Catherine A. Ahern

West Newton - Mrs. Catherine A. (Newell) Ahern, of West Newton, died Wednesday, January 26, 2011 at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge. She was 97.

Catherine was born in Waltham on September 21, 1913, a daughter of the late Patrick and Margaret (O’Dea) Newell and had been a West Newton resident since 1942. She was a graduate of Saint Mary’s High School in Waltham and a longtime parishioner at Saint Bernard’s Church in West Newton.

She worked for many years as a sales clerk at Sea-To-U Fish Market in Waltham and enjoyed being a monitor on the Newton Shopping Bus. Catherine also enjoyed working crossword puzzles and especially loved being around her family, her friends and her home.

The wife of the late James E. Ahern, she leaves her children, Marilyn F. Maleckas of Sarasota, Florida, Margaret ‘Peggy’ Allard and her husband, Maurice, of Lincoln, Rhode Island and James E. Ahern, Jr. of Waltham; her step-granddaughter, Lisa Maleckas Kenneway and many nieces and nephews.

Catherine was also the mother-in-law of the late Peter Maleckas and sister of the late Frederick Newell, Joseph Newell, Edward Newell, Mary Newell, Agnes Newell and Margaret Carter.

Family and friends will honor and remember Catherine’s life by gathering to visit in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte.20), Waltham on Monday January 31, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. before leaving in procession to Saint Bernard’s Church, 1523 Washington Street, West Newton where her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 12 noon. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Waltham.

Memorial donations may be made to Saint Bernard’s Church, 1523 Washington Street, West Newton, MA 02465.