Obituary of Mary Elizabeth Lannon

Mary Elizabeth Lannon a homemaker and manager passed away on Friday morning, November 4, 2016 at the age of 89. Mary was born in Springdale, PA. Her father worked as a miner in the steel mines of Pennsylvania. At the age of 8, her father switched careers and took a position in Woburn Massachusetts. The family settled in Burlington. Mary graduated from Burlington High School. She met Walter Lannon, a young man from South Boston, while skiing with friends at North Conway, New Hampshire. They settled in the Winnmere section of Burlington and had 3 daughters. Mary relished in providing a warm and welcoming home for her family. She had an extremely kind and generous heart. She had an open door policy and simply fed whoever was seated at her kitchen table. She opened her home to her kid’s friends, grandchildren, and even an entire family who were displaced from their home after a fire. She didn’t hesitate or blink an eye, she just said they were welcomed. She was a great neighbor and friend and was still friendly with old neighbors from as far back as 50 years ago. Mary was also described as resilient, strong, and independent. At the age of 47, her beloved husband, Walter, passed away. As a widow and mother of 3 girls, she understood that she would need to be the family provider as well as homemaker. She hadn’t worked in years, so she took a position as a chambermaid at the Holiday Inn in Woburn. Her strong work ethic, attention to detail, and ability to work with others helped her to move from chambermaid to assistant manager and then manager of the of the cleaning services at the hotel. She retired after 20 years with the hotel leaving many coworkers who had become lifelong friends. She enjoyed her retirement years traveling all over the world with her family and girlfriends. She was always there to lend a helping hand caring for her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She had an extremely close bond with all her family. She appreciated their differences, celebrating their accomplishments, and walked with them on their life’s journeys. She was an extremely special woman, who loved and was loved. Mary was the beloved wife of the late Walter J. Lannon. She was the loving mother of late Gail Ann Candelora, Donna Boss-Donoghue & her husband Chris, Susan Wilson & her husband John, She was the mother-in-law of Dennis Candelora and late Roy A. Boss. She was predeceased by her siblings; Leulla, Ruth Karnes, Dorothy Neville, Henry, James, Rachel, and Genevieve Shaul. She was the proud “Nana” of Brandi Perigny, Dennis Candelora, Matthew & Brian Wilson, and Lisa & Jesse Boss. She was also survived by 7 great grandchildren that she loved and adored every day of her life. . Beloved aunt of Darlene Cerovac & her family. Funeral services will be held at the United Church of Christ Congregational Church, 6 Lexington St., Burlington on Friday, November 11 at 11 a.m. Followed by the interment in Chestnut Hill Cemetery, Burlington. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Mary’s name may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 480 Pleasant St., Watertown, MA 02472. Arrangements by the Sullivan Funeral Home, Burlington.