Marie F. Cronin

Watertown – Marie F. Cronin, of Watertown, died Thursday, March 9, 2017 at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge. She was 79.

Marie was born on October 5, 1937 to the late Dr. Edward J. and Martha (Goulding) Cronin and was raised in Brighton. She was a graduate of Mount Saint Joseph Academy and continued her studies at Regis College in Weston where she graduated in 1959. Carrying on what became a family tradition, Marie was the fourth of her sisters to attend the college.

Marie shared her love for learning through a gifted career as a teacher. Following her graduation from Regis she participated in a lay apostolate program of the Archdiocese of Boston that sent her to Hobbs, New Mexico where she and others attended to the needs, educational and otherwise, of native Americans. That program and others like it became the model for what later became the Peace Corps begun during the early years of John Kennedy's presidency.

Following her return home to Massachusetts she began a lifelong career teaching fifth grade in Belmont, mainly at the Butler School.

Marie moved to Waltham from Brighton more than forty years ago where she belonged to Our Lady's Parish. She served the church for many years as a lector. At home Marie delighted her family and friends with her culinary skills and was proud of the beautiful gardens she kept around her home.

Two years ago she moved to The Residence at Watertown Square where she quickly became part of the community and made many friends among residents and staff.

She leaves her sisters, Elizabeth Waldron of Waltham and Grace Godefroy and her husband, Pierre, of Del Mar, California; her sister-in-law, Jeanne Cronin, of Watertown and many devoted nieces, nephews and their families.

Marie was the sister of the late Dr. Edward J. Cronin and Martha Connelly.

Family and friends will honor and remember Marie's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Thursday, March 16th from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 9 a.m. on Friday morning before leaving in procession to Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted Church, 880 Trapelo Road, Waltham where her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Saint Joseph's Cemetery, West Roxbury.