Mary E. (Walsh) Froburg, 97, passed away peacefully on September 17, 2017.
She was born in East Boston to the daughter of the late David and Elizabeth
(Cotter) Walsh. Mary was raised in Reading, MA and in 1941 she and her husband, Frank, purchased their one and only home in the Ballardvale section of Andover. It was in this home Mary lived for the next 75 years and raised her family.
Mary was a hard working and dedicated employee. During WWII she worked at Sylvania in Wakefield, MA, assisting in Defense Work. She raised her five children and later returned to the workforce. Mary worked at Grant’s, Shawswheen Plaza, Andover until the store was closed. She assisted many in the area with curtains and fabrics. From there she went to Zayre’s working in the same department, in North Reading, MA. She retired early to care for her ailing husband and did so for many years without one complaint.
Mary was happiest surrounded by her family, gathered at her large table and fussing over everyone. There was always an abundance of food, especially cheese and crackers. She loved to bake and could take a Duncan Heinz cake mix, add her ‘secret recipe’ and it would taste better than any bakery! Mary’s ‘Green-Thumb’ was visible through-out her home and yard. With the lush greenery came the birds that Mary adored. Her favorites being, cardinals and hummingbirds. Mary was kind to everyone and never judged people. She never had a bad word to say about anyone. Mary had her faith and was a longtime member of The Ballardvale United Church. She recently commented that she still prayed nightly for all her family, but some nights she fell asleep before finishing.
She will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her children: Frank Jr. and his wife Donelda Froburg of Andover; Ann (Froburg) Eldred of Methuen; Phillip and his wife Marsha Froburg of Haverhill; Thomas and his wife Robin Froburg of Andover; step-daughter, Beverly (Nokes) Lord of Rye, New Hampshire; sister, Helen Bronk-Akerstrom of Connecticut, 13 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Mary was predeceased by her husband Frank, Sr.; son, Frederic Froburg, stepdaughter; Judith Jakobsen, son-in-law; James Eldred, Sr., daughter-in-law; Penny (Leslie) Froburg and siblings; James Walsh, Nora Walsh, Anna White, Jean Candelino, David Walsh and Frederick Walsh.
For those of us who love Mary, we will forever remember her kindness, generosity, selflessness and above all for her love for each of us.
Funeral services for Mary will be privately held. Arrangments have been entrusted to the Burke-Magliozzi Funeral Home of Andover.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Mary's memory may be made to the Nashoba Learning Group for Autism, 10 Oak Park Drive, Bedford, MA 01730 or to the Ballardvale United Methodist Church, 23 Clark Road, Andover, MA 01810. For additional information, please visit, www.burkemagliozzi.com.