Mary Clare Ahern

Ahern, Mary Clare (Manley), of Bedford, formerly of Weymouth, passed away peacefully on March 22, 2023, days after celebrating her 92nd St. Patrick’s Day. 

She was born in Boston in 1931 to the late Thomas and Mary Ellen (Connolly) Manley and was a 1949 graduate from St. Patrick’s High School, Roxbury, as well as a 1953 graduate of St Margaret’s School of Nursing, Dorchester. 

She was an operating room nurse at South Shore Hospital for 30 years, a long-time parishioner of St. Francis Xavier Church, former President of the Pond Plain Improvement Association, a passionate community and political volunteer, and could always be found tapping her toes to Irish music. She was a kind, spirited, compassionate, and generous person with the gift of gab and a playful sense of humor. Whether you called her Clare, Nana, Sister, Auntie, friend, nurse, or Mom, she would have freely offered you valuable advice and helpful encouragement. A smile is sure to come across your face when you think of her. She will be greatly missed.

Beloved wife for 47 years to the late William F. Ahern.

Devoted mother to William F. Ahern, Jr. (Barbara) of Acton, Maryanne Ahern Donald (Robert) of Grafton, VT, Kathleen M. Ahern of Cambridge, John T. Ahern of Amherst, NH and Elizabeth Ahern Crowley (John) of Acton.

Dearest sister of Thomas E. Manley (Patricia) of Braintree and sister-in-law of Dorothy Manley of Hingham. Predeceased by her sister Ann C. (Robert) Gaulrapp and her brother John A. Manley.

Lovingly remembered by her grandchildren Peter (Arjun Sheth), Andrew and Rachael Ahern, William and Mary Megan Donald, Samantha and Kaley (fiancé Kyle Burns) Ahern, Christina, Thomas, and Nicholas Crowley, and many, many cherished nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are invited to pay their respects during visiting hours on Monday, March 27, from 4 to 8 PM at the McDonald Keohane Funeral Home SOUTH WEYMOUTH at 809 Main Street (Rte. 18, opposite South Shore Hospital).

A Celebration of Life Service will be held in the funeral home at 9:15 AM on Tuesday, March 28, before the Funeral Mass at St. Francis Xavier Church, South Weymouth, at 10 AM.

Burial will immediately follow at Lakeview Cemetery, South Weymouth.

In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing a gift of appreciation to Carleton-Willard Village, the non-profit, continuing care facility that provided tender loving care to Clare for eleven years (CWV Employee Appreciation Fund, 100 Old Billerica Road, Bedford, Massachusetts 01730).