Holden, Mary (5/10/1922-12/25/2014) of Natick, MA and East Falmouth, MA.
Mary Margaret Holden, a long–time resident of Natick, MA and East Falmouth, MA and former Natick town meeting member, died peacefully of natural causes at the age of 92 on Christmas Day surrounded by her children and her husband of 65 years, William F. O’Brien.
Mary was born in Providence, RI. Her father died on Black Thursday when she was 6 years old and Mary and her mother endured the Great Depression in severe poverty. She met her future husband as a teen, waited for him while he was a POW in Germany during the war, and then married him in 1949. Mary and Bill had four children:
Paula O’Brien of Natick, MA, Martin O’Brien of Cambridge, MA, Kevin O’Brien and his wife Julie of Taunton, MA, and Neal O’Brien and his wife Michelle of Boston, MA. She was also the proud grandmother of Scarlett O’Brien, Trevor Holden O’Brien, Justine Holden O’Brien, Lindsey O’Brien, and Arianna O’Brien.
Mary became active in many social justice campaigns including the movements for civil rights and to end the war in Vietnam. In 1970 she traveled to Paris as a delegate to the People’s Peace Treaty conference and met with delegations from North Vietnam.
In the 70s Mary became active in the effort to bring social justice reform to Central America and traveled to Cuba and to Nicaragua as a part of a solidarity program. She was engaged by the Nuclear Freeze movement, which sought to rid the world of globally destructive weapons.
Mary also began working in the chaplain’s office at Wellesley College where she helped organize and inspire students for volunteer projects and special events. Mary was an early supporter of Rosie’s Place, a homeless shelter for women, and took part in various feminist campaigns.
Mary instilled her love for the ocean in her children and grandchildren first at Charlestown, RI, then Falmouth, Cape Cod, and on Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. She loved books, theatre, and music and was a frequent visitor to Tanglewood, jazz concerts, the Highfield Theatre, and the Huntington Theater.
Mary led by example modeling intellectual courage, social conscience, love of friends and family, and passion for life. Her legacy lives on in her children and grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either the Poor People’s United Fund, 645 Boylston St. Boston, MA 02116 or Rosie’s Place, 889 Harrison Ave., Boston, MA 02118 or to the New England Food Foundation, Cape House, P.O. Box 960788, Boston, MA 02196.
A memorial celebration of life will be held Saturday, January 31, at 2:00 PM at a place to be announced.
Further information is available at www.maryholdentribute.weebly.com