Marie Catherine (Flanagan) Eckes was born June 28, 1925 in Melrose, the only daughter of James E. and Gertrude M. (Boyle) Flanagan. In 1949 she married Richard C. Eckes and enjoyed 37 years of marriage, until his death in 1986. She never strayed far from Malden for too long. She was the beloved mother of James of NH, David of Malden, John (Pam) of Saugus, Nancy (Paul) Maccioli of Malden and the late Virginia Lavargna and Mary Eckes. Mother-in law of Albert Lavargna of Revere. She was the loving grandmother of Ariel and Lisa Eckes, Nicole, Christin and Julie Lavargna, Kevin (Kelly), Robert, Annmarie and Richard Maccioli, Guy (Adrienne) and Dawne Ober and was Gee, the enthralled great grandmother of Daniel, Juliette and Nicholas Maccioli. She was the sister of the late James, John, Thomas, Richard and Robert Flanagan and the aunt and great aunt to numerous nieces and nephews. Before declining health impeded her mobility she was very involved in St. Joseph's Parish, volunteering for many years in many areas. She enjoyed coffee klatches with her friends, "The Church Ladies." Through the years she lovingly showered family and friends with the well over one hundred afghans she had knit or crocheted for them before her eyesight became a problem. This also seriously affected her love of reading in the last several years until she found Perkins Talking Book Library which became a godsend to her.
Family and friends are kindly invited to attend a Funeral from the Carroll Funeral Home, 721 Salem Street, (Maplewood Square) MALDEN on Tuesday, May 27th at 8 AM followed by a Funeral Mass celebrated in St. Joseph's Church, 770 Salem Street, Malden at 9 o'clock. Visiting Hours in the Carroll Funeral Home on Monday from 4-8 PM. Services will conclude with interment at Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation of Perkins Braille and Talking Book Library at 175 North Beacon Street, Watertown, MA 02472-2790 or Care Dimensions, 75 Sylvan St., Suite B-102, Danvers, MA 01923 or St. Joseph's Church, 790 Salem St., Malden, MA 02148.