Obituary of Mary Ellen Shield

Mary Ellen Shield a loving wife, mother, grandmother and retired nurse passed away unexpectedly on Friday, July 13. She was 79 years old. Mary was born in North Adams, MA, the daughter of the late Francis “Mickey” and Laura (Boyle) Lyons. Mary grew up in Brattleboro, VT where in kindergarten she met her future husband, Philip. They went to school, the high school prom and graduated together. Philip enlisted in the Navy during the Korean War and Mary would go onto the College of St. Rose in Albany, NY. Their romance continued, and a week after Philip was discharged, they were married. They settled in Burlington in 1962 where they raised 3 sons. When her boys were old enough, she went back to nursing at Choate Hospital in Woburn. Later, she went to work at the Lahey Clinic Medical Center when they opened in 1980 and spent 13 years as a nurse in their Emergency Room. She filled her retirement days going to daily Mass at St. Malachy’s Church, volunteering at the Burlington Food Pantry and spending time with her children and grandchildren. She enjoyed flower gardening, traveling and vacations spent with her extended family at Spoffard Lake in NH. She was her sons’ biggest fan when they played sports, and then turned her attention and support to her grandchildren and their activities. She was always the rock for her family, someone they could lean on, seek guidance, and receive unconditional love and affection. Mary was the beloved wife of Philip V. Shield for 56 years. She was the loving mother of Mark & his wife Karen of Burlington, Brian & his wife Brenda of Milton, GA, and Kevin & his wife Maura of Chelmsford. Mary was the proud Grammy of Michael, Stephen, William, Ryan, Mariah, Jennifer and Jessica Shield. She was the sister of John Lyons of Pittsburg, NH and the late Francis Lyons. Funeral from the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (exit 34 off Rt. 128, Woburn side) on Wednesday, July 18 at 9 a.m. Followed by a funeral mass at St. Malachy’s Church, 99 Bedford St., Burlington at 10 a.m. Visiting hours Tuesday from 4-8 p.m. Interment in Pine Haven Cemetery, Burlington. Memorials in Mary’s name may be made to People Helping People, P.O. Box 343, Burlington, MA 01803.