Patricia (Pat) Scalley passed away unexpectedly at the Winchester Hospital on Friday, August 21st. Mrs. Scalley was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001. She had been living with the disease for 8 years. In recent months, she encountered some additional health issues and faced them with great strength and optimism. Despite her health challenges, her death at this time was unexpected.
A lifelong resident of Woburn, “Patsy” grew up in the South End of Woburn. She attended Saint Charles School and graduated at the age of 16 with the Class of 1946. She was a dedicated member of the St. Charles Alumnae Association, never missing an opportunity to attend the annual Alumnae Banquet.
Married to the late Thomas F. Scalley Jr., she devoted her life to her family. As the mother of 6 children, she was an active supporter of her children and all of their activities, interests, and professional pursuits. All of her children attended St. Charles School where Mrs. Scalley volunteered in the school library. She was part of a group of parents who successfully advocated for the establishment of a kindergarten program at the school in 1969. A staunch supporter of education, she encouraged her children and grandchildren to pursue their education and career goals, always offering moral support and encouragement. She was proud of all their achievements.
Pat played an active role in the family business, Thomas F. Scalley Sons Plumbing & Heating. Over the years, she was involved in several facets of the business: interacting with customers by phone, billing, and bookkeeping. When her husband died in 2001, she was instrumental in assisting her sons as they assumed leadership of the business, coaching them in the many subtleties of the day-to-day business operations.
Mrs. Scalley had a lifelong interest in politics and enjoyed working at the polls on election days, serving as the Warden for Ward 3. An avid reader, Pat always had a book in her hand, reading two to three books per week. Friends and family members enjoyed exchanging books with her. In addition to reading, she enjoyed all types of intellectual stimulation, completing daily crossword puzzles, and games requiring knowledge or logic.
For the past 30 years, she enjoyed spending time at her summer home at Seabrook Beach. Although not a sun worshipper, she spent her days in a leisurely manner, sitting on her front porch reading and greeting and exchanging pleasantries with her neighbors and vacationers as they passed by her home on their way to and from the ocean. Mrs. Scalley took great pleasure in the lives of her 12 grandchildren, and more recently, her 3 great grandchildren.
Mrs. Scalley is survived by her daughters Patricia Fernandes, and her husband, Steve, of Burlington; Janice Scalley Carey, and her husband Neal, of Woburn; and Pauline Scalley, of Woburn. She is also survived by her three sons, Thomas F. Scalley III, and his wife Regina, of Woburn; Kevin Scalley, and his wife Kate, of Rowley; and Stephen Scalley, and his wife, Diane, of Coppell, Texas. The daughter of the late Richard and Josephine (Sullivan) McEachern, she is survived by her brother, Richard McEachern of Burlington and her sister, Lois O’Connor of Woburn and Barefoot Bay, Florida. She was predeceased by her sisters, Barbara McEachern and Mary Diamont.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorial contributions in Pat’s name be made to the End of Life Care Program, at Winchester Hospital, 41 Highland Avenue, Winchester, MA 01890, Attention: Kerry March RN; or to St. Charles School, 8 Myrtle Street, Woburn, MA 01801.
Visiting hours are scheduled for Sunday from 3:00 – 8:00 PM at the McLaughlin- Dello Russo Funeral Home, 60 Pleasant Street in Woburn. The funeral services are scheduled for 9:00 AM on Monday, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Charles Church at 10:00 AM. Services will conclude with burial at Calvary Cemetery in Woburn.