Mary C. ('Mae' Lawlor) Burns' Obituary
Mary C. ‘Mae’ (Lawlor) Burns passed peacefully on Saturday, December 22nd.
Mae was the daughter of the late Michael P. and Catherine (Flynn) Lawlor. She is survived by her daughter Marcia L. Burns-Mittler and her husband Dr. Arthur Mittler with whom she made her home. She is also survived by two nieces: Geraldine Casey of Methuen, and Kathleen Judge and her husband Daniel of Dracut, and three nephews: Rev. J. Michael Lawlor, Pastor of St. Paul Parish, Hamilton, James Lawlor and his wife Ellen of Florida, and Edward Lawlor II and his wife Pamela of Dracut. In addition, she leaves four great-nieces: Brehan and Mike McCarthy of Andover, Dannah and Paul Foresta and Melanie and Rick Garafolo of Dracut, and Devon Lawlor of Gloucester, two great nephews: Andrew Lawlor of Nashua, and Matthew Lawlor and fiancée Mollie Hamlin of Milford, and six great-great nieces and nephews: Cooper, Caelyn, Max, Mia, Seamus and Riley. She leaves a cousin, Arlene Whiteside of Norwood, MA, a step-grandson Atty. Kevin Mittler and his wife Atty. Robin Mittler of Fairfax, VA., and her godchild Barbara (Foley) Jensen daughter of her best friend Genevieve (Killeen) Foley.
She was preceded in death by her husband, J. Frank Burns, her sister, Rita M. Casey and her husband J. Augustine Casey, and her brothers: John M. Lawlor, Edward A. Lawlor, and his wife Helen. She was the last of twenty seven first-cousins on her paternal side of the family, and is the second-last of sixteen first cousins on her maternal side.
She was born and raised in Lawrence, and attended St. Rita Grammar School and St. Mary High School. She was a devout Catholic and a lifelong communicant at St. Mary Church in Lawrence.
Her first job was at the Racket Store on Essex Street in Lawrence. After marrying she became a homemaker, cared for her mother-in-law Mary (Gallagher) Burns and raised her daughter. After the death of her husband she began her career as a junior clerk at the North Essex Registry of Deeds in Lawrence, where she was promoted to Senior Clerk, and retired after 21 years as the Principal Clerk.
She was a board member of the Ladies Auxiliary at Bon Secours/Holy Family Hospital in Methuen, a life member of the St. Clare League of Catholic Women, and a member of the Ladies of Merrimack.
She enjoyed vacationing at North Salisbury Beach where she was a proud charter member of the North Salisbury Marching Marsh Band (aka Burke’s Band), and Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, FL. Especially cherished by her were the relationships she had with the extended family she married into - the Gallaghers. She was always blessed with wonderful neighbors who were like family – from her roots on Willow and Basswood Streets, Saratoga St., Sunset Avenue, and after moving to Methuen, those on Timber Lane, and most recently, the Forest Lake Association!
Highly important to her were her many friends from the Registry of Deeds who always remembered her with cards, calls, and visits, and her ‘church family’ - particularly those at the 4 o’clock mass on Saturdays (the Kennedy/Maloney Family, the Stundzas, Dowds, Fr. Carlos, Fr. John, and Fr. Frank).
Calling hours will be at the John Breen Memorial Funeral Home, 122 Amesbury St., Lawrence on Friday, December, 28th, from 3-5 and 6-8 p.m. A mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, December 29th at 10 a.m. in St. Mary of the Assumption Church followed by burial in St-Mary-Immaculate Conception Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution to Notre Dame Education Center - Lawrence, 354 Merrimack Street STE 210, Lawrence, MA 01843-1755, or to Restore the Bosh 96 Chestnut St., North Andover, MA 01845. To send an online condolence or for more information, please go to www.breenfuneralhome.com
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