Mary J. Shinnick

Waltham – Mrs. Mary J. (Comeau) Shinnick, of Waltham, died Thursday, May 24, 2012 at Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital in Westborough. She was 86.

Mary was born in Medford on March 30, 1926, a daughter of the late Roger and Elizabeth (Doucette) Comeau, and was a graduate of Medford High School. She had lived in Melrose and in Lexington before moving to Waltham fifty years ago.

She and her late husband, John J. Shinnick, were daily communicants and longtime members of Our Lady's Parish in Waltham. Mary was devoted to caring for her husband and six children and in later years spending time with her growing family of grandchildren. She and John spent many happy times together outdoors near the ocean, playing tennis, skiing and playing bridge and dancing. It was on a ski holiday where they met and began their life together until John's death on February 13, 2002.

Mary leaves her children, William B. Shinnick and his wife, Rose, of Germantown, Tennessee, John R. Shinnick and his wife, Addy, of Leominster, Jacqueline S. Seward and her husband, John, of Waltham, Philip J. Shinnick of Montreal, Quebec and Elizabeth Vinci and her husband, Michael, of Marlborough; her grandchildren, Brian, Conor and Sarah Shinnick, Susan Lankford, Erin, Kevin, Lisa, Shawna and Jenna Caldwell and Jacquelyn, James and Michelle Vinci; her great-grandchilden, Piper, Jack and Hanna Shinnick; her son-in-law, Bruce Caldwell of Westwood; her sisters, Pauline Hollywood of Medford and Clara Carbonneau of Las Vegas, Nevada and many nieces and nephews.

She was also the mother of the late Kathryn A. Caldwell, grandmother of the late Maryanne Caldwell and a sister of the late Annie Anstedt, Rose Mataccio, Roy Comeau and Albert Comeau.

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 Monday, May 28th, from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday morning before leaving in procession to Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted Church, 880 Trapelo Road, Waltham where her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Entombment will follow in Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden.

Memorial donations may be made to Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted Church, 880 Trapelo Road, Waltham, MA 02452.