Mary J. Coakley

Mary J. Coakley, of Waltham, died Sunday, December 29th in Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge. She was 88.

Mary was born in Waltham on May 7, a daughter of the late William F. and Catherine T. (Lynskey) Coakley. A lifelong Waltham resident, she was a graduate of Saint Mary’s High School.

After high school graduation, Mary started work in Boston for the Phone Company--Verizon--where she worked for 35 years. Mary loved the ease of shopping Downtown at Filene's and Jordan Marsh and Macy's.

In later years, she enjoyed taking the downtown bus and connecting that with the T to get to the Seaport District which was starting to be developed. She'd find a spot where she could sit and watch the activity on the water.

When she retired, she received a grant to attend Aquinas College in Newton. A certificate as an Assistant Daycare Teacher was awarded a year later. She taught for 10 years and loved every minute of working with the children.

She also taught CCD classes on Sunday at St. Mary's for several years.

Mary also enjoyed visiting places like Ireland where our mother was born and meeting some of the family members. California and the Grand Canyon were also great times. As her activities became limited, she looked forward to getting her hair done at Salon 844 and visiting with the staff and customers there.

In addition to her sister, Catherine T. Coakley of Waltham, she leaves her cousins, Philip Coakley, Liam Lane, and Rhiannon Ledoux and her godson, David Murray of Port St. Lucie, Florida and the Lynskey-Connearney family, Athenry, County Galway, Ireland.

Close family friends The Alonzi’s and Patricia and Joseph Malone.

Family and friends will honor and remember Mary’s life by gathering in Saint Mary’s Church, 133 School Street, Waltham, where her Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, January 8th at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Newton Cemetery.