Duncan, Mary Louise Kenney of Needham died peacefully at home on February 17, 2022, surrounded by her loving family.
Mary Lou was the devoted mother of Beth Duncan Manzon and her husband, Michael of Millis; and William Duncan Jr, and wife Elizabeth, of Braintree. Mary Lou was pre-deceased by her oldest daughter, Kathryn Duncan Wands.
She will be missed terribly by her adoring, and adored, grandchildren; Grace, Mary, Hannah, Clare, and Bobby Duncan, all of Braintree; and Tyler Wands and his partner Anna Caron of Derry, NH. She is also survived by her brother Thomas V. Kenney, Jr of Troy, NY and brother- in- law, John Lang, husband of her late sister, Ellen.
Mary Lou will be lovingly remembered by her step-grandchildren; Toni, Frankie and Danielle Manzon and their families.
Mary Louise was born on July 9, 1935, in Albany, New York, the oldest child of Kathryn M. and Thomas V. Kenney. Mary Lou attended the Emma Willard School for Girls then matriculated to Trinity College in Washington, DC at a time when most women were not afforded the opportunity to attend college. Mary Lou’s appreciation of higher education was demonstrated in her dedication to Trinity College as the President of the Boston area Alumnae Association for many years, as well as her generosity to fundraising efforts to help other women have access to a college education, knowing it can be life changing.
After college, Mary Lou moved to Boston and worked for John Hancock, where she made life-long friends. She raised her family in Needham and lived there for 55 years. She was an active parishioner of St Joseph’s Church in Needham and very involved in the community through the years. When her children were older, Mary Lou took a job at Babson College, where her advanced technological skills were truly appreciated and she eventually became the manager of the Information Technology Department. When Zoom became commonplace during the early quarantine of 2020, ML proudly informed her family she was the most tech savvy of her friends, which may have caused a few laughs.
To know Mary Lou was to know friendship. Relationships were at the heart of Mary Lou’s life and it didn’t matter if she had met you in fourth grade and talked to you every week or if she met you in passing at a cookout. ML would remember you and be truly interested in how you were and what you had been up to. She was the consummate hostess, with a social schedule that was always jammed packed. Bridge clubs (there was the one that actually played bridge and the one that didn’t), college friends, former colleagues, and longtime Needham friends were always warmly welcomed at ML’s home and treated to a perfectly planned luncheon that included laughter and love.
Mary Lou’s grandchildren were the light of her life and she loved hearing about their latest school projects, the books they were reading, and all the activities they were involved in. Despite her busy social calendar, Mama Lou, as she was affectionately called, always made time for basketball games, Christmas shows, sleepovers at her house, and trips to the Book Fair and library. She never turned down the opportunity to attend a lovely Grandparent’s Day at any of the kids’ schools, and would visit the classroom of every child she knew, even if they were not related to her. She also attended enough preschool spring concerts to put one on herself. ML loved their company and would drop everything when any of the children called her to chat. Her grandchildren knew her love was unconditional and unlimited.
Mary Lou’s life was full of love, gratitude and a true appreciation of time spent with family and friends. She always listened without judgement and shared her wisdom in a way that was just what you needed to hear. Her penchant for gift giving was remarkable, and her ability to remember names, dates and personal connections was the envy of all. ML made it a point to show up for others, and our lives are better because of her. She was an example for us all, and she will be missed terribly.
Please join us as we celebrate the well- lived life of Mary Louise Duncan.
Funeral from the George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home, 1305 Highland Ave. Needham on Wednesday, February 23, at 9am followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Joseph Church, Needham at 10am. Relatives and friends kindly invited. Visiting hours on Tuesday, February 22, from 4-7pm. Interment in Needham Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Mary Louise Duncan to the Kathryn Duncan Wands Memorial Fund at Massachusetts General Hospital. Donations may be made online at giving.massgeneral.org, or checks can be mailed: Massachusetts General Hospital, Development Office, 125 Nashua Street, Suite 540, Boston, MA 02114.