Marguerite Irene Brien

August 12, 1931 - February 14, 2021

Marguerite Irene Brien, 89, of Lawrence, MA died peacefully in hospice care at her daughter Linda and son-in-law Rick’s home in Meredith, NH on Valentine’s Day. She was born August 12, 1931 to Albert and Mariette (Perreault) Bergeron, in Lawrence. As the eldest daughter, Marguerite was instilled with a life-long sense of responsibility and concern for others. She assisted in the care for her younger siblings, including Anne, who became her lifelong friend. After graduation from Sacred Heart High School in South Lawrence, she worked at the deli counter at Brockelman’s Market in Lawrence. She met her love, and husband of nearly 69 years, at a house party. He was playing the drums, and like many a girl before her, she fell for a musician. The couple built a life together and a home full of love and children. Marguerite leaves her husband J. Arthur Brien of Lawrence, MA; daughters Diane Gioseffi (and Thomas) of Windham, NH; Janet Sanguedolce (and Phillip) of Meredith, NH; Paula Faist (and James) of Murfreesboro, TN; Linda Enderwick (and Richard) of Meredith, NH; and Roseann Cleary (and Stephen) of Severna Park, MD; and sons Michael Brien (and Debra) of Meredith, NH; Peter Brien of Derry, NH; and Thomas Brien (and Shane Lunt) of Dorchester, MA. Marguerite was a clear-headed, no-nonsense French Canadian woman whose stoicism and purposefulness were matched by her caring and generosity. She cared for her parents in her home at the end of their days, and along with her husband, she often welcomed those in need. Her home was the gathering space for myriad holidays and celebrations, filled with family, friends, dancing and joy. Her organizational skills could have put her in a corner office had she the opportunity: she had dinner menus for certain days of the week, envelopes for budgeted spending, and a tidy nature that kept her household healthy and happy. Her family benefited from all these attributes and more, raised by a mother who encouraged independence but understood our interdependence. Her example taught and inspired her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. As a lifelong Lawrencian and person of deep faith, Marguerite worked to make the city and the world a better place through activities at St. Augustine and Our Lady of Good Counsel parishes, and a host of organizations committed to civil rights, workers’ rights, peace, justice and environmental progress, and help for the poor and less advantaged. She didn’t have a lot of free time for hobbies, but was an avid book and newspaper reader, eager traveler and diner, enthusiastic theater and moviegoer, and one heck of a 45’s player. Marguerite holds a special place in the hearts of grandchildren Jonathan, Jennifer, Rebecca, Anthony, Leah, Jesse, Micah, Sierra, Adam, Luke, Nicole, Joel, Avery, Peyton, Sydney and Carter; great-grandchildren Dakota, Alec, Damien, Gwen, Isaac, Talia, Amaya, Maisy, Marston, Madison, Riley, Serenity and Logen; sister Anne Martel (and Lionel) of Lawrence, MA; sisters-in-law Simone Bergeron of Pleasant Hill, CA and Virginia Bergeron of Haverhill, MA; many more Brien sisters in-law and brothers in-law, nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews; and friends throughout the Merrimack Valley. She is predeceased by a daughter, Marie; and brothers Raymond Bergeron, Robert Bergeron and William Bergeron. The family wishes to thank the Lakes Region Visiting Nurse Association Hospice Team for their care and emotional/spiritual support; Rev. Msgr. Gerald R. Belanger of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church; and Fr. Chris Casey of Our Lady of Good Counsel. Services will be private. To view the funeral mass livestream Monday February 22, 2021 at 11:00 a.m., go to olgcparish.com. If you would like to make a charitable donation in honor of Marguerite, she named the following organizations: Bread & Roses Soup Kitchen, 58 Newbury St., Lawrence, MA 01840; Lazarus House, 412 Hampshire St., Lawrence, MA 01841; Brother Simeon Ernest Scholarship Fund, 24 North Lowell St., Methuen, MA 01844. Arrangements are under the direction of the John Breen Memorial Funeral Home, Inc., 122 Amesbury Street, Lawrence, MA. For online condolences and other information please visit us at www.breenfuneralhome.com.