Former Sunday school teacher Lois Paris turned to Wiccan ways as Lady Urania

PORT RICHEY — Lady Urania was a witch.

The tools of her magic crowd the spaces of her suburban home, especially in a darkened inner sanctum.

Masks representing the three faces of Wiccan womanhood — mother, maiden and elderly sage — preside over a closet of herbs and spices in dozens of jars, not far from a mask of the horned god, Pan, and quarter moons with faces.

Lady Urania — the ceremonial name of Lois Paris, a high priestess and celebrated figure in the local Wiccan community, died April 27, of cancer. She was 74.

"She had a laugh it's been described as a cackle, an indescribable cackle that just had the whole room smiling," said Denise Paris, 45, Lady Urania's daughter-in-law.

Before she became Lady Urania, Ms. Paris was a Catholic Sunday school teacher who worked for a Baltimore phone company. But she found the religion too authoritarian and began to study Wicca, or witchcraft.

Ms. Paris was a short woman with a full voice, especially when delivering her opinion, which she did freely. A redhead with an attitude, her daughter-in-law said.

After moving to Port Richey in 1991 with her husband, George, she blended in quickly with local Wiccans, the women and men who practice what they call an earth religion. The Wiccans say they keep a low profile because they fear discrimination and harassment.

Lady Urania became part owner of the Stone Circle, a retail store where she sold books, crystals and candles and gave tarot readings.

"She was the best reader I have ever known," said Tina Phillips, 38, who belongs to a sister coven of Lady Urania's. The two women also shared past lives together, Phillips said, most recently as American Indians, when Lady Urania was Phillips' mother.

For the last several months, cancer of the tongue prevented Lady Urania from speaking. A few weeks ago she wrote a note saying that she wanted to go to sleep forever.

She died in her sleep, her family said, with a peaceful expression on her face.

Andrew Meacham can be reached at (727) 892-2248 or ameacham@sptimes.com.