Sophie M. (Welenc) McLaughlin, 93, died Friday morning, March 5, 2010 in a local nursing facility. She was the wife of the late James T. McLaughlin, with whom she shared 60 years of marriage.
Born in Salem on Dec. 10, 1916, she was the daughter of the late Anthony and Anastasia (Szalkowska) Welenc. She was raised and educated in Danvers. A longtime Danvers resident, Mrs. McLaughlin also lived in Beverly for several years.
Primarily a homemaker who was dedicated to her family, she was also employed as a clerk at both Connelly’s Candies and Fanny Farmer’s Candies. She enjoyed gardening and loved flowers.
She is survived by her children and their spouses, Janice and Dick Pelletier of Byfield, Lorraine and Harry Fanning of Beverly, and Donald and Janet McLaughlin of Windham, ME; a sister, Rose Grady of Lowell; two grandchildren, Michael Pelletier and his wife Linda of Danvers and Kathleen Venora and her husband Robert of Byfield, 4 great-grandchildren, Samantha, Jessica, Julia, and Nicholas; and many nieces and nephews. She was the sister of the late Bertha Bourassa and Alice, Frances, Joseph, James, Walter, William, and Edward Welenc.
Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 9AM in Saint Richard Church, 90 Forest St., Danvers. Burial will follow in Annunciation Cemetery, Danvers. Relatives and friends are invited. Visiting hours are Monday from 4-7PM in C.R. Lyons & Sons, Funeral Directors, 28 Elm St., Danvers Square. Donations in Mrs. McLaughlin’s memory may be made to Hospice of the North Shore, 75 Sylvan St., Danvers, MA 01923. www.LyonsFuneral.com.