1930 - 2026
Born on July 14, 1930, in Laurium, Michigan, on the Keweenaw Peninsula, Lori was the daughter of the late Richard R. and Martha V. (Keranen) Putansu. At just three years old, she moved with her family to the Detroit area when her father relocated for work.
Lori and Harry first met through her brother and grew up knowing one another during their school years. Both later worked at General Motors headquarters in Detroit. They were married in 1951 and initially lived in Highland Park before purchasing their first home in Madison Heights, Michigan in 1954. In 1959, Harry’s promotion with Chevrolet brought the family to Framingham, Massachusetts. They soon settled in Medway on Winthrop Street, where they lived for 13 years before purchasing their longtime home on Main Street in West Medway in 1972. Lori remained there until 2021, when she moved to The Willows Assisted Living, where she resided until her passing.
Raised in the Lutheran Church in Michigan, Lori later became a devoted member of the West Medway Community Church after relocating to Massachusetts, maintaining her membership throughout her life.
Lori treasured her years as a stay-at-home mother. She was deeply involved in her children’s activities, serving as a leader in Cub Scouts, Brownies, and Girl Scouts, and faithfully attending her son’s baseball games throughout the spring and summer seasons. She was always ready for an errand run in her beloved green 1957 Chevy — affectionately known as “the jolly green giant.” Many of those trips included stops at the Hostess factory outlet in Natick or Waseeka Apple Farm in Ashland, complete with singing and snacking on apples during the ride home.
In 1970, Lori began working at Framingham Union Hospital in the billing department. Over the next two decades, she earned multiple promotions, ultimately serving as Billing Department Director. She retired in the mid-1990s to spend more time with Harry and enjoy traveling and family gatherings.
Lori had a wide range of interests and especially loved spending time with her family. She enjoyed bridge — both social “party” bridge and competitive play — often playing with close friends or at the Medway Senior Center. She also enjoyed train dominoes, day trips, gardening, quilting, sewing, golf, and reading mystery and suspense novels. She felt especially blessed to live long enough to meet her great-grandchildren.
She is survived by her four children: Michael King and his wife Sharon of Mendon; Henry “Hank” King and his wife Jeanette “Jeannie” of Dennis; Laura Roscoe of Jamaica Plain; and David King of Brookline; along with her daughter-in-law Patricia “Patty” King of North Brookfield. She was predeceased by her children Susan King and Jeffrey King, both of whom remained forever in her heart.
She is also survived by ten grandchildren — Jessica, Susan, Matthew, Sarah, Lauren, Kevin, Harry, Logan, Nathaniel, and Avery — and ten great-grandchildren — Brady, Evan, Maren, Lucas, Hadley, William, Fiona, Idaliise, Audrey, and Meredith.
Lori is further survived by her sisters Idaliise Putansu of Lincoln City, Oregon, and Virginia Vairus of Fulton, Michigan, along with many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her siblings Elaine Parducci, Richard Putansu, and Laura Putansu.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend her funeral service on Thursday, February 26 at 11 a.m. at the Ginley Crowley Funeral Home, 3 Barber Street in Medway (ginleyfuneralhomes.com). Burial will take place privately at Evergreen Cemetery in Medway following the service.
Calling hours will be held on Thursday, February 26 from 10 –11 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Lori’s memory to the Medway Community Church, 11 Slocumb Place, Medway, MA 02053.
