Marie Lucille (Isom)Hubbard was born in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands on January 23, 1929. She was the third child of the late Kelso Isom and Marie Isom (Quirard). She grew up in Chelsea and Charlestown with 4 brothers and 4 sisters after her father, a Navy Pharmacist Mate, was relocated from Haiti and the Virgin Islands, (where he met his wife Marie) to the Chelsea Naval Hospital in 1934.
Marie is the beloved sister of Marion Wood, John Isom, Robert Isom and Christine Musker and the late Laura Crawley, Kelso Isom, Carl Isom and Ruth Sherwood. She is aunt to many nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, and great-grand nieces and nephews. Marie’s greatest love was her family. Her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Haley, Hunter, Logan, Claire and Clark have had a short time with Great-Nana but her children and grandchildren will be keeping those memories alive for them as she was a woman we should all strive to be like, intelligent, kind and caring.
From Chelsea, Marie moved to Charlestown and in the 3rd grade she met a girl who would become her lifelong best friend, the late Lorraine Forbes (MacDonald). Mom and Lorraine were inseparable, even as adults, when Lorraine married and moved away. They visited and spoke on the phone as often as possible. They had different lives in different places but never lost the connection of 2 little girls who met in Charlestown at the Harvard Elementary school. Once retired and living in the senior apartments the school had now become, Marie and Lorraine spoke daily. The phone would ring early and Marie would sit and enjoy her morning coffee with Lorraine as if she was sitting across from her at the table. We should all be so lucky to have such a loving friendship.
As a girl Marie was active in St. John’s Episcopal Church under the guiding eye of Rev. Wolcott Cutler, a man she admired greatly. She attended youth groups, sang in the choir and taught Sunday School for many years. This connection to St. John’s would last a lifetime. Marie was proud to attend Charlestown schools and valued her education including a typing class her mother insisted she take against Marie’s wishes. Little did she know that typing would become so important to her as a working mother.
As a teenager Marie aided the war effort by attending dances held at the City Square YMCA for sailors docked at the Charlestown Navy Yard. She fell in love with one young sailor and even gave him her high school ring to take to sea. It was returned to her sometime later, much to her relief. She had worked hard to pay for that ring herself. Marie was very proud of her father and brothers who served in WWII. She supported her oldest brother by writing to him every day while he served on several ships. He was teased a bit by his crewmates when bags of letters would arrive from his sister but Marie felt it was her patriotic duty and continued her letters throughout the war.
Marie worked at the Bunker Hill Press as a high school student, the first of many jobs where typing skills were important. Through the years she would quietly acknowledge and thank her mother for insisting she learn to type. She married after high school, left Charlestown and had three children; Judy, Scott and Sue. Marie eventually raised her three children in Charlestown. She worked hard to support her children as a single mother and was the model of strength and integrity. She returned to the Bunker Hill Press where they were happy to employ her once again. Marie eventually was remarried to Leonard Hubbard but sadly was widowed. Years later she enjoyed a long-term relationship with Jim, an old friend, who brought her great joy.
She would eventually change jobs and begin a career at the Registry of Motor Vehicles in Boston. Starting as a Clerk she continued on to be the Administrative Assistant for both the Legal Counsel and the Director of the Title Division. Regardless of the weather, Marie walked across the Charlestown Bridge to North Station every work day for 20 years. Her long winter “storm coat” would become a good friend. In addition, it was not unusual for her to walk into Boston on a Saturday for a day of shopping with at least one child in tow.
Marie retired at age 60. She was a loving, active and devoted Nana. She played baseball in the back yard and scrabble at the table. She had a special relationship with each of her grandchildren, all boys. Pat, Jerome, Bill, Bob, and Scott will all miss her dearly.
Marie Loved to read, play scrabble, do puzzles and continued to be an active member of St. Johns Church until the day she died. She was chairperson to many annual fairs and published with her son Scott many fair journals. She also served on the church Vestry in many capacities over the years, including Senior Warden. St Johns was as important to her as the air she breathed. She was the oldest member of the congregation for several years.
Marie recently moved to Zelma Lacey House Assisted Living followed quickly by her sister Marion. The two were inseparable, enjoying activities and sharing memories of their childhood on a daily basis. Marion was great support for Marie after the death of Marie’s son, the late Scott Harney, in May of 2019. A loss no mother should ever bear, she was grateful to have her sister nearby.
Relatives and friends are invited to gather outside of St. John's Episcopal Church, 27 Devens St. Charlestown at 11:15 A.M., on Monday, December 21, 2020, to form a funeral procession. Marie's burial will then take place at Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, her Funeral Service inside of the Church is private. There are no funeral home visiting hours.
In lieu of flowers, kindly make a memorial donation in Marie’s name to the St. John’s Church Window Restoration Fund, c/o St. John’s Church, 27 Devens street, Charlestown, MA 02129
Marie's Funeral Service will begin at 11 A.M. If you wish to watch via Zoom, copy and paste the below link in your browser:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5858627018