Mary Virginia Rooney, age 84, passed away Tuesday evening, surrounded by her loving and caring family following an extended illness. Mary was the beloved daughter of the late Roma (Noonan) and William T. Rooney.
Mary was born and raised in Woburn. She attended the Johnson Elementary School, graduated with the class of 1941 from St. Charles High School, and furthered her education at Fischer School of Business in Boston.
After school Mary would help her late Mother and Grandmother "Maude" Noonan, provide foster care for boys at there temporary foster home. She loved vacationing in New Hampshire, Cape Cod, Booth Bay Harbor, Maine, and taking cruise ships to destinations such as Canada, Bermuda, Hawaii and Ireland. Before retirement she was employed as a secretary and bookkeeper by several companies including Andrew Dutton Co. of Boston, Burnes Furniture Co. of Woburn, R.H. Stearns Distribution Center of Woburn and the Utica Mutual Insurance Co. of Wakefield. Mary will be remembered by her family as living a full rich life, playing piano, attending musicals, cooking, crocheting, needle point, being kind to family, visiting the sick and running errands for those in need. She loved to drive, until she was forced by illness to give it up. Although she was in declining health she always had a smile and accepted her limitations.
She was a generous supporter of the Sisters of Notre Dame, where her great aunt Sr. Angelita was a member for over 75 years, Mary was also a devoted parishioner and communicant at St. Charles Church, in Woburn
Mary is survived by her cherished cousin Mary Brogan Chase and her husband Dick Chase of Woburn. Her loving caregiver and friend Margaret Byrne of Ireland, and her pet dogs, Haley & Lady.
Mary’s funeral will be held from the McLaughlin - Dello Russo Funeral Home, 60 Pleasant St. Woburn, Saturday at 9 AM. Followed by a mass of Christian burial in St. Charles Church, 280 Main St. Woburn at 10. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Visiting hours Friday 4 thru 8. Services will conclude with burial at Calvary Cemetery, Woburn.
Donations in Mary’s memory may be made to VNA Hospice Care ( formerly Hospice Care Inc.) 100 Sylvan Rd. Woburn, MA 01801 or spend time comforting a troubled child or a lonely, forgotten elderly person in her honor.