Obituary of Margaret Mary Machado

Margaret Mary Machado, an extraordinary woman in her own special way, passed away after a very brief illness on Tuesday afternoon, January 21, 2020. She was 86 years old. Margaret was born in Boston, the daughter of James and Margaret Doody. She grew up in Cambridge and was a graduate of Cambridge High and Latin. She met her husband, John, at a high school party and they were married in 1954. They settled in Woburn in 1961. Margaret’s life revolved around her home and family. She took her role of wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother quite seriously. Her home was always filled with family, friends, laughter, and love. She assumed so many roles during her lifetime. She was a Den Mother, CCD teacher, taxi driver, cook, nurse, cheerleader, day care, cook, entertainer, and confidant. She was simply that rock upon which all her family could rely on for anything. She had the gift of gab, but at the same time was a great listener. She was the person you went to if you had a problem and the first person you wanted to call with good news. She could give her opinion in a way that was never imposing. She happily cared for her grandchildren so their parents could go off to work or just have a night off. She was engaging with her grandchildren and would color, do puzzles, crosswords, and play any sort of game that interested them. There were family trips to Mystic, CT, Maine, yearly 3-week summer vacations in Seabrook, NH, St. John, V.I., Las Vegas, and countless other destinations. She made it a point to see all her grandchildren in all their sports and activities no matter the distance. She loved going out to eat and summer barbeques. She and her husband John would spend countless hours working in their garden only to give half of their harvest away to family and friends. During the summers, Saturday afternoons were spent outside frying eggplant and having a family meal. Everyone knew not to call her when daily mass was being televised. Her life was not filled with remarkable achievements, but rather a consistent and steadfast devotion to her family and faith which made her extraordinary to those she touched. The last years have had challenges including diminished eyesight and the passing of her loving husband, John, and son John. She was not afraid to die, she talked about not being on earth forever. She had a strong faith in God, was thankful for all the gifts bestowed upon her during her 86 years and was ready to be reunited with her beloved Johns. Her passing was quick, her family all had a chance to say goodbye and thank her for all she had done for them, and she passed as she wished in her home with her family at her side. Margaret was beloved wife of the late John S. Loving mother of Susan Brady & her husband Frank of Marstons Mills, Karen Doe & her husband William of Melrose, James Machado of Hyannis, Julie Lasota & her husband Matthew of St. John, VI and the late John Stephen Machado. Sister of Eleanor Hildebrand of AZ, Loretta Mondello of Westford, James Doody of Templeton, Jane O’Brien of NV, Ernest Doody of Hyannis, Katherine Khadij of FL and the late Patricia Connors. Margaret was the proud grandmother of Jessica Bonassera, Michael, Jason & Joseph Machado, Erica Menard, Vanessa & Rachel Doe, William Brady, Mathew, Alec & Shane Lasota, and Valerie & Julia Machado. Great grandmother of Noah & Nathan Bonassera, Olivia & Luke Menard, Audrey Lasota, Lillian and Vivian Machado. Visiting hours will be held at the Edward V Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (Exit 34 off Rt. 128/95 Woburn side) on Sunday, Jan. 26 from 3-6 p.m. Funeral from the Funeral Home on Monday, Jan. 27 at 9 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Barbara Church, 138 Cambridge Road, Woburn at 10 a.m. Burial to follow in Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge. For directions, obituary & online guestbook see www.sullivanfuneralhome.net & www.woburncatholic.org