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies (cum laude) from Assumption College.

A retired editor, she had previously worked as a master proofreader in the Colonial Press until its closing in 1976, and then formed her own editorial firm of proofreading, editing, and research. Her clients included Houghton Mifflin Co.; Little, Brown Co.; Addison-Wesley; Sophia Institute Press; TAN Books; Our Sunday Visitor and many other publishers and organizations as well as individual authors. Projects included college, trade, medical, religion, and more.

Cecilia also served as the greeter at the Thayer Memorial Library Museum, Lancaster, as well as the editor of the first catalog of the museum's many artifacts. This catalog is the basis for the present online version, which is available to all computer users. For 30 years, she served as a member of the Lancaster Board of Registrars of Voters. She traveled throughout the United States and 25 countries.

When younger, she studied ballet and maintained an interest in that art throughout her lifetime. Mrs. Thurlow was actively engaged in social and professional affairs; moreover, she continued to offer editorial work as well as prayer in keeping with the True Faith.

There are no calling hours and services will be private, with burial taking place at Saint John's Cemetery, Lancaster, MA. Arrangements are entrusted to Philbin-Comeau Funeral Home, 176 Water St., Clinton, MA. Donations may be made to Saint Benedict Center, The Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, P.O. Box 1000, Harvard, MA 01451. Online condolences may be placed at

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