Longtime Tewksbury Resident, WWII Army Veteran, Family Matriarch
TEWKSBURY, MA -- Theresa "Tess" (Mackey) Berube, age 99, of Tewksbury, passed away peacefully on November 10 at her home in South Tewksbury surrounded by her loving family.
She was born at home in East Boston on September 21, 1922, the daughter of the late Jeremiah and Alice (Colbert) Mackey. She moved to Tewksbury at the age of 7 and attended Tewksbury schools, graduating class of 1940 Tewksbury High School. She was a parishioner at St. William's and St. Dorothy's Church.
Tess graduated from St. John’s School of Nursing in Lowell and served during WWII. She enlisted into the Army Nurse Corp at Fort Devens and served overseas on the Island of Tinian during the Pacific Theatre. She earned the rank of First Lieutenant and was awarded the WWII Victory Medal. After the war she married her late husband, Thomas Berube, on September 20, 1947. They lived in Cambridge for a short time where their first child was born, then settled back home to Tewksbury in 1949, and never left. Theresa worked as an industrial nurse at JM Swift Meat Packing and as an RN at St. John’s Hospital.
Theresa was the fourth of eight children in a close-knit Irish family. She was one of the Mackey Girls, Tewksbury’s answer to the Golden Girls. She is survived by her siblings, Allie Casazza, Rita O'Brien-Dee, and Jim and Carol (Lombardi) Mackey all of Tewksbury, and sister-in-law to Mary Lou and Jerry Katz of Jay, NY, along with dozens of nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was also the sister of the late Joe, Dick, and Ned Mackey and Peg Keefe. Sister-in-law to the late Frank Casazza, Joe Keefe, Donald Dee, Ginny Mackey, Peggy Mackey, Dick and Judy Berube, Donald and Kay Berube, and Leo and Margaret Berube.
She is survived by four daughters and three sons and their spouses. Daughters Anne Davis and Russell of Litchfield, NH, Nancy Berube and Richard Eisenstaedt of Wynnewood, PA, Mary Jo Krugh and Kevin of Merrimac, MA, and Kathleen Rosemond and Alan of Tewksbury, MA; sons Thomas and Diane of Georgetown, MA, Robert and Sandra of Tewksbury, and John and Jenafer Friedland of Tewksbury. Her 18 Grandchildren include: Katie Noury, Matthew, Michael, and Jonathan Davis; Jocelyn, Colin and Nolan Eisenstaedt; Sean Symanski, Thomas, Daniel, and Rae-Marie Berube; Molly Peters and Jeremy Krugh; Ryan and Rachel Berube; Amanda Berube; and Patrick and PFC Matthew Rosemond. Great grandchildren are Julia and Jack Noury; Lyla and Ella Davis, Charlie and Mason Davis, Ava and Rowan Lazzaro, Abigail Symanski, Joseph Berube MacLean, and Willa Berube.
Tess took great pride in her family tree and will be fondly remembered for her “Nannie” hugs. She enjoyed most being with family and friends for all the big holidays and good times that brought people together. She loved her cottage at Lake Winnipesaukee and visits with her sisters to historical places of New England. Trips to Philadelphia, Newfoundland and Ireland were always her favorite. Lately, she spent most time in her South Tewksbury home keeping up with family and the news of the day.
She was immensely proud of her veteran service and loved the symbolism of the American Flag, which continues to fly from her front porch. She was a true American Patriot and will always be a treasure to her family, friends, country and the Town of Tewksbury. She was kind and compassionate, and she symbolized the persona of what we’ve come to know as the Greatest Generation.
The Berube Family would like to thank Dr. Guy Napolitana and Dr. Gerry Orfanos and all the dedicated staff at Lahey Hospital in Burlington for their special care.
Berube – Theresa G. (Mackey). Calling hours are Sunday, Nov. 14, from 4-8 p.m., at the Farmer & Dee Funeral Home, 16 Lee St., Tewksbury. Her funeral will begin Monday, Nov. 15 at 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home, followed by her Funeral Mass at 11:30 a.m., at St. Williams Church, Main St, Tewksbury. Interment at Tewksbury Cemetery. A reception will follow. In lieu of flowers, take a Veteran to lunch, or donate in her memory to the Wounded Warriors Project, Hidden Battles Foundation, or any Veterans organization.