Obituary of Mary Crowe

Mary “Maureen” Crowe, the housekeeper at St. Margaret’s Church for 40 years passed away after a short illness on Sunday, February 18, 2024.  She was 88 years old.  Maureen was born in Brighton.  She was the daughter of Irish immigrants, Thomas and Margaret Regan.  She grew up and was educated in Dorchester.  She met her future husband, Leo Crowe, at a Marine Corps dance in Somerville.  Being a small world, it later turned out that both their fathers went to school together in County Clare, Ireland.  They married on July 22, 1955, and lived in Dorchester until buying a home in Burlington in the late 1960’s.  She was a homemaker who loved caring for her children and creating a beautiful home for her family.  She could never sit still and was constantly cleaning and reorganizing her home.  When her children were off at school, she went to work at St. Margaret’s Church as the housekeeper.  The rectory was a busy place with up to five priests living in residence and the church offices.  She was like a second mother to the priests ranging back to Fr. Denis Fitzpatrick, Fr. John Kinneen and Fr. John Crispo all the way to the current pastor, Fr. James Mahoney.  She kept her “boys”in line and kept the rectory spotless.  

Maureen’s life revolved around her family.  She was the mother who kept a meticulous home, was a fantastic cook, and supported her children when they were young and as adults.  Summer vacations on Cape Cod spanned generations and were a source of countless memories filled with laughter and fun. Maureen could sit and watch the waves of the ocean for hours, bringing peace to her normally busy life.

Maureen loved hosting the holidays and her family loved her lamb dishes, St. Patrick’s Day corned beef, sweet potato, and stuffing.  She loved going out to eat, with the Café Escadrille being her favorite restaurant. She kept her mind sharp doing word searches. Her family and friends will remember her feistiness, sense of humor, sassiness, kindness, and love she showered upon all she loved.  Her sudden decline is difficult to accept, but her memory will bring smiles to those she cared for.

Maureen was the beloved wife of the late Leo F. Crowe, a retired Somerville firefighter.  She was the loving mother of Eileen Walker of Merrimack, NH, Kathleen Cardwell of Burlington, Leo T. Crowe & his wife Kara of Methuen, and the late John Crowe.  She was the sister of Edward Regan of Marshfield, Peggy Smith of Marshfield, and the late Joseph Regan.  She was the proud grandmother of Julie Williams, Marianne Quinn, Matthew Walker, Sean Walker, Maggie Walker, Thomas Cardwell, Caroline, Christine, Catrina, Claudia, Michael, Mitchell, Ryan, Alex, and Kate Crowe.  She was the great grandmother of Cooper, Kylie, Avery, Amelia, Alexis, and Mason.

Visiting hours will be held on Monday, February 26 from 10:30 a.m. to Noon.  Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Margaret Church in St. Veronica Parish, www.stveronicama.org, 111 Winn Street, Burlington, MA at 12:30 p.m.  Services will conclude with a burial at Pine Haven Cemetery in Burlington.  Memorials in Maureen’s name may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, www.stjude.org, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN, 38105.  For online guest book and video tribute see www.sullivanfuneralhome.net