WINDHAM, NH—Mary Jo (Mangan) Koza, 61 years old, longtime resident of Lowell, died Sunday December 15th, at her home in Windham, NH, after a valiant fight against breast cancer.
She was born in Lowell, on December 27, 1940, a daughter of the late James and Josephine (Gallagher) Mangan, and was a graduate of the Lowell Public Schools, Lowell High School and Lowell State Teacher’s College.
Mrs. Koza spent her life devoted to the health and happiness of her family, the well being of her friends and the education of the hundreds of children she taught during her twenty nine years as a teacher of young children in the Varnum and McAuliffe Schools. She instilled self-confidence, reading skills and a love of learning. As these students grew older, countless numbers returned to express their personal thanks for the positive influence she had on their lives.
Mrs. Koza’s generosity of spirit touched everyone who knew her. Even during her three year cancer treatment, she focuses on others, showing equal concern for her sons, grandsons, friends and those who cared for her at the cancer center. Her family and friends were showered by acts of kindness and love, and there was no occasion too mundane to warrant a personal response. Mary Jo lived for her sons, and her grandchildren, collectively known as “her babies”. Her spirit has been embraced by all who knew her and who plan to keep her spirit alive through acts of kindness that they’ll carry out in her name.
She is survived by her three sons: Stephen E. and his wife Julie; Michael D. and his friend Michelle Deschenes; and Sean T. and his wife Kimberly; a sister: Ann Denise, and her husband Dr. Frank Daly, of Sterling, CO; a brother: Stephen Mangan, and his wife, Geraldine, of Lowell; grandsons: Stephen, Mathew, Christopher Koza and Morgan Emond; several aunts, nieces and nephews as well as a wide circle of friends and fellow teachers.
Friends may call from 4 to 8 PM on Friday, December 20th, at the MAHONEY FUNERAL HOME, 187 Nesmith Street, (Rte. 38). Her Funeral Mass to be offered Saturday, December 21st, at 9 AM at the IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH, Lowell. Burial in St. Patrick Cemetery, Lowell. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to either Saints Memorial Medical Center Foundation; Cancer Center; P.O. 367; Lowell, MA 01853, OR the Merrimack Valley Hospice; 360 Merrimack Street; Lawrence, MA 01843.