Mary E. (Lyons) Irvine

Waltham – Mrs. Mary E. (Lyons) Irvine, of Waltham, died Saturday, October 6, 2018 at Meadow Green Nursing Home. She was 87.

Mary was born in Roxbury on December 7, 1930, a daughter of the late John and Mary (Bauer) Lyons. She graduated from Somerville Hospital School of Nursing in 1951 and later served with the United States Navy Nurse Corps during the Korean War.

Mary was commissioned as a Lieutenant (j.g.) at U.S. Naval hospitals at St. Albans, Vermont, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and in Chelsea, Mass. It was at Camp Lejeune where she met her husband, Marine Lieut. Eugene C. Irvine. After a courtship Mary and Gene were married on February 5, 1955 in Saint Patrick's Church in Roxbury and four years later moved to Waltham where they became lifelong residents. The pair enjoyed fifty-eight happy years together before Gene's death on February 4, 2013.

She would later work as a nurse at Rhode Island Hospital, Boston City Hospital and at Waltham Hospital before becoming the school nurse at Watertown's Hosmer-East School.

True to the adage that 'God couldn't be everywhere . . . that's why He created mothers', Mary was also very active in the community. She was a longtime member and past president of the Waltham Women's Club and the Stigmatine Ladies Guild, vice-president of The Waltham-Watertown-Belmont Chapter of AARP, a charter member of the Women in Military Service to America, a member of Saint Mary's Mother's Club, was a co-chair of The Friends of the Reagle Players and was a member of the PFC John M. Sullivan USMC Veterans of Foreign War Post No. 10334 Auxiliary in Waltham. She'd also been a longtime volunteer at Waltham Hospital, the American Red Cross and at Saint Mary's Parish.

She leaves her children, Cmdr. Glenn M. Irvine USN (Ret.) (Marina) of San Diego, California, Keith T. Irvine (Mary) of Waltham, Eugene C. Irvine, Jr. (Joan) of Plymouth, Paul F. Irvine (Mary) of Franklin, Gregory J. Irvine (Diane) of Northborough and Robert W. Irvine (Lisa) of Waltham; her brothers and sisters, Thomas J. Lyons of Brighton, William F. Lyons of Michigan, Paul E. Lyons of South Boston, Frances T. Cucinotta of Norwood and Margaret E. Burns of Watertown; twelve grandchildren, one great-grandchild and many nieces and nephews.

Mary was also a sister of the late John Kelley.

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 Wednesday, October 10th from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 9 a.m. on Thursday morning before leaving in procession to Sacred Heart Church, 311 River Street, Waltham where her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will be in Mount Feake Cemetery, Waltham.

Memorial donations may be made to the New England Center and Home for Veterans, 17 Court Street, Boston, MA 02108 or online at www.nechv.org