Karen Marie Morrissey (nee: Brown), 73, of Boston, Massachusetts, passed away on Wednesday, February 22nd, surrounded by her loving family. She was preceded in death by her second husband Gerald Morrissey and first husband Garrett Inman. Karen is survived by her sisters Anne Marie Callanan of Centerville, MA, Janice Daley of Naples, FL, brother James Brown of St. Petersburg, FL, step-sons Gerald Morrissey of Milton, MA and Sean Morrissey of Weymouth, MA and step-daughters Sheila Schmuttenmaer of Halifax, MA, Patricia Lyons of Pembroke, MA and Kathleen Morrissey of Arlington, MA and many loving nieces, nephews, and great nephews.
Karen was the eldest beloved daughter of Catherine (Leahy) and James Brown. She grew up in Medford in a loving home on Cotting Street. Karen was a ferocious fan of all Boston’s sports teams, especially the Patriots, having been a season ticket holder for decades.
Karen graduated from Salem State University with a Bachelors in elementary education in 1971. She worked as a senior executive at Cabot Corporation in downtown Boston for 30 years. Her love of teaching never left her as she remained active in philanthropic ventures including First Literacy and as a trustee of Salem State University supporting the arts and education. One of her proudest moments is when the “Morrissey Lobby” of the Sophia Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts on campus was dedicated.
Karen would visit Naples Florida every March for Salem State weekend and loved it so much she wound up buying there to escape the cold winters of Boston. She enjoyed spending her summers on the Cape in Cotuit where she loved taking her nieces and nephews to the beach and Kettleers’ games.
Karen will be dearly missed by all who knew her, however, her family takes great comfort in knowing that she was reunited with those she had lost.
Family and friends are welcome to the viewing from 9 AM through 11 AM on Monday, February 27th at the Dello Russo Funeral Home, 306 Main Street, Medford, MA 02155 with Mass services to follow at St. Joseph Church, 118 High Street Medford, MA 02155 at 11:30 AM. Interment will be held privately.
We invite you to make a donation to First Literacy (firstliteracy.org/donate) in her honor, in lieu of sending flowers.