Mary (Liss) Lynch

MARY (LISS) LYNCH – in Woburn, January 13th, at ninety seven years of age. Beloved wife of the late William J. Lynch. Loving mother of Michael Lynch and his wife Pam of Ogunquit, ME and Diane (Lynch) Hennessy, her husband Jim of Woburn. Cherished “Mumsie” of Colleen Irving,of Woburn, Erin Marengi of North Reading and Katie Lynch of NJ. Adored great “Ya-Ya” of Cameron and Colby Irving and Arthur and William Marengi. Also survived by several nieces and nephews. A Funeral Service will be held in the Lynch-Cantillon Funeral Home, 263 Main Street, Woburn on Friday, January 20th at 11 a.m.. Relatives and friends are invited to call at the Funeral Home, Friday morning from 9-11 prior to the Service. Please, remembrances may be made in Mary’s memory to the Friends of Woburn Veterans, 144 School Street, Woburn, MA 01801.

Obituary:

Mary (Liss) Lynch (97) passed away at her home with her beloved family Friday, January 13th. She was the devoted wife of the late William (Bill) J. Lynch.

Born and raised in Switchback, WV, Mary was the daughter of the late Wassil and Katy Liss. Following high school, Mary attended John Hopkins University to pursue a career in nursing; she completed her education at Davis Memorial Hospital in 1940.

Mary began her nursing career at Doctor’s Hospital in Washington, DC. This was fortuitous as she met her future husband, army veteran Bill Lynch, while he was a patient there. In 1944 they married and moved to Cambridge, MA. This marked the start of their family. After a few years in Cambridge, the young family decided to move to the “country side” of west Woburn! At the time, their new home on Russell Street was only one of four. Mary remained in that home until her passing.

Mary’s successful nursing career spanned over 40 years. She enjoyed direct patient care, but was promoted to various administrative positions, eventually retiring from Sancta Maria Hospital as a Supervisor in 1982.

In retirement, Mary stayed active and was always surrounded by family and friends. It was around this time that her young granddaughter, Colleen, renamed her “Mumsie”; a term of endearment that quickly caught on. For three decades, she was Mumsie to all until Colleen’s son, Mary’s first great-grandchild (Cameron), renamed her “Yaya”.

Whether she was Mummsie or Yaya, she was always ready for you to join her in a game of cards or her favorite game Rummikub. Hours were spent playing games or enjoying her pool with her family. For years, she played in the seniors bowling league, even winning a gold medal in the Senior Bowling Olympics. She proudly wore her gold medal for days afterward! An avid reader, she read many books, especially those from suspense and drama genres.

Mumsie was a special woman. Caring, kind and thoughtful, she was the “family nurse” for friends and family alike. For any ailment, she would disappear to her back bedroom and re-appear with a small envelope with the exact medicine required to cure. Never labeled, always effective!

Mary was predeceased by her parents, siblings and husband Bill. She is lovingly survived by her children: Michael Lynch and his wife Pam of Ogunquit, ME; and Diane Hennessy and her husband Jim of Woburn, MA. Cherished “Mumsie” of Colleen (Hennessy) Irving, of Woburn, Erin (Hennessy) Marengi of North Reading and Katie Lynch of NJ. Adored great “YaYa” of Cameron and Colby Irving and Arthur and William Marengi. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews. A Funeral Service will be held in the Lynch-Cantillion Funeral Home, 263 Main Street, Woburn on Friday, January 20th at 11 a.m. Relatives and friends are invited to call at the Funeral Home, Friday morning from 9-11 prior to the Service. Please, remembrances may be made in Mary’s memory to the Friends of Woburn Veterans, 144 School Street, Woburn, MA 01801.