Mary F. McPherson

Billerica – Mrs. Mary F. (Murphy) McPherson, of Billerica, formerly of Waltham, died Saturday, November 3, 2012 at Lahey Clinic in Burlington. She was 80.

Mary was born in Somerville on March 8, 1932, a daughter of the late John and Helen (Walsh) Murphy. She graduated from St. Clement's High School in Somerville and from Burdett College. Raised in Somerville she lived in Watertown before moving to Waltham in 1967. For the past five years she made her home in Billerica.

Until her retirement Mary worked for many years as a secretary for the Waltham Building Department. While raising her children she became very involved in the community as a member of Saint Mary's Mother's Club and a by volunteering for many years with the Little Nippers Baseball League, the Waltham Youth Hockey program and the Waltham Arts Council.

She leaves her children, Brian McPherson and his wife, Susan, of Alexandria, Virginia, Barry McPherson and his wife, Sandra, of McKinney, Texas, MaryBeth McPherson of Peterborough, New Hampshire and Diane Dennehy and her husband, Scott, of Billerica; her grandchildren, Heather and Robert McPherson, Jr. and Kelley, Melissa and Scott Dennehy, Jr.; her brother, Daniel Murphy and his wife, Julie, of Wilmington; her sister and brother-in-law, Dorothy Murphy and Stephen Walsh and many nieces and nephews.

She was the former wife of the late Robert McPherson; sister of the late John Murphy, Eileen Piccola and Maureen Walsh and sister-in-law of the late Joseph Piccola.

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, November 7th, from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 9 a.m. on Thursday 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 be private.

Memorial donations may be made to The American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 11454, Alexandria, VA 22312.