GLOUCESTER: Mary M. (Firth) Alves, 82, died Friday, September 11, 2009 at her home following a long courageous battle with cancer. She was the wife of the late John S. Alves who died in 1975. They were married in September of 1948.
Born in Gloucester on January 3, 1927, she was the daughter of the late Douglas W. and Gladys A. (DeCoste) Firth. A lifelong resident of Gloucester, she was a graduate of St. Ann’s High School class of 1944.
Mary was employed at the Building Center in Gloucester for twenty-five years before retiring as the Associate Treasurer in 1992. She also worked part-time at the North Shore Career Center.
She loved to attend her grandchildren's sporting events, especially little league baseball, high school football and girl’s softball games. She enjoyed spending time with her family, friends and her pets.
She is survived by three daughters, Diane Alves, Mary Jeanne and her husband, Michael Phipps and Lois Alves, three sons, John Alves, Thomas and his wife, Dawn Alves and Christopher and his wife, Denise Alves, eight grandchildren, John Alves, Samantha Alves, Jacob Alves, Mathew Alves, Marc Alves, Danny Phipps, Nathan and his wife, Neeta Phipps and Benjamin Phipps and his wife, Emma Ferguson, a great-granddaughter, Karina Phipps and a sister, Patricia Firth.
Her funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday in the Holy Family Parish, St. Anthony’s Chapel, corner of St. Louis Ave. and Farrington Ave., East Gloucester at 11 a.m. Visiting hours will be held in St. Anthony’s Chapel on Sunday from 5 – 8 p.m. with a vigil service at 7:30 p.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. Interment will be held in the Calvary Cemetery, Gloucester. Arrangements are under the direction of the Pike-Grondin funeral Home, 61 Middle St., Gloucester.