Carey, Maureen F. (Sullivan) of Needham on June 20, 2026. Beloved wife of the late Paul J. Carey.
Maureen was born in Boston, MA, on June 22, 1932, the daughter of Timothy and Katherine (Fay) Sullivan. She grew up in West Roxbury. Little did she know that when she walked to Kindergarten to the Randall G. Morris School that she would meet a classmate and neighbor, Paul Carey, who would eventually become her husband. Maureen attended Notre Dame Academy, then located in Roxbury, and is a graduate of Regis College, Class of 1954. Maureen and Paul married on June 23, 1956 and headed off to El Paso, Texas and Waldorf, Maryland for Paul’s Army service. Daughter Judy was born in Waldorf and then as service ended, they headed back to Massachusetts, living in Palmer where daughter Patty was born. Then it was off to Danvers, MA where daughter Linda and son Tim were born. The favorite move for everyone was to Needham in 1968. Maureen was a member and president of St. Joseph’s Sodality and volunteered for the Parish creating the weekly bulletin and chairing a booth at the annual bazaar, as well as teaching CCD. She returned to work at Mt. Ida Jr. College as assistant to the dean, and then spent the majority of her career as the Registrar at Lasell Jr. College in Newton (now University). In retirement, she learned to play golf and was a regular volunteer in the café at Glover Hospital (now Beth Israel Deaconess Needham).
Maureen’s hands were her gift. From an early age, she played all sorts of card games, including bridge, cribbage and solitaire. She taught all her children and grandchildren many of the games, but each had to learn to win on his/her own. Maureen sewed outfits for her children, and enjoyed making doll clothes for her young sister-in-law and nieces. Knitting was her specialty and each grandchild and others received a special blanket. Maureen was proficient on the typewriter and later computer. It wasn’t unusual for her to send an e-mail, read a chapter of a book on her Kindle, check the Red Sox score on her cell phone, and bring up the solitaire app for a game or two. She read the Boston Globe daily and did crossword puzzles in pen! She shared a love of the Red Sox with her Dad and learned to keep a scorebook of the games. She enjoyed watching Paul, her children and grandchildren in their sporting adventures, and watched the Red Sox, Patriots and lots of golf on TV, as well as attending many BC Athletics events. All of the family remember vacations on Cape Cod and in Florida, and especially remember the week at the Cape celebrating Mom and Dad’s 50th anniversary, with lobster, clam chowder and lots of cribbage games.
Maureen was the loving mother and Nana to Judy McGuiness of Clinton CT and her family Mark McGuiness and wife Raschelle Bednarski, and their children Theia (8) and Keegan (3); Patty Carey of Needham, MA; Linda and Pietro Mogianesi of Charlotte, NC and their family Carey Mogianesi and husband Matt Mansfield, Milan Mogianesi, Pietro (PJ) Mogianesi; and Tim and Tina Carey of Fresno, CA and their family Ryan and wife Savina Carey, and Megan Carey.
Maureen had three siblings. All four were born 2.5 years apart, with Maureen as the oldest, and her late sister Eleanor McLaughlin as the third. Her brothers Timothy and Joseph passed as infants but were never forgotten. Maureen and Eleanor lived close to each other and their parents, and both chose husbands from the same neighborhood in West Roxbury, as did Paul’s brother George. Maureen was predeceased by her sister Eleanor and brother-in-law Robert McLaughlin, and Paul’s siblings Bill Carey, George and Claire Carey, and Edward Carey. She leaves her sister-in-law Catherine and brother-in-law Charlie Spozio, her sister-in law Mary Carey, her nieces and nephews Dan (Kristen) McLaughin, Mark McLaughlin, Maureen Moser, Bob Carey, Jane Hamblin, Barbara (Fred) Silck, Kevin (Susan) Carey, Benjamin (Jenna Parzivand) Spozio, as well as her godson John (Keiko) Weaver.
Maureen was one of 22 cousins on the Fay side and they all remained close through the years, and she enjoyed knowing many of their children. She leaves her cousins Paul Clark, Joan Friese, and Lynne Brez, and especially enjoyed the friendship with her oldest cousin’s daughter Katherine Whidden.
The family would like to thank Francess Duffy for her special care for Mom and the family, the staff at Edelweiss Assisted Living, the staff at Stone Senior Living, and the team from Legacy Hospice, as well as Dr. Gordon and Dr. DeRose from BID Needham who each guided her through her journey with Parkinson’s and breast cancer.
Visitation at the George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home, 1305 Highland Ave. Needham on Thursday, June 25, from 4-7pm followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Joseph Church, Needham on Friday, June 26, at 10am. Relatives and friends kindly invited. Interment in St. Mary Cemetery, Needham.
In lieu of flowers, donations may go to The Jimmy Fund at Dana Farber (danafarber.jimmyfund.org) or to an organization of your choice.