WEBSTER – Mary F. O’Brien, the last of the Thomas O’Brien, Jr. Family, died Monday, January 20, 2025 at Overlook Masonic Home, Charlton after suffering the ravages of a hemorrhagic stroke for the last 2 years.
Mary graduated from Bartlett High School and attended Nichols College in Dudley where she took accounting courses that enabled her to become the Accounts Payable Manager for Ethan Allen Corporation in Dudley, where she worked along with 2 other siblings for the course of her career. She was a lifetime communicant of Saint Louis Church where she belonged to the Saint Louis League of Catholic Women. She volunteered to help with many church projects. At the United Church of Christ, Federated, she became a ”great potato peeler” at their monthly dinners for the homeless in the area. She loved to travel with her sister Helen and go scrapbooking with her childhood friend Joan (Bembenek) Cregg who passed away last year.
Following in her mother’s footsteps, Mary was a born caregiver. She took care of her mother and father, Thomas and Margaret (Morris) O’Brien, her sisters Helen O'Brien, Norma, wife of Leo McCarty, and Shirley Masley, as well as her brother Thomas (married to June White). She believed in giving to others and set a strong example for her nephew and nieces who loved her famous Irish wit and incredible wisdom.
She leaves behind her faithful caregivers who were with her every day; her great-niece Stephanie Lugo who lived with her and her niece Barbara Masley, as well as nieces Jeanne Stawiecki, Sandra Ducharme and her husband Roger, Patricia Martel and her husband Mark, her nephew Donald Masley and his wife Carol Shaw along with several great-nieces, great-nephews, great great-nieces and great-great nephews.
The family is so thankful for her volunteer care-givers Irene, Pat and Lyndsey who fed her lunch every day as well as a core group of talented assistants, Barbara, Karen, Deana, Crystal, Lisa, Christina, Mabel and Jenna who helped her navigate through her day. Thanks to the nurses who helped her weather many health problems during the last 2 years, especially Sarah, her hospice angel, Gabby, Amber, Rebekah, Stephanie and Mary. Special gratitude goes out to Fred and Rose who were excellent at tempting her with food she could eat. The family is grateful for the services of the Overlook Hospice Team who brightened Mary’s days.
For those who wish to remember Mary, in lieu of flowers and Masses, she requested that you take the time to visit someone who is alone or in a nursing home, reminiscing about old times together where you can both laugh and enjoy time spent together. You will not only brighten their day but your day as well.
A memorial Mass will be held at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, January 29, in Saint Louis Church, 14 Lake Street. Burial will be held privately in Calvary Cemetery, Dudley. Arrangements are under the direction of Scanlon Funeral Service, 38 East Main Street.