Obituary of Margaret Elizabeth Keady

Margaret Elizabeth Keady, a woman who always gave of herself to others, passed away after a short illness at the Kindred Hospital in Peabody on Sunday morning, February 23, 2014. She was 85 years old. Margaret was born in Cambridge, one of 12 children born to the late Edward and Delia Jane Keating. At the age of 5, her father decided to move the family from Cambridge to a small farm in Burlington. She grew up in Burlington, graduated from Burlington High School during World War II. She married Edmund James Keady in the original St. Margaret’s Church, located on the corner of Winn Street and Center Street. They settled on the same street she grew up on, but on the Wilmington side of the road. She made her home in Wilmington from 1953 to 2006 and then returned to Burlington. Margaret’s greatest gift was that of her ability to love and laugh. She lived her life caring for others. She was always working, whether as a cook at the Tidd Home in Woburn, or cooking for the nuns at the Bethany Convent. She took on the position of Respite Care Provider for the Town of Wilmington at the age of 60 and worked until the age of 80. It was the perfect job for Margaret. With her outgoing persona, genuine sincerity, compassion, and positive outlook, she brightened the lives of all she served. It often happened that her clients she was assisting were much younger than herself. She was a ray of sunshine. It wasn’t unusual for Margaret to show up at your door with homemade lunch simply for a visit. When her niece passed away at a young age, Margaret opened her home and heart to her 10 year old great niece, Gina. She raised her, showered her with love, and provided her a wonderful role model. She also loved animals, especially cats and dogs. She loved gardening and sharing her harvest with others. She enjoyed her weekend road trips, with her daughter where they would just hang out and enjoy the beauty of New England. Margaret didn’t need recognition for her kindness, hospitality, and compassion, it was simply the way she knew God wanted her to live her life. The world would be such a better place to live, if we all had just a little of Margaret’s spirit in each one of us. Margaret was the loving wife of the late Edmund James Keady. She was the loving mother of Kathleen Keady of Burlington. She was predeceased by her 11 siblings; Dorothy Pongonis, Ruth Flanagan Burrill, Richard, James, Walter, William, Henry, Robert, Francis, Helen, and Edward Keating, Jr. She was the devoted Aunt BooBoo to her great niece, Gina Doucette of Burlington. Margaret was also survived by many nieces, nephews, and friends. Funeral from the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn Street, BURLINGTON (exit 34 off Rt. 128/95, Woburn side) on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at 9 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Malachy’s Church 99 Bedford Street, at 10 a.m. Visiting hours Tuesday from 4-8 p.m. Interment in Wildwood Cemetery, Wilmington. Memorials in Margaret’s name may be made to St. Malachy’s Memorial Fund, 99 Bedford St., Burlington, MA 01803 or the Northeast Animal Shelter, 347 Highland Ave, Salem, MA 01970.