HAVERHILL: Mary V. (Murphy) Zins, 81, died March 26, 2012 in the Penacook Place after a long illness. She was the wife of Arnold G. “Tom” Zins with whom she shared fifty four years of marriage.
Born in Haverhill on October 16, 1930, she was the daughter of the late Paul F. and Catherine L. (Moran) Murphy. Mary was a graduate of St. James High School and also received her degree in teaching from Fitchburg Teacher’s College. She lived and taught in Connecticut and Portsmouth, NH before returning to Haverhill in 1957. She then taught at the Groveland Street School in Riverside for many years.
On April 26, 1958 she married the love of her life and devoted herself to her family. Later in life, Mary worked at Building 19 and the Internal Revenue Service in Andover and Methuen. In her free time Mary enjoyed reading, camping in Maine and watching the Red Sox. Mary was an active and devout member of St. John the Baptist Church. Her faith was of utmost importance to her. She enjoyed cheering on her husband, Tom in earlier years while he played men’s softball. Above all spending time with her loving family was always foremost in her life. When friends and family think of Mary they will remember her for being a nice person throughout her lifetime.
In addition to her beloved husband, she is survived by her four children, Deborah E. Henegan of Newton, NJ, Steven T. Zins of Haverhill, Edward B. Zins and his wife Christine of Methuen and William D. Zins and his wife Jennifer of Deltona, FL; thirteen grandchildren, Patricia L. Henegan, Erin E. Henagan, Jeremy D. Henagan, Zachary M. Zins, Alexander Zins, Arianna Gonzalez, Jessica C. Zins, Rachel C. Zins, Lily M. Zins, Brianna M. Zins, Danny Zins, Jacob Zins and Ashley Jeffcoat. She was also predeceased by her son, Michael C. “Bucky” Zins and her brother, David Murphy.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday in St. John the Baptist Church, Lincoln Ave., Haverhill at 10 a.m. Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday in the Linnehan-Grondin Funeral Home, 129 Kenoza Ave., Haverhill from 4 – 7 p.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. Interment will be privately held in the Walnut Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in Mary’s memory may be made to Penacook Place Employee Fund, 150 Water St., Haverhill, MA 01830.