Charlene "Lee" Torla Obituary (1938 - 2024)

Charlene Lee (Wheeler) Torla, age 86, a resident of Dracut, passed away peacefully at her home on Monday, October 14, 2024, surrounded by her loving family. She was the beloved wife of the late John R. Torla. She was born in Lowell on July 28, 1938, and was the daughter of the late Charles and Dorothy Wheeler. Charlene, also known as Lee, was raised and educated in Lowell. After high school, she attended travel school in Boston. She then relocated to Washington, D.C. for her first job in in the travel industry working for Northeast Airlines as a ground hostess, meeting and greeting VIPs and dignitaries. Charlene needed to return home to Lowell to help care for her ailing mother and began working for TWA at their Reservations Center in Boston, where she met the love of her life, Jack. They married and moved to North Salem, NH. Years later they moved back to Lowell to the house next to her grandparents and worked for her grandfathers real estate business. Then she was hired at Bennett & Hodge Travel in downtown Lowell, where she planned many beautiful vacations for her clients. Many years later when Bennett & Hodge closed, Charlene worked for the Greater Lowell Board of Realtors in Chelmsford. From there, she worked for the Foundation at Saints Memorial Hospital. Once she retired, Charlene was hired as a part time bookkeeper at Nyman Law Office until last year. Charlenes greatest love was spending time with her family and friends. She cherished our family dinners, celebrations, movie nights, ski trips, and family trips abroad. She was passionate about traveling the world, local road trips on the weekends and frequent trips to Boston to shop, dine, and see a play or see the Boston Pops. She was an avid reader and listened to not only classical music but the great music of her era. Charlene is survived by her daughters, Suzanne and her husband Arthur Hall of Dracut, and Jill Torla of Texas; her stepchildren, Cindy Torla of Danville, NH and John E. Torla of Lowell; her sisters-in-law, Judy Wheeler of Naples, FL and Catherine Dawson of North Andover; her brother-in-law Robert F. Torla and his wife Ann Sibold of Falls Church, VA; her grandchildren, Jeffrey S. Hall and his wife, Lisa of Salisbury, Brian W. Murphy, of Concord, NH and Erin K. Murphy of Derry, NH; four great grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was predeceased by her husband, John R. Torla, and her brother Richard M. Wheeler. Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, from 5 pm 8 pm at the DRACUT FUNERAL HOME, 2159 Lakeview Ave., DRACUT. Her funeral service will be held on Thursday, October 17, 2024, at 10 am in the funeral home. Interment will be held privately. In lieu of flowers, the family would welcome donations in Charlenes memory to the American Cancer Society Lung Cancer Service Details Visitation When October 16, 2024 5:00pm - 8:00pm Location Dracut Funeral Home Address 2159 Lakeview Avenue Dracut, MA 01826 Funeral Service When October 17, 2024 10:00am Location Dracut Funeral Home Address 2159 Lakeview Avenue Dracut, MA 01826