Mary L. O'Leary

Mary Louise Mercier O’Leary took her final journey on February 15, 2024 when God called her to heaven. She passed peacefully at 102 years of age, in her home of 76 years surrounded by her loving family. Her life was a testament of love, faith and family devotion. From humble beginnings, born at Stetson Farm in Nashua, N.H., on June 15, 1921, she had no idea of the wonders and adventures her life would bring. Born to Joseph A. and Olivina A. Mercier, she was the fifth of six children and from the moment of her birth, her curious and adventurous spirit grew and grew. She had many passions in life, none greater than her love for her family. Speaking only French, in 1925, she and her family moved from Nashua to Danvers, where she became a lifelong communicant of St. Mary of the Annunciation Church, and lived the rest of her years. She attended Danvers public schools from grades 1, where she learned English, through 12 and was secretary of her Holten High graduating class in 1939. In these high school years, she met the love of her life, Donald William O’Leary while playing tennis where they were partnered in a tennis match. From that moment on their romance blossomed. Beyond high school, she attended Felt and Terrence Secretarial School in Boston, where she learned the skills to be an executive secretary and went on to work in the Executive Office Building of the New England Telephone & Telegraph in Boston. She would run to the train every day, stylishly dressed in her heels, enjoying the excitement of working in Boston where she met many girlfriends who also worked at NET&T. They called themselves the “Tel Belles”. The Tel Belles became friends for life. Mary’s romance with Donald continued to grow as he went off to serve in the Navy in 1942. On leave, Donald proposed to Mary, and soon after, on another leave from the Navy, they wed. Donald returned to war until peace was declared and they were reunited to start their family life together. Mary was devoted to her husband and family and the dreams of giving their children everything they possibly could, and they certainly did that and more. Mary took tremendous pleasure in photography from her teenage through the rest of her life. She chronicled our lives in thousands of photos and home movies. An avid traveler driven by her curious and adventurous nature, she traveled the world with her husband, mother, sister, as many children as she could bring at the time as well as grandchildren, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and friends. She toured the continents of Europe, Asia, South America, North America and the Caribbean. She even climbed the Incan ruins of Machu Picchu, Peru with her mother, Olivina, and stayed up for a full 36 hours with her sister Betty to enjoy and actually videotaped the Rio Samba Parade, at Carnival in Rio De Janeiro. Her baking was legendary, especially her brownies and custom designed cakes for birthdays and special occasions with such themes as a fully replicated Fenway Park. She was an artist, painting beautiful landscapes and seascapes. She was devoted to her church. In her younger years was a member of Our Lady’s Sodality, performing charitable activities and good deeds. In her multiple trips to Rome, she had audiences with 4 different Popes. Hers was a life well lived. She was predeceased by the love of her life, her husband, Donald, her devoted parents, Joseph and Olivina, and her beloved siblings, Henry, William, Elizabeth “Betty” Madary, Alcide, and Emile, and her dear fifth child Michael O’Leary. She is survived by five of her six loving children and their spouses, Timothy, Bruce and Isabelle, Jonathan, David and Linda, and Suzan and John; her beloved niece, Christine Andrews; her grandchildren, Shannon Lowell, Erin Smith, Justin O’Leary, Thomas O’Leary, Luca Chayer, Catherine Murray, Julianna Allen, Lisa Currier, Craig Rexford and Tanya Searles; her great grandchildren Ethan and Hayden Lowell, Sydney, Summer and Damien Smith, Arielle and Aurora Murray, Alexandrea Morrill, Corey and Zachary Silva, Mae and Elizabeth Searles, Jake, Zackary and Abbie McGinnis; and her great, great grandchild, Braxton Morrill; her lifelong friend and precious cousin, Eleanor Eveleth; her former daughters-in-law Lynne and Judy O’Leary and many other treasured nieces and nephews. Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated Saturday, February 24, 2024 at 10AM in Saint Mary of the Annunciation Church, 24 Conant St., Danvers. Burial will follow in Annunciation Cemetery, Danvers. Relatives and friends are invited. Visiting hours are Friday from 4-7PM in C.R. Lyons & Sons Funeral Directors, 28 Elm St., Danvers Square. In lieu of flowers, donations in Mary’s memory may be made to Smile Train, PO Box 96231, Washington, DC 20090, Make a Wish Foundation, 133 Federal Street, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA 02110, or Saint Mary of the Annunciation Church Sanctuary Fund, c/o 90 Forest St., Danvers, MA 01923. Guestbook available at www.LyonsFuneral.com.