Obituary

Juanita Lillian Meranda (Nita) was born in Boston, MA on November 14, 1943. She was the only child born to the late Raymond Meranda and the late Berniece (Williams) Meranda. She attended school in Boston graduating from Jeremiah E Burke High School for Girls. After high school she attended Boston State College where she earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.

After college she worked briefly as an undertaker working for J.B. Johnson and Rogers & Shields. She then began working for the Massachusetts Department of Corrections where she worked for over 30 years and retired as a Correctional Program Office lll. While serving as a Corrections Officer she was a hardnosed no-nonsense officer who struck fear in the hearts of the most hardened criminals, but underneath that tough exterior was a heart of gold always putting family and friends first. She resided in Somerville in the Clarendon Towers for over 30 years where she was very involved in community serving as a member of the Cambridge/Somerville Elders and the Clarendon Tower Board of Directors where she remained faithful and active until her health began to deteriorate. She loved to travel and enjoyed life to the fullest as only she could. She passed away peacefully on July 30, 2024, at the Care One Lexington Nursing Facility. She will be gratefully missed for her kindness, generosity and one of a kind scene of humor. She leaves to mourn one Goddaughter Michelle Knight Ward of Randolph, MA, and longtime high school friend Nellie Knight of Roxbury, and a host of relatives, family and friends.

Services will be held on Tuesday August 6th at Davis Funeral Home 89 Walnut Ave Roxbury, MA 02119 11AM – 1PM and burial at the Forest Hills Cemetery.

Nita, you have been an inspiration in my life and the kindness that you have shown to me, and my family, can never be replaced or forgotten. Love you to the moon and back.
Cousin Terrence.