…beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother; 88
TEWKSBURY - Marion Louise (Varris) (Cusack) Zak, age 88, died peacefully Saturday afternoon, March 23, surrounded by her family at the Life Care Center of Merrimack Valley in No. Billerica. She remained active and lived independently until five weeks ago. She was the wife of the late John F. “Sonny” Cusack, and later, the late Chester Zak.
Mrs. Zak was born in Wakefield on December 3, 1924, one of two children of the late George A. and Katherine (MacLeod) Varris. She was raised in Watertown where she graduated from Watertown High School. She began her career with John Hancock Insurance in Boston. After raising her family she returned to work and eventually retired from the Massachusetts Department of Motor Vehicles, Watertown branch. Marion moved to Tewksbury in 1973.
She was active and a lifetime member of the American Legion Auxiliary, and along with her husband who served as Grand Knight, was active at the Watertown Council of the Knights of Columbus.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Elaine Kathleen (Cusack) Fanciullo and her husband Joseph of Tewksbury; a daughter-in-law, Adelaide “Ali” Cusack of W. Roxbury, now Burlington, who was the wife of her late son, Michael Alan Cusack; four grandchildren, Diane Eatherton and her husband Phil of Tewksbury, Joseph J. Fanciullo Jr. and his partner, Kristy McDonald of Townsend, Kristin (Cusack) Dunay and her husband Bill of Hudson, NH.and Michael William Cusack of Hillsborough, NH; five great grandchildren, Ryan and Rachel Eatherton, Andrea and Joey Fanciullo, and Liam Dunay; and was predeceased by her brother George A. Varris Jr.
Memorial visiting hours are Friday, March 29, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. in the funeral home. Her Memorial service will follow at 3:00 p.m. in the Funeral Home. Interment at St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Watertown will be private. Memorials to the Greater Lowell Association for the Blind, 169 Merrimack St., Lowell, MA 01852 will be appreciated.