Obituary of Mary J Moloney

Mary Josephine Moloney, a woman of faith, family, community, and deeply proud of her Irish heritage passed away peacefully with her family at her bedside on January 1, 2018. She was 85 years old. Mary was born on The Old Road – Dulague, Castleisland, County Kerry, Ireland. She was the daughter of Timothy (Tate) and Mary (Molly) O’Callaghan. She grew up and was educated in Castleisland. As a teenager, she met and started courting Peter Moloney. In 1953, at the age of 21, Mary immigrated to the United States. Peter would follow the next year. They married on June 29, 1957 and began their family in Belmont and eventually settled in Burlington in 1965. Embracing their new country did not mean they wanted to forget their Irish heritage. The Moloney home was a little bit of Ireland in the United States. When you talk about Mary, you always need to include Peter, because they were a team in almost everything they did. They were drawn to organizations and clubs with strong Irish roots. They were members of the Billerica Irish American Club, Irish Cultural Center in Canton, The Irish Social Club in West Roxbury, the Hibernians, Pioneer Club, and visited numerous other social clubs with friends. They loved to dance and would often be out 3 nights a week doing their jigs, reels, and quick steps with friends. They were always the first to dance and last to leave. But they were much more than social butterflies, the were doers. They were deeply involved in the Billerica Irish American Club’s Irish festival which started at the council and exploded into a 3 day event in Tewksbury with up to 10,000 attendees. They sought out sponsors, Peter was the Master of Ceremonies, and Mary was right behind him keeping him organized, selling tickets, and managing any other task to make the event a success. They helped run the African Mission Fathers Festival. Mary served as the treasurer and Peter the President of the St. Brendan Society. They were also involved in the Rose of Tralee Pageant for many years. They also ran trips to the Irish Village in Cape Cod and Irish weekends in the Catskills. They hosted new Priests from Ireland at their home with a backyard mass followed by a welcoming party. They were also very active at St. Malachy’s Church. As well as being faithful church goers, they ran Irish nights, Ham and bean suppers, and pot luck dinners. And their home was often the gathering spot for family and friends. Some would joke that “all roads lead to Morrison Road”. The surprising things about this festive couple is that never needed alcohol to enjoy themselves. Mary was very proud to be a homemaker. Her family and home were the center of her life. Of course she brought them up with many of the Irish traditions and culture. All her children participated in Irish Step. The family traveled all over Massachusetts, and participated in traditional Gaelic arts and culture festivals called “Feis” in New York, Pennsylvania and even Canada. Mary returned home to Ireland at least ten times to reconnect with family and friends as well as to share her childhood homeland with her children. Her family grew up in a home that was always filled with music, laughter, dancing, and love. They had wonderful role models in their parents that showed them to follow their passions, serve your community, always remain true to your faith and convictions, and never forget their Irish heritage. Mary was the beloved wife of over 60 years of Peter B. Moloney. She was the loving mother of Peter A. Moloney & his wife Andrea of Billerica, Timothy B. Moloney & his wife Susan of Methuen, Kevin P. Moloney & his wife Kathi of Lowell, Caroline F. Souza & her husband Jim of Burlington and Kerry A. Ferreira & her husband Mark of Billerica. She was the grandmother of 8 and great grandmother of 1. She was the sister of Daniel O’Callahan of Norwood and the late Tom, Peter, Tim, O’Callahan and Nora & Kitty O’Connor. Mary was also survived many nieces, nephews, cousins, and an endless supply of friends some of whom weren’t even Irish. Funeral from the Edward V Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (Exit 34 off Rt. 128/95 Woburn side) on Monday, Jan 8 at 9 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Malachy’s Church, 99 Bedford St., Burlington at 10 a.m. Visiting hours Sunday 1-4 p.m. Interment in Pine Haven Cemetery, Burlington. Memorials in Mary’s name may be made to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701.