Mary L. D’Eon (Sheehan), age 82, of Wilmington, passed away unexpectedly at home on November 23, 2020.
Mary was born in Boston, MA, on June 9, 1938; she was the dear daughter of the late Michael and Esther Sheehan. Mary was raised in Charlestown in a large and loving Irish Catholic family. She attended Parochial School in Charlestown as a young girl and went on to graduate from Boston Girls High School in Roxbury. Mary had a great faith in God from an early age; she attended St. Mary’s and St. Catherine of Sienna Churches and played the organ for several years.
On September 12, 1959, Mary married the “love of her life” Paul D’Eon; the couple shared nearly 60 of marriage and had many wonderful times together with their family and friends before his sudden passing in July of 2019. Mary and Paul lived in Roslindale for several years before moving “up Country” to Wilmington in 1966, where they raised two wonderful children. Mary loved her new community but she never forgot her roots and she was a true “Townie”. Mary was a very devoted and loving Mom and a wonderful homemaker; her house had an open door policy where friends and neighbors were always welcome. Mary involved herself in many of her children’s activities; she was active in the Camp Fire Girls with her daughter and at every one of her son’s sporting events. Mary loved to take her children to visit family in Louisiana, Texas, Arizona and Canada and she looked forward to their many weekend camping trips.
As her children grew, Mary found time to go back to school at Northern Essex Community College and become a Registered Nurse. This accomplishment would embark her on a long and rewarding career at the New England Memorial Hospital in Stoneham. Always a care-giver; Mary treated her patients and their families like her own family. Mary’s endearing personality and giving nature made her a favorite among the nursing staff and the patients. When Mary retired from New England Memorial she took a position at Melrose-Wakefield Hospital for a few years and continued to care for others in need.
Mary also welcomed her next chapter in her family and that was the role of “Grannie”; one she undoubtedly cherished. Mary loved her grandchildren with all her heart and she never missed anything that they were involved in. Mary looked forward to attending many hockey games, softball games, sporting events, school plays, musicals and was there for every major achievement they received. Mary made every annual “Cape Cod” trip with all the grandchildren special and fun; they made memories to last a life-time.
Although not a Veteran herself, as a concerned parent Mary survived two overseas deployments of her son and daughter-in-law and stepped right in without hesitation to fill the void and become the surrogate parent to her grandchildren while their parents were deployed.
In her later years, Mary enjoyed traveling with her family and friends to Hawaii, the Caribbean, Cruising and heading to the West Coast to spend time with her daughter and grandchildren in the Seattle, Washington area. Mary loved to have a good time; she enjoyed seeing new places, meeting new people and making friends wherever she went.
Mary was a “giver” in every aspect of the word; she was extremely active in her Church as well as her Community. When Mary moved to Wilmington she quickly became a parishioner of St. Dorothy’s Parish where she was active right up until her death. Mary was a weekly Lector, a Eucharistic Minister, she taught CCD and helped with many Church Bazaars and fundraisers. Mary enjoyed bringing communion to the elderly or sick in the community; she always had a kind word or would reach out to help them in some way.
Mary loved being “out and about” in the community helping whenever and wherever she could; she worked the voting poles in Wilmington for over 50 years and would help set up or clean up before and after elections. Mary visited countless people in the community who needed a little help, whether they were ill, needed a hand doing something or a friend to just listen; she was never too busy to help.
Mary enjoyed “hanging out” with the girls; they loved going out to breakfast, attending 4th of July festivities on the Common, shopping and heading over to the Wilmington Senior Center. Mary was very active at the Senior Center and participated in their many trips and activities; she especially enjoyed playing WII bowling and was their latest champion.
Mary will be fondly remembered for many things; her endearing personality, her ability to make everyone feel welcomed and loved, her way of helping others no matter what the situation, her unconditional love for her family and friends and her great smile. She was truly “one of a kind” and will forever be missed by all who knew and loved her.
Mary was the wife of the late Paul L. D’Eon, devoted mother of Eileen Fenick & her husband Mark of Sammamish, WA and Daniel D’Eon & his wife Janine of Pepperell, MA, loving “Grannie” of Deven, Emily, Lindsay, Brady, Ethan, Noah and Liam. Cherished daughter of the late Edward and Esther (Liles) Sheehan, dear sister of Robert Sheehan & his wife Ann of Needham, the late Edward “Mike” Sheehan, John Sheehan, Patricia Sheehan, Esther Manley and Elizabeth Mackley, sister-in-law of Steve & Mary D’Eon of Needham, Barbara D’Eon and Elaine LeBlanc both of West Roxbury. Mary is also survived by many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and friends.
Family and friends will gather for Visiting Hours at the Nichols Funeral Home, 187 Middlesex Ave. (Rte. 62), Wilmington, MA, on Monday, November 30th from 4:00-7:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial for Mary will take place in St. Dorothy’s Church, Main St. (Rte. 38), Wilmington, MA, on Tuesday, December 1st at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow in Wildwood Cemetery, Wilmington. Masks are required to be worn while in the Funeral Home and in Church.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Mary’s memory may be made to Baby Reece and the Zink Family at https://www.gofundme.-com/f/help-baby-reece-and-the-zink-family.
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