Maureen Roy of Franklin, Massachusetts died at home on July 26, 2026, at the age of 61, from natural causes. Born in Boston and raised in Dorchester as the oldest of four children, Maureen was fiercely proud of her Irish heritage and her Dorchester roots. From the very beginning, she was a lover of books, learning, and the people around her.
Her siblings referred to her as “Queen Moe Moe,” and her parents called her the perfect daughter, a title she wore like a badge of honor. A gifted student with a determined spirit, she attended Fontbonne Academy. She sang in the choir, made friendships that would last her entire life, and—by her own fond admission—occasionally tested the patience of the nuns, though she somehow always remained the Dean of Discipline's favorite. She carried her curiosity forward as the first in her family to attend college, studying psychology at Suffolk University.
Maureen went on to build her career as a paralegal at Ravech, Aronson & Shuman, work she loved and that shaped the whole course of her life. There she formed more lasting friendships and met Jeffrey Roy, whom she would marry and build a family and a home with. Through their decades together she was a devoted wife and, above all, a devoted mother—steadfastly supportive of her family through every chapter of their lives.
As her children grew older, Maureen returned to the work she loved, taking a paralegal position at ZeptoMetrix—later Antylia—where she spent many productive years. Steady, sharp, and dependable, she was the kind of colleague a team could count on, and she took pride in work done well.
Home was where Maureen’s light shone brightest. With her love, warmth, and gentle spirit, she made everyone who walked through her door feel welcomed, cherished, and at home. She was a wonderful cook and a gracious hostess, and the recipes her children asked for—such as sage walnut pasta, her buffalo chicken lasagna, or her corned beef every St. Patrick's Day—became the taste of home. The corned beef (gray, not red!) was a tradition she lovingly carried on from her own mother, her children's Nana, keeping it alive for the next generation. For many years Maureen’s New Year's Eve parties were a beloved gathering, complete with spirited games of LCR around the L-shaped kitchen counter, where lucky wins were recounted for years to come.
A lifelong learner with a thirst for knowledge and skill, Maureen took cooking, baking, and art classes well into adulthood, always chasing the next thing to master. She stayed sharp and competitive too—a USTA-rated tennis player who excelled in leagues for years and often served as captain. Her taste in music was just as spirited and wholly her own, running from 80s alt-rock to Ray Conniff and her beloved 60s on 6.
But it was the written word that stayed closest to her heart. Maureen had a love of language and a quick, dry wit to match: she had a comeback for nearly everything and the timing to land it. That sharpness carried into a devotion to intellectual games of every kind, from Scrabble and Trivial Pursuit to Words with Friends. Most of all, she shared that love with her children, passing along favorite books over the years.
She poured that same enthusiasm into everything Alicia, Nate, and Jeffrey pursued. "You can do anything you want to do," she encouraged them, cheering them on in music, art, sports, and any interest they took up, urging them always to dream big and never feel held back. Though she could be stern when it mattered, she was endlessly compassionate, and her belief in her children never wavered.
Shy by nature, Maureen never sought the spotlight, but she gave herself generously to her community. She served for many years in leadership on the Parent Communication Council and the Franklin Education Foundation, devoted to making sure the schools and teachers had everything they needed, and she served on the board of the Franklin Food Pantry.
In recent years, Maureen discovered a love of international travel, finally journeying to Ireland—a trip she was eager to make again to explore her roots with the whole family alongside her. She had chosen to remain in Franklin and was embracing a new chapter of her life with the same openness and hope that defined her. Through those years, her steady companion was Josie, the family’s Jack Russell terrier, who rarely left her side.
Maureen was predeceased by her parents, Sandra and James O'Brien, and her brother, James "Jimmy" O'Brien Jr. She is survived by her three children, Alicia of Las Vegas, Nathan and his wife Michele of Philadelphia, and Jeffrey Jr. of New York City; her siblings, Kathy Gallo and Billy O'Brien; her nieces and nephews, Matthew and Anthony Gallo, Renee, Denise, Jimmy, Andrew, and Christopher O'Brien, and Steven and Luke Derderian; her great-nephew, Kai; and her faithful companion, Josie.
She will be remembered for her kindness, sharp and curious mind, determination, and the fierce love she had for her close ones.
Visiting hours for Maureen will be held on Sunday, August 2 from 4:00 ~ 7:00 p.m. in the Ginley Funeral Home of Franklin, 131 Main St. Franklin, MA
ginleyfuneralhomes.com
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, August 3 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary's Church, 1 Church Square, Franklin.
Burial will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery, Beaver St. Franklin.
View Mass live: “ stmarysfranklin.org
Donations in Maureen's memory may be made to the: Diabetes Research Connection., 1400 Maiden Ln. Del Mar, CA 92014