Obituary of Mary Osborne

Mary E. (Pierce) Osborne, passed away at the Sawtelle Family Hospice House in Reading, with her family by her side, on Tuesday evening, November 23, 2010. She was 66 years old. Mary was born in Winchester. She was one of 7 children born to the late Walter Henry and Grace Pierce. She was raised and educated in Woburn and was a 1962 graduate of Woburn High School. Mary worked as a bookkeeper for Keystone Battery in Winchester for over 20 years. She raised her children in Burlington before moving to Lexington about 12 years ago. She enjoyed playing bingo and crocheting. Mary and her children enjoyed taking day trips together as well as camping at Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire when her children were younger. Her family was the most important part of her life and she loved to spend time with her children, grandchildren and her great granddaughter, as well as spending time with her sister, brothers and her many nieces and nephews. Mary’s two children and their families were the center of her life. She was a loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother Mary was the beloved mother of Maryellen Osborne and Frederick W. Osborne both of Burlington. She was the sister of Walter Pierce & his wife Mary of Sarasota, FL, Paul Pierce & his wife Rita of Billerica, and sister-in-law Grace Pierce of Woburn. She also leaves many nieces and nephews. Sister of the late Grace Ryan, Robert, Kenneth and Frederick Pierce. Devoted Grandmother of Ashley and Alyssa Osborne and Great grandmother of Kayleigh Griffin. Devoted companion of the late Edward Gray. Funeral from the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., Burlington (Exit 34 off Rt. 128, Woburn side) on Sat. Nov. 27 at 9 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Margaret’s Church, 111 Winn St., Burlington at 10 a.m. Visiting hours Friday 4-8 p.m. Interment Private. Memorials in Mary’s name may be made to the VNA of Middlesex East & Visiting Nurse Hospice, 607 North Avenue, Suite 17, Wakefield, MA 01880. Words of Remembrance written by Paul Pierce As I watched the life slowly fading from my dear sister Mary at the Sawtelle Hospice House that last day and a half she was still with us, I was flooded with loving memories: I remembered growing up in Tyngsboro as small children I remembered us fighting and yelling so loudly that one of the neighbors, who was quite far away, yelled out “Mary & Paul shut up!” We stopped yelling because we were laughing so hard. I remembered her beauty as I used to feel so good about all the friends I had – until I realized they hung around with me to get anywhere near her. I remembered how close we became when she first married, and the grief I felt while away in the Army when I could not be there to hold and comfort her in the loss of her first child. We all remember the devotion and love she gave so unselfishly to Mom and then our brother Bobby, even as her own health was failing. I thought of all the tears soon to be shed by the many nieces and nephews, friends and in-laws. I remembered her first introducing us to Ed Gray and how we all quickly warmed to him not only for how he was but how he was to her. Mostly I felt how all would remember and agree that what really summed up Mary’s life was her devotion to he children. Maryellen followed by Freddie were and still are the great passions of her life. At birth though adulthood there was nothing she would not do for either of them. Her joy was expanded as granddaughters Ashley and Allisya brought more joy to her life – and that was further enhanced with the birth of her great-granddaughter Kaleigh. She would just lighten up at the mention of their names. As she slipped further away from us on Tuesday, I was struck by how during her whole illness there was never any bemoaning her fate or looking back. She, like all of us, had done the best she could and was as she said, at peace. We who were around as the end approached were each lucky enough to tell her how much we loved her and collectively and individually we all will always treasure hearing her say back that she loved us too! I was reminded Thanksgiving night by my niece of the time when I was explaining a situation of a loved one to Mary and her instant response was “just tell her to close her eyes and she will feel my arms around her.” I am comforted to know and those who also love should as well know take comfort in knowing that all they all they need do to forever have her near is to heed her words---“close your eyes for a second and feel my arms around you”. Rest in peace dearest sister.