Lyria (DeQuis) Kolas-101
Natick-Lyria (DeQuis)Kolas passed away peacefully on Friday, October 31, 2025 at Beaumont Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center in Natick, MA. Preceded in death by her beloved husband, Michael Kolas. She leaves her son Paul Kolas of Worcester, MA her daughter Katherine (Kolas) Vasil and her husband Gregory of Wellesley, MA and 5 grandchildren; Steven, Andrew and Caitlin Kolas, and Kristina and Michael Vasil.
Lyria was born in 1924 in Pogradec, Albania and immigrated to the United States in 1936. Daughter of the late Michael and Sophie DeQuis. Her family, like many others from other countries, came to live the American dream. She couldn't speak a word of English, learning from the silver screen of Hollywood going to movies as a child.
She became a Citizen of The United States of America. Eventually she fulfilled her life long desire to become a surgical nurse and graduated from Kaiser Permanente nursing school in 1962 and worked for many years as an OR nurse in Oakland, California. She was a member of St. Mary's Albanian Orthodox Church and was active in the Women's Guild. She was a loving “Nena" to her grandchildren, the best mother and the most AMAZING cook!! She was the epitome of elegance, selflessness and resilience.
All funeral services will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations in Lyria’s memory may be made to St. Mary’s Albanian Orthodox Church 535 Salisbury St, Worcester, MA 01609