Mary L. Keegan

Waltham – Mrs. Mary L. (Kelly) (Robbins) Keegan died on Friday June 21, 2013 in Newport Hospital in Rhode Island after a long and memorable life. She was 93.

Mary was the first baby born at the "new" Carney Hospital on July 1, 1919, the daughter of Daniel T. and Hannah M. (O'Reagan) Kelly of South Boston.

She was a graduate of Girls High and Boston Teacher's College where she was Senior Class President. In 1942, she married her West Point sweetheart, Galen P. Robbins only to be widowed one month later at the age of 23. Mary married Hugh J. Keegan of Waltham in 1951 with whom she had 5 children, the youngest born two months after Hugh's death in 1958. Despite the difficulties, she faced life with a positive attitude, a sense of humor, great faith and tremendous strength.

Generations of Waltham children knew Mrs. Keegan as the warm, loving Kindergarten teacher who greeted them with a smile and prepared them for grade school and beyond. She was a mentor to other widows and young teachers, a volunteer, a talented pianist, a great friend and most of all a wonderful mother and adored grandmother.

She leaves her children, Jane Doherty of Cupertino, California, Judith DiMarzo and her husband, Michael, of Wayland, Kelly Reeves and her husband, Rocky, of Middletown, Rhode Island and Michael Keegan and his wife, Victoria, of Wallingford, Vermont; her daughter-in-law Kerry Keegan; nine grandchildren; one great-grandchild and is also survived by six nephews and one niece.

She was the mother of the late Hugh J. 'Drew' Keegan Jr. and the mother-in-law of the late Paul Doherty.

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 Sunday June 30th from 3 to 6 p.m. and again at 9:30 a.m. on Monday morning before leaving in procession to Saint Julia's Church, 374 Boston Post Road, Weston, where her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Waltham.