SALEM- Maureen M. (Murphy) Wark, 69, wife of Donald T. Wark, of Salem, formerly of Marblehead, died Sunday afternoon, October 14, 2001 at her home following a long illness.
Born in Lowell, she was the daughter of the late John F. And Margaret (Kelly) Murphy.
She was a graduate of Lowell High School and received a bachelors degree in elementary education from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell in 1953.
She taught for many years in the Springfield public schools and at the Sacred Heart School in Springfield, as well as in Dayton Ohio. Prior to her retirement in 1995, she was employed for 16 years by the Massachusetts Department of Education as an Education Specialist. In 1989, she was the department’s recipient of the coveted Cavalho Award for Outstanding Achievement, based on her work in establishing and monitoring educational equality programs.
Mrs Wark was a three term member of the Springfield School Committee and was a long time member of the League of Women Voters. She was a resident of Marblehead for 20 years before moving to Salem three years ago.
Besides her husband, with whom she shared 46 years of marriage, she is survived by one daughter, Elizabeth Wark and her husband Doug Keskula of Evans, Georgia, four sons, Andrew Wark of Salem, Major Lawrence Wark, US Army, stationed at Ft Campbell, KY, and his wife Corinne Wark, Stephen and Lisa Wark of Shrewsbury, Thomas Wark of Moscow, Russia, and five grandchildren, Aileen Wark and Alex Wark of Nashville, TN, Thomas L. Wark of Stamford, England, Matthew Keskula and Meredith Keskula of Evans, GA.
Visiting hours will be Thursday, Oct. 18, 2001 from 4 to 8 pm at the Full-Spychalski Funeral Home, 84 Washington Square East, by Salem Common, Salem. A memorial Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, Nov. 17, 2001 at 9 am at the Sacred Heart Church in Springfield. Relatives and friends respectfully invited. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to The Salem Mission, 7 Crombie St., Salem, MA 01970 or to the North End Community Center, 471 Plainville St., Springfield, MA 01107.