Mary L. Burgess

Maynard – Mrs. Mary L. (Brown) Burgess, of Maynard, formerly of Waltham, died Wednesday, July 27, 2011 at Belmont Manor Nursing Home. She was 84.

Mary was born in Waltham on October 13, 1926, a daughter of the late Thomas A. and Mildred A. (Higgins) Brown, and had lived most of her life in Waltham before moving to Mashpee and later to Maynard. She was an honors graduate of Saint Mary’s High School in Waltham and later went to school to become a licensed practical nurse.

Until her retirement in 1986, she worked for Doctors Shems and Hurwitz in Waltham. Before that she worked at Newton Health Club, LaSalle College Health Center, Brandeis University Health Center and at the Waltham High cafeteria. She was long active at Saint Mary’s Church where she belonged to the Christian Guild, the Mother’s Guild and the Ladies Sodality. Mary was also a fifty year member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas. She was also a member of the Blarney Casteleers singing group and Saint Brigid’s parish in Maynard.

Her husband of more than sixty years, Clarence J. ‘Bucky’ Burgess died on March 18, 2008.

Mary leaves her children, Thomas A. Burgess, Sr. and his wife, Judith, of Frye Island, ME, David A. Burgess and his wife, Kathleen, of Plymouth, Stephen A. Burgess and his wife, Jenay, of Hyannis, Janet E. Cardarelli and her husband, Leo, of Waltham; her siblings Alfred S. Brown and his wife, Doris, and Thomas A. Brown and his wife, Doris, all of W. Yarmouth and is also survived by 11 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

She was the mother of the late Mary Lou Burgess and sister of the late John F. Brown and Mildred Brown.

Family and friends will honor and remember Mary’s life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Friday July 29th, from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 9 a.m. on Saturday morning before leaving in procession to Saint Mary’s Church, 133 School Street, Waltham, where her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Waltham. Memorial donations may be made to the charity of one’s choice.