Obituary of Mary Teresa Cotter

Mary Teresa Cotter, age 57, made her journey home to heaven on Thursday, October 17th at Emerson Hospital with her loving family by her side.

Mary was born in Arlington, MA on May 1, 1967. Mary was the youngest of four children of the late John M. and Bernice (Reed) Cotter. Mary’s personality and presence was one of a kind and she provided her family and friends the joy of her quick wit and endless love. 

Mary radiated a genuine light and joy that was felt by all who had the pleasure of knowing her. Mary had an intuitive way of sensing people’s emotions and doing her best to make everyone laugh. When she met you for the first time, she would want to know two very important things: your name and your birthday and would always remember both. Mary’s humorous and fun loving spirit was felt by all. She was the life of the party, always cracking a joke, and making us all laugh. 

In her free time, Mary loved to dance, sing and go bowling with family and friends. Mary loved attending dances and halloween parties at the K of C in Arlington with her friends from school. Even when Mary’s walking declined and she used a walker, she still enjoyed moving her hips on the dance floor. Mary also loved to travel around New England, Florida, and many cruises with her family. When at home, Mary loved to color, write in her journal, and watch many of her favorite sitcoms over the years.

Surviving Mary are her dear siblings, Michael Cotter and his wife Rhonda of Goodyear, AZ, Patricia Gibbons and her husband Joseph of Andover, Karen Gibbons and her husband John of Littleton; her nieces and nephews, whom she adored, Nicholas, Matthew, and Lauren Gibbons, Dennis Gibbons and his wife Heather, Bobby Gibbons and his wife Bethany, and Jimmy Gibbons, along with her great nephew and niece Aiden and Raegan Gibbons. 

Mary’s family would also like to extend the warmest thanks and appreciation to everyone at both: Revere Road group home, where she lived for over 10 years, and where she met one of her favorite people, Misty—and most recently at Lilac Court group home, where she only lived for 6 months, and was adored by both staff and roommates.

Visitation will be held on Monday, October 21st at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., Burlington, from 4 pm until 7 pm.  Her Funeral will begin at the Funeral Home at 9 am, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 am at St. Barbara’s Church, 138 Cambridge Rd., Woburn.  Burial will immediately follow at Woodbrook Cemetery, Woburn.  As an expression of sympathy, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Mary’s honor to a charity that is dear to your heart.