Obituary of Iona Ganley

Iona S. (Skelton) Ganley, a lifelong resident of Burlington, passed away peacefully with her family by her side on Saturday, November 16, 2013. The beloved wife of 67 years of Donald (“Doey”), she was 85 years old. Iona was born on March 1, 1928. Iona was born and raised in Burlington. She was one of eight children raised by the late Horace and Cora Skelton on the family farm on Francis Wyman Road where she tended to cows, chickens, goats and turkeys. They also harvested apples and pears. Iona was a 1945 graduate of Burlington High where there were only 10 girls in her graduating class as all of the men had left to fight in World War II. When her future husband, Doey Ganley, returned from the service in 1946 they were married, uniting two of Burlington’s largest families and raised three sons in her lifelong home. Iona worked in the Burlington School system for 26 years, beginning at the Union School, moving on to the Center School and retiring from Burlington High School as a Secretary in the Guidance Department. Iona and Doey had great love of family and Burlington. Their home was an open house for their children and their friends growing up. In recent years there was always a grandchild visiting with one of the great grandchildren or a family dinner taking place. Iona will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Iona and her husband Doey were active members of the Burlington High School Athletic Boosters Club while her three sons participated in high school sports programs. For many years Iona was an active member of the Burlington Garden Club and also participated in the Junior Garden Club with her granddaughter, Pam. Iona’s love for nature and wildflowers was well known by her friends and colleagues and upon her retirement they named the land bordering the driveway into Burlington High School the “Iona Ganley Conservation Wetland” in her honor. She also participated in the Burlington Historical Society, donating many family items to the historical museum. Iona was the devoted mother of Donald Jr. & his wife Janet , Paul & his wife Nancy all of Burlington and the late Robert. Sister of the late Arthur, Louis, Clifford, Edmund, Lester, and Ernest Skelton and Almira (“Lib”) McKinnon. Cherished grandmother of Donald III, Kenneth, Douglas, Pamela Kenn, Amy Redmond, Jillian Lynch, Robert Jr., Laura, Paul Jr. and Matthew. Also survived by 7 great grandchildren. Funeral Services will be held at the United Church of Christ Congregational, 6 Lexington St., Burlington on Thursday November 21 at 10 a.m. Relatives & friends respectfully invited to attend. Visiting hours will be held at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., Burlington (Exit 34 off Rt. 128, Woburn side) on Wednesday from 4-8 p.m. Interment in Pine Haven Cemetery, Burlington.