Mary Theresa (Kenny) McNamee

Mary Theresa (Kenny) McNamee, age 92, died Saturday in Sunderland, MA. She was born in Boston, MA in 1931 to Honor (Coen) and Peter Kenny, two Irish immigrants who had made their way to America.  Mary learned to accept hardship early in life.  She grew up in the years of the Great Depression and her father died when she was only twelve. As an only child, she developed a close bond with her mother, Nora, who lived with her daughter and her growing family until the end of her life in 1971. Those early challenges and steady maternal support helped Mary forge a resilient spirit that guided her throughout her long life.

In her teens and early 20’s, Mary worked at the Boston Public Library. She loved the work but also looked forward to marriage and raising a family. The close-knit Irish community in Boston presented an ideal husband candidate. Richard (Mac) McNamee and Mary had known each other for years through family connections.  Friendship turned to courtship and Mac and Mary married in 1955.

The young couple moved into the Roslindale home that Mary had shared with her mother.  They soon began adding new members to the household with the birth of Brian, Brenda, Maureen and Paul.  Having finally outgrown the Roslindale house, the family moved to a larger home in Chelmsford, MA in 1968.  Of course, her mother Nora came with them.

Mary embraced her life as a mother and homemaker with joy and that resilient spirit she’d learned at a young age.  Ever practical, Mary learned to sew to meet the needs of the home and family.  To this day, her children recall the comforting sound of the sewing machine working into the night as they fell off to sleep.  

Mac died in 2014.  Following his death, Mary moved to Sunderland to live with her daughter Maureen.  Like her own mother, she loved the opportunity to be part of family life with children, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren. 

Mary is survived by her four children, Brian McNamee and his wife Jeanne, Brenda Perciballi  and her husband John, Maureen Briere and her husband Gary, and Paul McNamee and his wife Linda.  In addition, she leaves nine grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

Mary and her family are especially grateful for the loving care and support from Cooley Dickinson VNA & Hospice at the end of her life. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in honor of Mary McNamee can be sent to Cooley Dickinson VNA & Hospice, PO Box 329, Northampton, MA  01061-0329.

Arrangements are under the direction of Kostanski Funeral Home. For condolences please visit www.kostanskifuneralhome.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mary Theresa (Kenny) McNamee, please visit our floral store.