Domurad, Henrietta, 87, of Fall River passed on Thursday, January 5th, at The Catholic Memorial Home, in the loving company of her family. Miss Domurad, known always as "Henia,” was a lifelong resident of the city. She was the daughter of the late Antonina (Korwek) and Stanislaw Domurad, who emigrated from Poland and raised their family in the city’s Polish community of Holy Cross Parish. She was the sister of the late Ann Boyer, Sophie Dobyna, and Irene Domurad. Survivors include her sisters, Leocadia “Nora” Berube, of Swansea, and Virginia Levesque, of Fall River, and several nieces and nephews, and their children, including her nephew, friend, and caregiver, James Levesque, and her niece and nurse, Alyce Pires. She also leaves behind a beloved godchild, Dorothy Polka, and a close friend, Mrs. Jane Wenc.
Miss Domurad was educated at Holy Cross School by the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph, and she also attended Henry Lord Junior High School, and BMC Durfee High School. She worked as a seamstress for Har-Lee Company, later named Wentworth, from age 16 until her retirement at age 60, when she began caring for her ailing mother. After her mother’s death, she worked as a senior aide for the Fall River ARC, giving her heart to the individuals that agency served.
A woman of devout faith, she was a lifelong member of Holy Cross Parish, later called Saints Peter and Paul Parish at Holy Cross Church. After decades of service to her church and the Conventual Franciscan Friars who staffed it, she was honored with the Marion Medal by then Bishop Sean O'Malley. Miss Domurad sang alto in the parish choir for nearly 60 years, almost all of that time under the skilled direction of her close friend Mademoiselle Marguerite LeBlanc. She was a member of the Holy Rosary Society, attended mass daily whenever able, and was devoted to the Blessed Mother and the Chaplet of the Devine Mercy.
Through the years, her greatest joys were her faith, family, friends and fashion. Henrietta was a legendary seamstress, who often sewed designer clothing to wear to family functions, choir outings, and church events. She tatted heirloom handkerchiefs, and could mend tears, rips, and pulls until invisible. During her younger years, she longed for the first weeks of July when the city's mills would shut down and she could vacation with her friends. She enjoyed dining out, walking downtown, good music, movies, dancing, and all things Polonia.
Miss Domurad empathized with the needs of others and will be remembered for her compassion, charity, and selfless acts. She provided end-of -life care for her mother, sisters, and a nephew. She was always willing to help, be it through a ride, a visit to a nursing home, or a kind note. She was blessed with a healthy life and a stubborn independence. When faced with a terminal illness, she fought the good fight until the very end.
Her funeral is under the direction of BOYKO MEMORIAL FUNERAL HOME, 709 Broadway, Fall River. Visiting hours will be on Monday, January 9th, from 5 to 8 pm. Friends and family are invited to join the Holy Rosary Society in praying the rosary at 6pm on that day. Her funeral will be held on Tuesday, January 10th, at 10 am, from Boyko Memorial Funeral Home with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 am, at Holy Cross Church of Saints Peter and Paul Parish. Internment will be at St. Patrick's Cemetery.
On behalf of Miss Domurad, her family wishes to thank the staff of Beacon Hospice and The Catholic Memorial Home for their sensitive, professional, and appropriate care.