Mary Lyons

Mary Lyons of East Millinocket, Maine and Connecticut, died Wednesday, September 26, 2012 in Beverly, Massachusetts. Mary lived life on her terms, starting out fast and not letting up. She was born in East Millinocket Maine and was salutatorian at Schenck high school class of 49, before graduating from the University of Maine in 53. She was an accomplished pianist and cut a demo record, but quickly turned her thoughts to family and married James I Boyle. She had five children by the age of 27, and then returned to school to earn a Masters from Trinity College in 63. She raised the children in Simsbury, CT while teaching high school history for nearly 40 years in Canton, West Hartford, and Hartford, CT, taking particular interest in her students and volunteering her time to help those who needed it most, not only with school work but also problems some had outside of school, and with transition to life as adults. She filled her house with the music of her piano and opened its doors to friends, neighbors, and family. Between ballet recitals, little league games, dressing the kids for church and at times playing the organ at services, as well as teaching school full time she was also active politically. She did enjoy the slower pace of her summer mornings when she could sleep in to be awakened by a fistful of wild flowers and a hug and a kiss. She was a loving grandmother to 17 grandchildren, reveling in the times she was together with them, all climbing over each other to get on her lap. Unfortunately she struggled with an undiagnosed case of relatively early onset of dementia which ultimately made it difficult for her to keep up with the details of family events. With her memory suspect she marked numerous calendars and left notes to herself as reminders of her grandchildren’s birthdays and other events, staying as involved as possible for as long as she could. She is survived by her three daughters and son-in-laws: Carol Boyle and Jeff Levitan of Wellesley, MA; Ellen Boyle and Gerry Brown of North Potomac, MD; Elaine and Martin White of Farmington, CT, as well as by her son James Boyle and his partner Sue Durst of Gorham, ME, and her son and daughter-in-law Clifford and Robyne Boyle of Hingham, MA. She is also survived by her brother and sister-in-law Allen and Carol Lyons of Clinton, CT. Her 17 grandchildren are: Natalia, Prescott, Katelyn, Chad, Leigh Anne, Evan, Brendan, Jared, Matthew, Lindsay, Caiti, Jameson, Carolyn, Sheridan, Elizabeth, CJ, and Robbie. Friends are invited to visit with the family 3-5 P.M. Sunday, September 30 at the Pyne-Keohane Funeral Home, 21 Emerald St., Hingham, Massachusetts. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10am. Monday, October 1 at St. Paul’s Church, Hingham, MA. A memorial liturgy of the word and communion will be celebrated 10 A.M. Tuesday, October 2 at Christ the Divine Mercy Parish at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, 58 Cedar St., East Millinocket, Maine. Graveside committal services will be held 11:30 A.M. at the East Millinocket Cemetery, East Millinocket, ME. ?In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Cure Alzheimer’s Fund (curealzfund.org).