Obituary of Doris Anne Leydon
Doris Anne Leydon, a woman devoted to family, faith and community, passed away after a 2 year battle with cancer on Monday night, February 19, 2018. She was 82 years old. Doris was born in Somerville, the daughter of the late Dorothy and Henry Nelson. She grew up in Medford. She was a graduate of St. Clement High School in Somerville. She married her husband, Joseph Leydon in 1959 and they settled in Woburn in 1964 to raise their 3 sons. She remained home with her boys when they were young. When they went off to school, Doris went with them as a noon time lunch and recess monitor at the Reeves Elementary School in Woburn. She started with the thought that she was helping at her boys’ school but when her boys moved on, she loved her situation so much, that she remained there for 40 years finally stopping in 2016 because of her illness. She was there so long that she saw her grandchildren pass through the school and some even returning as teachers. She never minded being outside during the frigid cold or extreme heat, being hit by miss-thrown or kicked ball, or being run over by a overly excited student. Her goal during her illness was to get better to return to her kids at Reeves.
Doris’s life revolved around her family. She was the loving wife to her husband, Joe, for all her years. They were the perfect couple and cherished the time spent together as they progressed from a couple, newlyweds, parents, and then grandparents They were looking forward to their retirements years, wintering in Sanibel Island in Florida, summering in Hampton Beach, and growing old together. Unfortunately, Joe passed away at the age of 58 in 1994.
Doris never seemed to get old. She made every effort to always be there to support, encourage, and be a part of her son’s lives. She was thrilled when they married and gave her daughters, and even more thrilled when they gave her grandchildren. Her grandchildren looked forward to seeing her on the sidelines or stands of their soccer, baseball, and hockey games, track meets, cheerleading and dance recitals. She was always there for their graduations, proms, birthdays, and any other event or activity that was special or important to them. She would do anything for them or with them.
Hampton Beach was a very special place for Doris and her family. That home has been the summer gathering place for her family for 4 generations. There were endless memories of days enjoying each other’s company, laughing on the beach, Saturday afternoon cocktail hours, playing games, and numerous other activities that kept her family close and always strengthening their family bond. Doris’s warmth and kindness extended to her friends as well. She always made time for lunch dates, coffee breaks at Dunkin Donuts, or vacations to Florida.
Doris was the beloved wife of the late Joseph D. Leydon. She was the loving mother of Joseph & his wife Nancy, Peter & his wife Susan, and William & his wife Paula all of Woburn. She was the proud grandmother of Patrick, Ryan, Connor, Meghan, Kylie, Peter, Avery, and Nate. She was the sister of Terry Nelson of Peabody, Carole Donovan of MN, and late June Nelson. She was the sister-in-law of Thomas Leydon of Holbrook, Robert Donovan of MN, the late Barbara Leydon, Mary Leydon, Ann & Earl Knight, and Jean & Carl Mattson and an aunt to many nieces and nephews.
Funeral from the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., Burlington (exit 34 off Rt. 128/95, Woburn side) on Friday, Feb. 23 at 9 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Barbara’s Church, 138 Cambridge Rd, Woburn at 10 a.m. Visiting hours Thursday from 4-8 p.m. Interment in Chestnut Hill Cemetery, Burlington. Memorials in Doris’s name may be made to the Fred Farrey Scholarship Fund, care of Marie Landino, 12 Minchin Dr., Woburn, MA 01801. For directions obituary & online guestbook see www.stbarbaraparish.org or www.sullivanfuneralhome.net