Mary J. Canty

Billerica – Mrs. Mary J. (Keough) Canty, of Billerica, died Sunday, June 10, 2012 at Lahey Clinic in Burlington. She was 82.

Mary was born in Waltham on July 10, 1929, one of eleven children born to the late Michael F. and Bridget E. (Crowe) Keough, both natives of Ireland. She graduated from Saint Mary's High School in Waltham and had been a lifelong resident of the city before moving to Billerica twenty-one years ago.

Until her retirement she worked as an executive secretary for D.C. Heath and Company, a publishing company in Lexington that later merged with Houghton Mifflin. Before that she had worked for a number of years for the Raytheon Company and had long been active with the Toastmasters Club in Waltham.

She leaves her childen, Robert O. Canty and his wife, Jennifer, of Roslindale, Michael P. Canty and his wife, Paula, of Billerica, James J. Canty and his wife, Ebony, of Gilbert Arizona, Paul A. Canty of Derry, New Hampshire, Peter J. Canty of Manchester, New Hampshire and John T. Canty of Sterling; her brothers, Michael F. Keough, Jr., Thomas M. Keough, John T. Keough, all of Waltham, James J. Keough of Bookville, Florida, David E. Keough of Falmouth and Joseph E. Keough of Natick; 11 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Mary was also the mother of the late Richard M. Canty and Marjorie Canty and a sister of the late William Keough, Kathleen Kewer, Helen Keough and Agnes Paul.

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 Thursday, June 14th, from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 9:30 a.m. on Friday morning before leaving in procession to Saint Mary's Church, 133 School Street, Waltham, where her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be private.

Memorial donations may be made to Homes for Our Troops, 6 Main Street, Taunton, MA 02780.