Obituary of Mary E. Simpson

Mary Elizabeth Simpson, a woman devoted her family and faith, passed away peacefully after an extended illness on Wednesday morning, August 29, 2018. She was 84 years old. Mary was born in Boston. She was the daughter of Irish immigrants, Kieran and Mary Cunningham. She grew up in Somerville and was a graduate of St. Clement High School. She married her husband, Joseph “Stan” Simpson in 1955 and they quickly started a family. They first lived in Burlington and Wilmington before settling in Woburn where they made their home for 40 years. She lived the past 14 years in Wilmington. Mary did everything in her life for her family. Every decision was based on what would keep her family close and be best for them. For example, she purchased her home in Woburn, despite in being an extreme fixer upper, because it had plenty of room for her family. She and Stan put decades of sweat and hard work to rebuild the home. She could have become a contractor. She learned to paint, wallpaper, tile, put up wallboard, build above ground pools, mix and poor cement, and any other project that needed to be done. A smaller fully remodeled home might have been the easier route. But in the end, her home had 3 apartments which had been used by almost all her children and their families. Mary and Stan purchased a vacation home on Newfound Lake in New Hampshire. It was a very modest 3 bedroom lake home that was filled to the brim with family and friends during summer weekends. When it came to sleeping arrangements, any spot that could accommodate a mattress or sleeping bag was fair game. Her family have countless memories of Newfound Lake that are all filled with laughter and love. She was a talented seamstress and was always sewing curtains, fixing clothing, and making handmade Halloween costumes for her children and grandchildren. She was a great cook and baker. She was always making special cakes for those she loved to celebrate birthdays and other special events. Her door was always open to all her family. She watched her grandchildren when their parents were working, needed a night off, or if the grandkids wanted time with their “Ma”. Mary believed the greatest happiness in life came from your family’s happiness. Mary was a woman of deep Catholic faith. Going to Mass was something she looked forward to. It gave her life meaning and direction. When she could not physically attend daily Mass, she would watch Mass on television. She was a firm believer in the saying the Rosary. She never prayed for herself, but rather her family, friends, and those in need. Mary was the beloved wife of the late Joseph “Stan” Simpson. She was the loving mother of Mary Jo Chase & her husband Richard of Woburn, Ann Simpson & her husband Robert Nagle of Wilmington, Mark Simpson & his wife Marianne of Pelham, NH and Elizabeth Duffy & her husband Gerald of Wilmington. Mary was also survived by 8 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. She was the sister of Joseph Cunningham & his wife Mary of Wilmington, Michael Cunningham & his wife Marie of Abington and the late Kieran Cunningham. Funeral from the Edward V Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (Exit 34 off Rt. 128/95 Woburn side) on Saturday, Sept. 1 at 9 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Margaret’s Church, 111 Winn St., Burlington at 10 a.m. Interment to follow in Wildwood Cemetery, Wilmington. Visiting hours at the Funeral Home on Friday, Aug. 31 from 7-9 p.m. Memorials in Mary’s name may be made to a charity of ones’ own choice.