Elizabeth M. (Cronin) Waldron

It's been said that "long after we are too big to carry in her arms, our mother carries us in her heart."

That's how it was for Waltham's Elizabeth Waldron. The mile markers of her life always centered around life, love, faith, family and friendship. From her early days growing up with her parents, sisters and brother in Saint Columbkille's Parish in Brighton to the present day when she made her home with her daughter Tracey and her family in Braintree, Elizabeth could always be found at the center of family life.

Her faith was unwavering from her earliest days and was what sustained her when she lost her oldest son, Stephen, to cancer seven years ago. She continued to smile through her tears and lent her courage to those who needed it.

Elizabeth was born in Boston on July 29, 1930, a daughter of the late Edward and Martha (Goulding) Cronin and was raised in Brighton. She graduated from Mount Saint Joseph Academy in Brighton and earned her bachelor's degree from Regis College in Weston.

She died at home on Sunday, November 4, 2018 at home following a period of declining health. She was 88.

In 1962, Elizabeth and her husband, Jim, moved to Waltham where they raised their family. At the age of forty she re-entered the workforce at the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Education where she was a nutritionist.

The wife of the late James F. Waldron, she leaves her children, Carolyn K. Waldron of Berwyn, Illinois, Lisa A. Vieira and her husband, Gil, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, Brian J. Waldron of Framingham, Tracey M. Bernasconi and her husband, Jay, of Braintree and Gregory T. Waldron and his wife, Tara, of Providence, Rhode Island; her daughter-in-law, Laura McCarthy of Chicopee; her grandchildren, Christopher Vieira, Eric Vieira, James "JJ" Waldron, Ryan Waldron, Amanda Bernasconi, Erica Bernasconi, Rachel Bernasconi, Declan Waldron, Kiernan Waldron, and Delaney Waldron; her sister, Grace Godefroy and her husband, Pierre, of Del Mar California; her sisters-in-law, Jeanne Cronin of Watertown and Clodagh Brennan of Springfield and many nieces, nephews and their families.

Elizabeth was the mother of the late Stephen E. Waldron and sister of the late Edward Cronin, Martha Connelly and Marie Cronin.

Family and friends will honor and remember Elizabeth's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Wednesday, November 7th from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday morning before leaving in procession to Saint Jude Church, 147 Main Street, Waltham, where her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow in Saint Joseph's Cemetery, West Roxbury.

Memorial donations may be made to Saint Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or online at www.stjude.org