Obituary of Muriel T. Quinones

Muriel Therese Quinones, “MA Hamel” a woman of faith, family, and resiliency passed away on Friday night, June 17, 2016. She was 90 years old. Muriel was born in Boston, the daughter of the late William and Ethel Ward. She grew up in Arlington and Cambridge. She attended Cambridge High and Latin and immediately went to work to contribute to the family household. She married her first husband, Joseph J. Hamel and they started a family. Joe passed away at the age of 42 leaving Muriel with a young family of 9 children. She later met and married Luis O. Quinones and was blessed with 2 more wonderful children; making Muriel the mother of 11. When Luis passed away leaving her a widow for the second time, she juggled being a mother and supporting her family. Having 11 children meant her home was much different from most homes. It had a revolving door where children and their friends came and went constantly. She just took everything in stride, feeding anyone who sat at the dinner table. She was always placing her children’s needs above her own. On a typical day, she might go to work, come home and take the kids to the beach, Castle Island and Revere Beach being her favorites, or any other family activity. She would then go back to work at a second or third job. She worked as an inspector at Polaroid in Waltham and Norwood, as well as a waitress, function staff, and manager. As busy as she was already, she found time to volunteer in a nursing home and check in on her elderly friends. It was a hectic and demanding way of life, but Muriel always took it in stride and never complained. She considered herself blessed with a loving family. Muriel was a woman of strong Catholic faith and was known to pick up friends who otherwise would not be able to attend mass. Her faith in God gave her life more meaning and solace. She attended daily mass at St. Mary’s, where she would sit in the same row. She would also happily drive her girlfriends to lunch and visits to Castle Island. She was so happy when her family joined her for Mass, especially for Easter Sunday and Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. She not only professed her faith, but she lived it. Muriel had a number of distinct qualities and traits. She was a woman of faith and resiliency enduring the passing of two husbands and four precious children. She was a woman of independence and resolve. She was a woman who welcomed and cared for others. She was a woman who enjoyed having fun, may it be at Monday Night Jazz at the Burlington Council on Aging, a day at the horse races, or simply spending time with family and friends especially “up the beach”. Over the past 41 years of living in Burlington, she has made so many friends in the community. She leaves a legacy of faith, love, and family and her memory and spirit will live on in the hearts and minds of all those she has touched in her 90 years. Muriel was the loving wife the late Joseph J. Hamel and Luis Quinones. She was the loving mother of Richard Hamel & his wife Mary of Malden, Evelyn Patania & her husband Sal, Jr. of Melrose, James Hamel of Melrose, Mary Hamel of Burlington, John Hamel & his wife Diane of Saugus, Michael Quinones & his wife Kim of Billerica, Amy Quinones Harmon & her husband Brian of Danville, NH and the late Joseph J. Hamel, Jr., Muriel Hamel Destremps Schram, William Hamel & Lois Hamel. She was the beloved sister of Ethel Marie Travers & her husband Major of Burlington. She was also survived by 23 grandchildren, 29 great grandchildren, several nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. Funeral from the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (exit 34 off Rt. 128, Woburn side) on Wednesday, June 22 at 8:45 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Mary’s Church, 796 Boston Road, Billerica at 10 a.m. Visiting hours Tuesday 3-8 p.m. Interment in Chestnut Hill Cemetery, Burlington. Memorials in Muriel’s name may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. To assist with parking, please use the shuttle bus service provided from St. Margaret’s parking lot, 111 Winn St., Burlington, during visiting hours on Tuesday.