Mary E. (Lucier) Henley, age 88, of Natick, loving mother, grandmother and friend, died peacefully early Thursday morning at Mary Ann Morse Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Natick.
Born in Somerville, she was the oldest of nine children born to Walter and Ellen (Bowens) Lucier. Mary was raised and educated in Jamaica Plain and did all she could to support her younger siblings after the premature death of their mother. After graduation she worked for several years doing clerical and secretarial work in the Boston area.
Mary married Melvin R. “Ray” Henley in 1952, and for their first years together moved frequently to accommodate his various transfers with the US Navy. After Ray’s Navy retirement, they settled in Brighton to raise their growing family.
Mary was employed for many years with Beth Israel Hospital in the Medical Records Department until her retirement. She was an enthusiastic reader and enjoyed word games and trivia. A dedicated correspondent, Mary regularly kept up with friends through cards and letters. She was happiest when surrounded by the love of her large extended family.
Predeceased by Ray in 1998, she is survived by three daughters, Toshie Mancuso and husband John of Woburn, Ellen Breslin of Melrose, and Margarett Cady and husband Barry also of Melrose; two sons, Walter Henley and wife Lucy of Natick, and Ray Henley and wife Cynthia of Miami, FL; thirteen grandchildren, John Paul, Michael, Katie, Stephen, Allison, Thomas, Renee, Caroline, Rick, Dave, Jessica, Ben, and Sean; three great-grandchildren, Autumn, Kyla, and Keira; three sisters, Carol Teehan of Dedham, Margaret Bowlby of Boynton Beach, FL, and Lorraine MacDonald of West Roxbury; and many nieces and nephews. She was also the sister of the late Walter, William, Robert, Loretta, and Pauline.
Her funeral will be from the John Everett & Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park Street at Natick Common, Natick, on Thursday, Dec. 29th at 9:15a.m. with a Mass of Christian Burial at Saint Patrick’s Church, 44 East Central Street, Natick, at 10:00a.m. Interment St. Joseph Cemetery. Visiting hours will be Wednesday 4 - 8p.m.
Donations may be made in Mary’s memory to, National Spinal Cord Injury Assoc., 75-20 Astoria Blvd, Jackson Heights, NY 11370